Accelerating link creation

• US 4,982,344 A
• Filed: 05/18/1988
• Issued: 01/01/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Jordan, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harkcom, Gary V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaffe, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US07/195,230
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 364/518, 364/521, 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File
• US Class Current: 715/804
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134

Abstract

A data processing system includes a workspace network data structure, such as a hypertext data structure, in which data units corresponding to displayable workspace sets such as cards are linked by linking data units. The data structure also includes a link creation data unit associated with one of the cards. When that card is displayed, a selectable link creation unit, called an AutoLink button, corresponding to the link creation data unit is also displayed. When the user selects the AutoLink button, the link creation data unit is accessed to obtain data for creating a link to another card. The data structure also includes a card creation data unit that is also accessed to create the destination card for the link. An AutoLink button can be repeatedly selected to create several new cards and links between each new card and the card with the AutoLink button. The card creation data unit can also indicate another AutoLink data unit, so that the data structure includes a sequence of link and card creation data units. When a new card is created in response to selection of an AutoLink button, it can be displayed, including any AutoLink buttons it contains. These AutoLink buttons can then be selected to create further links and cards. The AutoLink data unit can also include a parameter indicating a number of levels of links and cards to be created.

Claims

1. A method of operating a system that includes a display and an input device for receiving signals from a user;

the method comprising the steps of;

presenting on the display a first workspace;

the first workspace including a first set of display features, each display feature in the first set having a respective position within the first workspace;

the first set of display features including a selectable link creation unit;

the selectable link creation unit including a first bounded area of the display at the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the signals from the user including a first signal indicating a position within the first bounded area;

upon receiving from the input device the first signal, presenting on the display at a respective position within the first workspace a selectable linking unit indicating a link to a second workspace;

the selectable linking unit including a second bounded area of the display at the selectable linking unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the step of presenting the selectable linking unit including a substep of accessing location data indicating a relation between the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position and the selectable linking unit'"'"'s respective position and using the location data to obtain the selectable linking unit'"'"'s respective position;

the signals from the user including a second signal indicating a position within the second bounded area; and

upon receiving from the input device the second signal, presenting on the display the second workspace, the second workspace including a second set of display features, each display feature in the second set having a respective position within the second workspace.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the step of presenting the selectable linking unit comprises a substep of presenting an icon in the second bounded area of the display.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the first set of display features includes a sequence of display features, the first bounded area of the display and the second bounded area of the display each including a respective one of the sequence of display features, the step of presenting the selectable linking unit further comprising a substep of presenting the selectable linking unit so that the respective display feature of the second bounded area is positioned immediately after the respective display feature of the first bounded area in the sequence.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the first set of display features includes a sequence of text, the step of presenting the first workspace comprising presenting the selectable link creation unit within the text sequence in the first workspace.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the step of presenting the selectable linking unit comprises ceasing to present the selectable link creation unit, the second bounded area of the display including a part of the first bounded area of the display.

6. The method of claim 1 in which each of the first and second workspaces is a card.

7. A method of operating a system that includes a display, an input device for receiving signals from a user, and a workspace network data structure that can be accessed for presenting workspaces on the display;

the workspace network data structure including a first workspace data unit relating to a first workspace that can be presented on the display, the first workspace including a first set of display features, each display feature in the first set having a respective position within the first workspace;

the first set of display features including a selectable link creation unit, the selectable link creation unit including a first bounded area of the display at the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the signals from the user including a first signal indicating a position within the first bounded area;

the workspace network data structure including a link creation data unit that can be accessed after accessing the first workspace data unit;

the link creation data unit including link creation data for creating in the workspace network data structure a linking data unit linking the first workspace data unit and a second workspace data unit relating to a second workspace;

the link creation data including location data indicating a relation between the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position and a selectable linking unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the method comprising steps of;

accessing the first workspace data unit and presenting the first workspace on the display, the first workspace including the selectable link creation unit; and

upon receiving the first signal, presenting the selectable linking unit at its respective position within the first workspace;

the step of presenting the selectable linking unit comprising substeps of;

accessing the link creation data unit;

using the link creation data to create the linking data unit in the workspace network data structure; and

using the location data to obtain the selectable linking unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace.

8. The method of claim 7 in which the first workspace is a first card and the second workspace is a second card, the link creation data including an identifier of the second card.

9. The method of claim 7 in which the selectable linking unit includes a second bounded area of the display at the selectable linking unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the signals from the user including a second signal indicating a position within the second bounded area;

the method further comprising a step of presenting the second workspace on the display upon receiving the second signal from the input device, the second workspace including a second set of display features, each display feature in the second set having a respective position within the second workspace.

10. The method of claim 9 in which the first workspace includes a sequence of text;

the selectable link creation unit being within the text sequence, the location data indicating the location of the second bounded area relative to the first bounded area in the text sequence.

11. The method of claim 10 in which the location data indicate the location of the second bounded area as immediately after the first bounded area, the step of presenting the selectable linking unit comprising a substep of presenting the selectable linking unit with the second bounded area positioned immediately after the first bounded area in the text sequence.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

prior to receiving the first signal, including a workspace creation data unit in the workspace network data structure, the workspace creation data unit being accessible after accessing the first workspace data unit, the workspace creation data unit including workspace creation data for creating in the workspace network data structure the second workspace data unit; and

upon receiving the first signal, accessing the workspace creation data unit and using the workspace creation data to create the second workspace data unit in the workspace network data structure.

13. A workspace network data structure for use in a system that includes:

a display;

an input device for receiving signals from a user; and

control means for receiving the signals from the input means, for accessing the workspace network data structure, and for controlling the display;

the workspace network data structure comprising;

a first workspace data unit relating to a first workspace;

the first workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the first workspace on the display;

the first workspace including a first set of display features, each display feature in the first set having a respective position within the first workspace;

the first set of display features including a selectable link creation unit, the selectable link creation unit including a first bounded area of the display at the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the signals from the user including a first signal indicating a position within the first bounded area; and

a link creation data unit that is accessible by the control means when the control means has accessed the first workspace data unit, the link creation data unit including link creation data for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by creating in the workspace network data structure a linking data unit linking the first workspace data unit and a second workspace data unit relating to a second workspace;

the second workspace including a second set of display features, each display feature in the second set having a respective position within the second workspace;

the link creation data including location data indicating a relation between the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position and a selectable linking unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the location data being for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by presenting the selectable linking unit at its respective position within the first workspace;

the second workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the second workspace on the display.

14. The workspace network data structure of claim 13, further comprising a workspace creation data unit that is accessible by the control means when the control means has accessed the first workspace data unit, the workspace creation data unit including workspace creation data for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by creating the second workspace data unit in the workspace network data structure.

15. The data structure of claim 14, further comprising a sequence of link and workspace creation data units, the data units in the sequence being accessible by the control means when the control means has accessed the first workspace data unit, the sequence beginning with the first above-mentioned link creation data unit and workspace creation data unit and including at least one additional link creation data unit, each additional link creation data unit including link creation data for use by the control means in creating in the workspace network data structure an additional linking data unit, each additional linking data unit linking the second workspace data unit and a respective additional workspace data unit relating to a respective additional workspace;

each respective additional workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the respective additional workspace on the display;

each respective additional workspace including a respective set of display features, each display feature in each additional workspace'"'"'s respective set having a respective position within the additional workspace.

16. The workspace network data structure of claim 15 in which each of the additional link creation data units includes link creation data for use by the control means in creating a plurality of the additional linking data units.

17. The workspace network data structure of claim 13 in which the first workspace is a first card and the second workspace is a second card, the link creation data in the link creation data unit including an identifier of the second card.

