Dynamically Scalable Hierarchy Navigation
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- selecting a first node as a focus node, said focus node having a first level within a hierarchical group of nodes;
applying a first visual representation to said focus node;
identifying at least one second level node being associated with a second level, said second level being adjacent to said first level within said hierarchical group of nodes;
applying a second visual representation to said at least one second level node, said second visual representation being a visually inferior representation to said first visual representation; and
selecting one of said at least one second level nodes as said focus node and;
applying said first visual representation to said focus node; and
applying a third visual representation to said first node, said third visual representation being visually inferior to said first visual representation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hierarchical navigation and display mechanism shows a focus node in a highlighted manner, with nodes on other levels of the hierarchy in a visually inferior manner. In many embodiments, levels that are successively removed from the focus node level may be displayed with successively visually inferior manners. Some embodiments may use color, transparency, size, or other mechanisms to illustrate visually inferior items. The navigation and display mechanism may include various controls and interactive areas for navigating through the hierarchy, expanding and collapsing groups of items within the hierarchy, and performing various operations with the items in the hierarchy. Some embodiments may include animated transitions when focus is transitioned from one node to another.
71 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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selecting a first node as a focus node, said focus node having a first level within a hierarchical group of nodes; applying a first visual representation to said focus node; identifying at least one second level node being associated with a second level, said second level being adjacent to said first level within said hierarchical group of nodes; applying a second visual representation to said at least one second level node, said second visual representation being a visually inferior representation to said first visual representation; and selecting one of said at least one second level nodes as said focus node and; applying said first visual representation to said focus node; and applying a third visual representation to said first node, said third visual representation being visually inferior to said first visual representation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions adapted to:
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receive at least a portion of a hierarchy of nodes, selecting a first node as a focus node, said focus node having a first level within said hierarchical group of nodes; applying a first visual representation to said focus node; identifying at least one second level node being associated with a second level, said second level being a child level adjacent to said first level within said hierarchical group of nodes; applying a second visual representation to said at least one second level node, said second visual representation being a visually inferior representation to said first visual representation; identifying at least one third level node being associated with a third level, said third level being a parent level adjacent to said first level within said hierarchical group of nodes; and applying a third visual representation to said at least one third level node, said third visual representation being a visually inferior representation to said first visual representation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A system comprising:
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a representation generator configured to; determine a focus node and at least one second level node from a hierarchical group of nodes, said focus node having a first level within said hierarchical group of nodes and said second node having a second level within said hierarchical group of nodes, said second level being adjacent to said first level; determine at least one third level node from said hierarchical group of nodes, said third level being adjacent to said second level and two levels removed from said first level; determine at least one fourth level node from said hierarchical group of nodes, said fourth level being adjacent to said first level and two levels removed from said second level; apply a first visual representation to said focus node; apply a second visual representation to said at least one second level node, said second visual representation being a visually inferior representation to said first visual representation; apply a third visual representation to said at least one third level node, said third visual representation being a visually inferior representation to said second visual representation; apply a fourth visual representation to said at least one fourth level node, said fourth visual representation being a visually inferior representation to said first visual representation; and create a graphical image comprising said focus node and said at least one second level node; a display configured to display said graphical image; and an input device configured to point interact with said graphical image. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification