Method of navigating axes of information elements

• US 10,067,638 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 9224-5489 Quebec Inc., Maya-Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: 9224-5489 Quebec Inc.
• Inventors: Audet, Mathieu
• Primary Examiner(s): Bloomquist, Keith D
• Application Number:
  US13/798,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20130263050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,001 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for shifting an active information element among information elements disposed on an array thereof, a group of arrays thereof and a plurality of arrays thereof. A system and an interface configured to carry out the method is hereby provided.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a computer system, provide a method of shifting active element status among element-receiving locations and user-selectable elements disposed in a layout of axes thereof, the method comprising:

causing a plurality of user-selectable elements to be displayed at elements-receiving locations disposed along a plurality of axes of user-selectable elements, at least some of the user-selectable elements being operatively associated with a computer-readable file, the axes of user-selectable elements being generally disposed parallel and adjacent from one another, each axis of user-selectable elements including a longitudinal direction and a transversal direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction;

causing a first user-selectable element, displayed at a first element-receiving location disposed along a first axis, to become a first active element with an active element status associated thereto, the first active element being visually differentiated from other non-active user-selectable elements, the first active user-selectable element being selectable to perform an action thereon, the first active user-selectable element establishing a base position for further navigation therefrom;

receiving an input from a user for sequentially shifting the active element status from the first active user-selectable element displayed on the first axis transversally to an empty element-receiving location disposed on a second axis displayed in graphical relation with the first axis, the empty element-receiving location being associated with no user-selectable element;

shifting the active element status from the first user-selectable element displayed on the first axis to the empty element-receiving location on the second axis; and

displaying a visual distinctive feature with the active element status associated with the empty element-receiving location on the second axis, the active element status being adapted to be further shifted in the longitudinal direction along the second axis, and in the orthogonal direction from the second axis to a third axis, whereby the active element status can be shifted to a longitudinally located user-selectable element along the second axis despite the absence of a user-selectable element associated with the empty element-receiving location on the second axis.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein at least some of the axes being adapted to locate user-selectable elements about a timeline.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the timeline includes a non-linear timescale.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the timeline includes units of time thereof.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein at least some of the plurality of axes are sharing one timeline.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the visual distinctive feature is emphasizing a contour of a user-selectable element.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein at least some of the user-selectable elements are displaying a thumbnail image associated with a computer-readable file.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein shifting the active element status from the first user-selectable element is made on a basis of a command offering four generally orthogonal directions, two opposed directions in the longitudinal direction and two opposed directions in the transversal direction.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first active element, when displayed on an axis of user-selectable elements with a first chronological order, is adapted to move to a second axis of user-selectable elements including a second chronological order.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein axes of user-selectable elements are generally substantially equidistantly juxtaposed from one another.

11. A computerized system configured to read computer-executable instructions adapted to enable a program enabling an interface adapted to display axes of user-selectable elements and identify an active user-selectable element thereon, the computerized system comprising:

a processing unit configured to process the computer executable instructions; and

a display configured to display the interface;

the program, when executed, being operative to;

cause a plurality of user-selectable elements to be displayed at elements-receiving locations disposed along a plurality of axes of user-selectable elements, at least some of the user-selectable elements being operatively associated with a computer-readable file, the axes of user-selectable elements being generally disposed parallel and adjacent from one another, each axis of user-selectable elements including a longitudinal direction and a transversal direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction;

cause a first user-selectable element, displayed at a first elements-receiving location disposed along a first axis, to become a first active element with an active element status associated thereto, the first active element being visually differentiated from other non-active user-selectable elements, the first active user-selectable element being selectable to perform an action thereon, the first active user-selectable element establishing a base position for further navigation therefrom;

receive an input from a user for sequentially shifting the active element status from the first active user-selectable element displayed on the first axis transversally to an empty element-receiving location disposed on a second axis displayed in graphical relation with the first axis, the empty element-receiving location being associated with no user-selectable element;

shift the active element status from the first user-selectable element displayed on the first axis to the empty element-receiving location on the second axis; and

display a visual distinctive feature with the active element status associated with the empty element-receiving location on the second axis, the active element status being adapted to be further shifted in the longitudinal direction along the second axis, and in the orthogonal direction from the second axis to a third axis, whereby the active element status can be shifted to a longitudinally located user-selectable element along the second axis despite the absence of a user-selectable element associated with the empty element-receiving location on the second axis.

12. The computerized system of claim 11, wherein at least some of the axes being adapted to locate user-selectable elements about a timeline.

13. The computerized system of claim 11, wherein the timeline includes a non-linear timescale.

14. The computerized system of claim 11, wherein the timeline includes units of time thereof.

15. The computerized system of claim 11, wherein at least some of the plurality of axes are sharing one timeline.

16. The computerized system of claim 11, wherein the visual distinctive feature is emphasizing a contour of a user-selectable element.

17. The computerized system of claim 11, wherein at least some of the user-selectable elements are displaying a thumbnail image associated with a computer-readable file.

18. The computerized system of claim 11, wherein shifting the active element status from the first user-selectable element is made on a basis of a command offering four generally orthogonal directions, two opposed directions in the longitudinal direction and two opposed directions in the transversal direction.

19. The computerized system of claim 11, wherein the first active element, when displayed on an axis of user-selectable elements with a first chronological order, is adapted to move to a second axis of user-selectable elements including a second chronological order.

20. The computerized system of claim 11, wherein axes of user-selectable elements are generally substantially equidistantly juxtaposed from one another.