Computer-implemented display of ordered items

• US 20080126934A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bray, Cedric
• Granted Patent: US 8,161,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/713
• 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 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method, in one embodiment, of displaying items arranged in a hierarchy, the hierarchy having predetermined levels and divisions. The method comprising: displaying divisions of a first level of the hierarchy along a first direction; and displaying the items on a plane in perspective view, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction. It is preferred that each of the items has associated with it a value, such as a time value, that can be represented on a scale. The divisions of the first level of the hierarchy are first units of the scale, such as years, and the items are arranged at positions corresponding to their value with respect to the first units.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of displaying items arranged in a hierarchy, the hierarchy having predetermined levels and divisions, the method comprising:

displaying divisions of a first level of the hierarchy along a first direction; and

displaying the items on a plane in perspective view, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the items has associated with it a value that can be represented on a scale;

the divisions of the first level of the hierarchy are first units of the scale; and

the items are arranged at positions corresponding to their value with respect to the first units.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the respective second directions represent a second level of the scale having second units that are smaller than the first units, and each item is arranged at a position in its respective second direction corresponding to its value with respect to the second units.

4. A method according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein:

the value is a time value; and

the divisions of the first level of the scale are one of years, months, weeks, days or hours, respectively.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the scale is non-linear.

6. A method according to claim 1, comprising, on receipt of a user command:

displaying divisions of a second level of the hierarchy along the first direction; and

displaying the items on the plane, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division of the second level with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising displaying an animation of movement of the items from display with the first level of the hierarchy represented along the first direction to display with the second level of the hierarchy represented along the first direction.

8. A method according to claim 3, comprising, on receipt of a user command:

displaying divisions of the second level of the scale along the first direction; and

displaying the items on the plane, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division of the second level with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction,

wherein the respective second directions represent a third level of the scale having third units that are smaller than the second units, and each item is arranged at a position in its respective second direction corresponding to its value.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the respective second directions represent a third level of the scale having units that are smaller than the second units, and each item is arranged at a position in its respective second direction corresponding to its value.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising an animation of movement of the items from display with the first units represented along the first direction and the second level along the second directions to display with the second units represented along the first direction and the third level represented along the second directions.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the items has associated with it a second value that can be represented on a scale;

and

the depth of each item in the respective second direction corresponds to the second value.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the items has associated with it a second value that can be represented on a scale;

and

the height of each item in a third direction orthogonal to the plane corresponds to the second value.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the respective second directions are different to one another.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the levels and the divisions are pre-defined by a user.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchy is a hierarchy of folders, with each division representing a different folder.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein each of the items has associated with it a second value;

and

the depth of each item in the respective second direction corresponds to the second value.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein each of the items has associated with it a second value;

and

the height of each item in a third direction orthogonal to the plane corresponds to the second value.

18. A method of displaying a plurality of items, each item having a time associated with it, the method comprising:

displaying first units of time along a first direction; and

displaying the items in respective rows, each row corresponding to a first said unit of time, and the items in each row arranged relative to one another in an order corresponding to their respective times.

19. A method according to claim 18, each item in a row is spaced along the row by a distance corresponding to its associated time.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the rows are scaled along a second unit of time and the items are arranged in the rows accordingly.

21. A method according to claim 18, further comprising, responsive to a user command, displaying second units of time along the first direction;

and

displaying the items in respective rows, each row corresponding to a second said unit of time, and the items in each row arranged relative to one another in an order corresponding to their respective times.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the second units of time are smaller than the first units of time.

23. A method according to claim 21, further comprising animating movement of the items from positions in rows corresponding to the first units of time to positions in rows corresponding to the second units of time.

24. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of items displayed on the plane;

displaying second units of time along the first direction, the second units being smaller than the first units; and

displaying the selected items on the plane in rows corresponding to the second units.

25. A method according to claim 18, further comprising:

displaying events from a calendar along the first direction, the events corresponding to the units of time.

26. A method according to claim 21, further comprising:

displaying a grid on the plane, gradations along the first direction corresponding to the first units of time and gradation along the respective second directions corresponding to other units of time.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

receiving a user selection of a grid area of the plane, the area corresponding to a time range;

displaying second units of time along the first direction, the second units being smaller than the first units; and

displaying the selected items on the plane in rows corresponding to the second units.

28. A method according to claim 19, wherein, when a plurality of items in a row are spaced apart by less than a predetermined distance, the plurality of items are represented by a single block having an increased thickness in the respective second direction.

29. A graphical user interface system for a computer, wherein the graphical user interface is adapted to display items arranged in a hierarchy, the hierarchy having predetermined levels and divisions, by:

displaying divisions of a first level of the hierarchy along a first direction; and

displaying the items on a plane in perspective view, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction.

31. A computer system comprising:

a display device; and

the graphical user interface system of claim 29 or claim 30.

30. A graphical user interface system for a computer, wherein the graphical user interface is adapted to display a plurality of items, each item having a time associated with it, by:

displaying first units of time along a first direction; and

displaying the items in respective rows, each row corresponding to a first said unit of time, and the items in each row arranged relative to one another in an order corresponding to their respective times.

32. A computer program arranged to cause a computer to display items arranged in a hierarchy on a display device, the hierarchy having predetermined levels and divisions, by:

displaying divisions of a first level of the hierarchy along a first direction; and

displaying the items on a plane in perspective view, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction.

34. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded on it the computer program of claim 32 or claim 33.

33. A computer program arranged to cause a computer to display a plurality of items on a display device, each item having a time associated with it, by:

displaying first units of time along a first direction; and

displaying the items in respective rows, each row corresponding to a first said unit of time, and the items in each row arranged relative to one another in an order corresponding to their respective times.