Dynamic stacking and expansion of visual items
First Claim
1. A method for presenting visual items on a graphical user interface of a computer, the method comprising steps of:
- displaying a plurality of visual items as a stack;
receiving a first user selection of a first region associated with the stack;
responsive to the first user selection, displaying the plurality of visual items side-by-side;
receiving a second user selection of a second region associated with the plurality of visual items while the plurality of visual items are displayed side-by-side; and
responsive to the second user selection, again displaying the plurality of visual items as a stack.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Aspects of the present invention are directed to the stacking of visual items, and their subsequent expansion, or unstacking. Upon selection of a stack, that stack expands into the individual visual items making up that stack. Further aspects of the present invention are directed to expanding a stack in different ways depending upon the circumstances. Further aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a hot area associated with, and potentially disposed around, a stack. Selection by the user of the hot area results in selection of the associated stack. The stack may itself be considered a single item that is itself selectable. After the stack is expanded, then the individual visual items making up the original stack are each individually selectable. However, when stacked, the individual items may not be selectable except as a complete stack.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for presenting visual items on a graphical user interface of a computer, the method comprising steps of:
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displaying a plurality of visual items as a stack;
receiving a first user selection of a first region associated with the stack;
responsive to the first user selection, displaying the plurality of visual items side-by-side;
receiving a second user selection of a second region associated with the plurality of visual items while the plurality of visual items are displayed side-by-side; and
responsive to the second user selection, again displaying the plurality of visual items as a stack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for presenting visual items on a graphical user interface of a computer, the method comprising steps of:
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displaying a plurality of visual items in an overlapping manner;
receiving a first user selection of a first region associated with the plurality of visual items displayed in the overlapping manner;
responsive to the first user selection, displaying the plurality of visual items in a non-overlapping manner;
receiving a second user selection of a second region associated with the plurality of visual items while the plurality of visual items such that the plurality of visual items do not overlap with one another; and
responsive to the second user selection, again displaying the plurality of visual items in an overlapping manner. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification