User interface for displaying and exploring hierarchical information

• US 20020145623A1
• Filed: 05/16/2001
• Published: 10/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DataCloud Technologies, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Groxis, Inc.
• Inventors: Decombe, Jean Michel
• Granted Patent: US 6,879,332 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/734
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A user interface is animated and configurable to optimize, facilitate and simplify displaying on a display device and exploring via user input a hierarchy of information accessible by an electronic device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

displaying a plurality of nodes in viewing region;

receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of nodes displayed in the viewing region;

centering the selected one of the plurality nodes in the viewing region, the centered node being a focus node.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a plurality of hierarchically related nodes.

3. A method comprising:

displaying a plurality of hierarchically related nodes in a viewing region;

centering in the viewing region a root node of the plurality of hierarchically related nodes in the viewing region, the root node being a focus node;

receiving user input selecting one of the plurality of hierarchically related nodes that is hierarchically subordinate to the focus node;

centering the selected node in the viewing region;

expanding the size of the selected node in the viewing region, the selected node becoming a new focus node.