18. A method of using a workspace network data structure in a system that includes:

a display;

an input device for receiving signals from a user; and

control means for receiving the signals from the input means, for accessing the workspace network data structure, and for controlling the display;

the workspace network data structure including;

a first workspace data unit relating to a first workspace;

the first workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the first workspace on the display;

the first workspace including a first set of display features, each display feature in the first set having a respective position within the first workspace;

the first set of display features including a selectable link creation unit, the selectable link creation unit including a first bounded area of the display at the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the signals from the user including a first signal indicating a position within the first bounded area;

a workspace creation data unit that is accessible by the control means when the control means has accessed the first workspace data unit, the workspace creation data unit including workspace creation data fur use by the control means in responding to the first signal by creating a second workspace data unit in the workspace network data structure;

the second workspace data unit relating to a second workspace;

the second workspace including a second set of display features, each display feature in the second set having a respective position within the second workspace;

the second workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the second workspace on the display; and

a link creation data unit that is accessible by the control means when the control means has accessed the first workspace data unit, the link creation data unit including link creation data for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by creating in the workspace network data structure a linking data unit linking the first workspace data unit and the second workspace data unit;

the link creation data including location data indicating a relation between the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position and a selectable linking unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the location data being for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by presenting the selectable linking unit at its respective position within the first workspace;

the method comprising steps of;

accessing the first workspace data unit and presenting the first workspace on the display;

in response to the first signal, accessing the workspace creation data unit and using the workspace creation data to create the second workspace data unit; and

in response to the first signal, accessing the link creation data unit and using the link creation data to create the linking data unit.

19. A method of using a workspace network data structure in a system that includes:

a display;

an input device for receiving signals from a user; and

control means for receiving the signals from the input means, for accessing the workspace network data structure, and for controlling the display;

the workspace network data structure including;

a first workspace data unit relating to a first workspace;

the first workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the first workspace on the display;

the first workspace including a first set of display features, each display feature in the first set having a respective position within the first workspace;

the first set of display features including a selectable link creation unit, the selectable link creation unit including a first bounded area of the display at the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the signals from the user including a first signal indicating a position within the first bounded area;

a sequence of link and workspace creation data units, the data units in the sequence being accessible by the control means when the control means has accessed the first workspace data unit, the sequence beginning with a first link creation data unit and a first workspace creation data unit;

the first workspace creation data unit including respective workspace creation data for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by creating a second workspace data unit in the workspace network data structure;

the second worskapce data unit relating to a second workspace;

the second workspace including a second set of display features, each display feature in the second set having a respective position within the second workspace;

the second workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the second workspace on the display;

the first link creation data unit including respective link creation data for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by creating in the workspace network data structure a respective linking data unit linking the first workspace data unit and the second workspace data unit;

the link creation data including location data indicating a relation between the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position and a selectable linking unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the location data being for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by presenting the selectable linking unit at its respective position within the first workspace;

the sequence of link and workspace creation data units including at least one additional link creation data unit, each additional link creation data unit including link creation data for use by the control means in creating in the workspace network data structure a respective additional linking data unit, each respective additional linking data unit linking the second workspace data unit and a respective additional workspace data unit relating to a respective additional workspace;

each respective additional workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the respective additional workspace on the display;

each respective additional workspace including a respective set of display features, each display feature in each additional workspace'"'"'s respective set having a respective position within the additional workspace

the method comprising steps of;

accessing the first workspace data unit and presenting the first workspace on the display;

the fist workspace including the selectable link creation unit;

the selectable link creation unit including the first bounded area of the display; and

upon receiving the first signal, accessing the link and workspace creation data units in the sequence, using the respective link creation data in the first link creation data unit to create the respective linking data unit, using the respective workspace creation data in the first workspace creation data unit to create the second workspace data unit, and accessing the second workspace data unit and presenting on the display the second workspace, the second workspace including a respective selectable link creation unit for each additional link creation data unit;

each respective selectable link creation unit including a respective bounded area of the display.

20. The method of claim 19 in which the workspace network data structure further comprises a third workspace data unit relating a third workspace, the third workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the third workspace on the display;

the third workspace including a third set of display features, each display feature in the third set having a respective position within the third workspace;

the signals from the user including a copy signal requesting a copy operation on the selectable link creation unit in relation to the third workspace data unit;

the method further comprising, upon receiving the copy signal, including a copy of the first link creation data unit in the workspace network data structure, the copy being accessible by the control means when it has accessed the third workspace data unit.

