Device and method for providing information about relationships between respective sharers based on shared information

• US 20070174787A1
• Filed: 12/07/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Rhee, Young-ho
• Application Number:
  US11/635,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20070174787A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A device and method for providing information about the relationships between a user of a device and sharers sharing data with the user is provided. The device includes a search unit, a storage unit, a User Interface (UI) generation unit, and a display unit. The search unit searches for information about the lower menu item icons of a specific menu item icon, and sharer icons representing sharers who share each of the lower menu item icons, when a user selects the specific menu item icon. The storage unit stores information about the menu item icon, the lower menu item icons, and the sharer icons for respective layer regions. The UI generation unit generates the menu item icons, the lower menu item icons, and the sharer icons. The display unit displays the generated menu item icons, lower menu item icon, and sharer icons.

Claims

1. A device for providing information about relationships between a user of the device and sharers sharing data with the user, the device comprising:

a display panel which displays lower menu item icons of a menu item icon, and sharer icons which indicate relationships between sharers who share the lower menu item icons, if the user selects the menu item icon from among displayed menu item icons; and

a manipulation unit through which manipulation and selection of the displayed menu item icons, the lower menu item icons, and the sharer icons are performed by a user.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a search unit which searches for information about the lower menu item icons of the selected menu item icon, and the sharer icons which represents sharers who share the lower menu item icons, if the user selects the menu item icon;

a storage unit which stores information about the menu item icon, the lower menu item icons and the sharer icons for respective layer regions;

a User Interface (UI) generation unit which generates the menu item icons, the lower menu item icons, and the sharer icons; and

a display unit which displays the menu item icons, the lower menu item icons, and the sharer icons.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the UI generation unit determines icon size and color based on a number of lower menu item icons, a number of sharer icons, and a relationships between the user and the sharers.

4. A device for providing relationships between a user of the device and sharers sharing data with the user, the device comprising:

a search unit which searches for information about lower menu item icons of a menu item icon, and sharer icons which represent sharers who share each of the lower menu item icons, if the menu item icon is selected;

a storage unit which stores information about the menu item icon, the lower menu item icons, and the sharer icons for respective layer regions;

a User Interface (UI) generation unit which generates the menu item icons, the lower menu item icons, and the sharer icons; and

a display unit which displays the menu item icons, the lower menu item icon, and the sharer icons.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the UI generation unit determines icon size and color based on a number of lower menu item icons, a number of sharer icons, and a relationship between the user and the sharers.

6. A method of providing information about relationships between a user of a device and sharers sharing data with the user, the method comprising:

searching for information about lower menu item icons of a menu item icon and displaying the lower menu item icons, if the menu item icon is selected from among displayed menu item icons;

searching for information about a lower menu item icon if the lower menu item icon is selected from among the displayed lower menu item icons; and

searching for information about sharer icons sharing the lower menu item icon which is selected, and displaying the sharer icons.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a size and color of each of the displayed menu item icons, the lower menu item icons, and the sharer icons are determined based on a number of lower menu item icons, a number of sharer icons, and a relationship between a user and the sharers.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein information about the menu item icons, the lower menu item icons and the sharer icons are stored for respective layer regions.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising displaying detailed information about a sharer icon if the sharer icon is selected from among the displayed sharer icons.