21. A method of using a workspace network data structure in a system that includes:

a display;

an input device for receiving signals from a user; and

control means for receiving the signals from the input means, for accessing the workspace network data structure, and for controlling the display;

the workspace network data structure including;

a first workspace data unit relating to a first workspace;

the first workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the first workspace on the display;

the first workspace including a first set of display features, each display feature in the first set having a respective position within the first workspace;

the first set of display features including a selectable link creation unit, the selectable link creation unit including a first bounded area of the display at the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the signals from the user including a first signal indicating a position within the first bounded area;

a sequence of link and workspace creation data units, the data units in the sequence being accessible by the control means when the control means has accessed the first workspace data unit, the sequence beginning with a first link creation data unit and a first workspace creation data unit;

the first workspace creation data unit including respective workspace creation data for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by creating a second workspace data unit in the workspace network data structure;

the second workspace data unit relating to a second workspace;

the second workspace including a second set of display features, each display feature in the second set having a respective position within the second workspace;

the second workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the second workspace on the display;

the first link creation data unit including respective link creation data for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by creating in the workspace network data structure a respective linking data unit linking the first workspace data unit and the second workspace data unit;

the link creation data including location data indicating a relation between the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position and a selectable linking unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the location data being for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by presenting the selectable linking unit at its respective position within the first workspace;

the sequence of link and workspace creation data units including at least one additional link creation data unit, each additional link creation data unit including link creation data for use by the control means in creating in the workspace network data structure a respective additional linking data unit, each respective additional linking data unit linking the second workspace data unit and a respective additional workspace data unit relating to a respective additional workspace;

each respective additional workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the respective additional workspace on the display;

each respective additional workspace including a respective set of display features, each display feature in each additional workspace'"'"'s respective set having a respective position within the additional workspace;

the sequence of link and workspace creation data units including a plurality of levels of link creation data units, the first link creation data unit being included in a first one of the levels, the link creation data in the first link creation data unit including level number data including a number of levels;

the method comprising steps of;

accessing the first link creation data unit to retrieve the level number data; and

creating in the workspace network data structure the number of levels of linking data units and workspace data units indicated by the level number data.

22. A method of using a workspace network data structure in a system that includes:

a display;

an input device for receiving signals from a user; and

control means for receiving the signals from the input means, for accessing the workspace network data structure, and for controlling the display;

the workspace networkd data structure including;

a first workspace data unit relating to a first workspace;

the first workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the first workspace on the dispaly;

the first workspace including a first set of display features, each display feature in the first set having a respective position within the first workspace;

the first set of display features including a selectable link creation unit, the selectable link creation unit including a first bounded area of the display at the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the signals from the user including a first signal indicating a position within the first bounded area; and

a link creation data unit that is accessible by the control means when the control means has accessed the first workspace data unit, the link creation data unit including link creation data for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by creating in the workspace network data structure a linking data unit linking the first workspace data unit and a second workspace data unit relating to a second workspace;

the second workspace including a second set of display features, each display feature in the second set haviing a respective position within the second workspace;

the link creation data including location data indicating a relation between the selectable link creation unit'"'"'s respective position and a selectable linking unit'"'"'s respective position within the first workspace;

the location data being for use by the control means in responding to the first signal by presenting the selectable linking unit at its respective position within the first workspace;

the second workspace data unit being accessible by the control means for use in presenting the second workspace on the display;

the method comprising steps of;

accessing the first workspace data unit and presenting the first workspace on the display;

upon receiving the first signal, accessing the link creation data unit; and

using the link creation data in the link creation data unit to create the linking data unit.

23. The method of claim 22 in which the step of accessing the first workspace data unit and presenting the first workspace comprises a substep of presenting the selectable link creation unit in the first workspace;

the selectable link creation unit including the first bounded area of the display;

the method further comprising steps of;

receiving a second signal from the input device, the second signal indicating a position within the first bounded area of the display, the second signal requesting link creation from the first workspace to a third workspace, the third workspace including a third set of display features, each display feature in the third set having a respective position within the third workspace; and

in response to the second signal, creating a second linking data unit within the workspace network data structure in addition to the first above-mentioned linking data unit, the second linking data unit linking the first workspace data unit and a third worskapce data unit relating to the third workspace.