Multi-node user interface component and method thereof for use in accessing a plurality of linked records
First Claim
1. A method of graphically representing on a computer display a plurality of linked records, the method comprising:
- (a) displaying a plurality of node display elements, wherein each of which is associated with a record, and wherein at least a pair of node display elements are respectively associated with a pair of records that are linked to one another, the pair of node display elements graphically linked with one another; and
(b) displaying a scroll display element on a selected one of the node display elements, the scroll display element indicating a selected location within the record associated with the selected node display element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user interface component and method of using the same graphically display linked records with node display elements representing individual records, and optional link display elements representing the links therebetween. The user interface component may be automatically and dynamically generated during navigation between linked records, such that whenever a new link is taken from a record represented by a node display element, a new node display element is generated. In addition, the user interface component may further be configured to graphically represent the particular location of a particular link within a record, as well as a scroll display element associated with selected node display elements such that specific data or locations within the records associated therewith may be accessed. Moreover, the user interface component may also be configured to incorporate a retrieve progress display element that indicates a current status of a retrieve operation for a record. Individual node display elements within a user interface component may also separately indicate status information for their associated records, e.g., displaying a cache status and/or a matching status that indicates whether associated records match a predetermined search criteria, among others. The user interface component may also be utilized to perform common operations such as printing, caching and loading, among others, on selected records in response to user selection of the nodes associated with the selected records.
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Citations
62 Claims
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1. A method of graphically representing on a computer display a plurality of linked records, the method comprising:
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(a) displaying a plurality of node display elements, wherein each of which is associated with a record, and wherein at least a pair of node display elements are respectively associated with a pair of records that are linked to one another, the pair of node display elements graphically linked with one another; and (b) displaying a scroll display element on a selected one of the node display elements, the scroll display element indicating a selected location within the record associated with the selected node display element. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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2. A method of graphically representing on a computer display a plurality of linked records, the method comprising:
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(a) displaying a pluality of node display elements, wherein each is associated with a record, and wherein at least a pair of node display elements are respectively associated with a pair of records that are linked to one another, the pair of node display elements graphically linked with one another; and (b) displaying a control element on a selected one of the node display elements, the control element configured to navigate between first and second locations within the record associated with the selected node display element in response to user input. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40)
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3. A method of graphically representing on a computer display a plurality of hypertext documents, the method comprising:
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(a) displaying first and second node display elements, each of which is respectively associated with first and second hypertext documents, the second node display element graphically linked with the first node display element to represent a hypertext link in the first hypertext document to the second hypertext document; (b) displaying a scroll display element on the first node display element, the scroll display element indicating a selected location within the first hypertext document; (c) displaying at least a portion of the contents of the first hypertext document proximate the selected location in a window; (d) selectively scrolling the window through the contents of the first hypertext document in response to user manipulation of the scroll display element within the first node display element; and (e) displaying the contents of the second hypertext document in the window in response to user manipulation of the scroll display element from the first node display element to the second node display element.
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4. A method of graphically representing on a computer display a plurality of records including first and second records, wherein the first record includes a link to the second record, the method comprising;
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(a) displaying first and second node display elements, the first and second node display elements respectively associated with the first and second records; and (b) displaying a link display element that graphically links the first and second node display elements, the link display element at least partially overlapping the first node display element at a relative location on the first node display element that approximates a relative location of the link in the first record. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 61)
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41. A user interface component configured to display on a computer display a graphic representation of a plurality of linked records, the user interface component comprising:
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(a) a plurality of node display elements, wherein each of which is associated with a record, and wherein at least a pair of node display elements are respectively associated with a pair of records that are linked to one another, the pair of node display elements graphically linked with one another; and (b) a scroll display element defined on a selected one of the node display elements, the scroll display element indicating a selected location within the record associated with the selected node display element.
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42. A computer system configured to display a graphic representation of a plurality of linked records, the computer system comprising:
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(a) a computer display; and (b) a processor configured to display on the computer display a plurality of node display elements, wherein each of which is associated with a record, and wherein at least a pair of node display elements are respectively associated with a pair of records that are linked to one another, the pair of node display elements graphically linked with one another; and
to display a scroll display element on a selected one of the node display elements, the scroll display element indicating a selected location with the record associated with the selected node display element.
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43. A program product comprising:
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(a) a program configured to perform a method of graphically representing on a computer display a plurality of linked records, the method comprising displaying a plurality of node display elements, wherein each of which is associated with a record, and wherein at least a pair of node display elements are respectively associated with a pair of records that are linked to one another, the pair of node display elements graphically linked with one another; and
to display a scroll display element on a selected one of the node display elements, the scroll display element indicating a selected location within the record associated with the selected node display element; and(b) a signal bearing media bearing the program. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45)
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56. A user interface component configured to display on a computer display a graphic representation of a plurality of records including first and second records, wherein the first record includes a link to the second record, the user interface component comprising:
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(a) first and second node display elements, the first and second node display elements respectively associated with the first and second records; and (b) a link display element that graphically links the first and second node display elements, the link display element at least partially overlapping the first node display element at a relative location on the first node display element that approximates a relative location of the link in the first record.
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57. A computer system configured to display a graphic representation of a plurality of records including first and second records, wherein the first record includes a link to the second record, the computer system comprising:
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(a) a computer display; and (b) a processor configured to display on the computer display first and second node display elements, the first and second node display elements respectively associated with the first and second records, and to display on the computer display a link display element that graphically links the first and second node display elements, the link display element at least partially overlapping the first node display element at a relative location on the first node display element that approximates a relative location of the link in the first record.
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58. A program product comprising:
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(a) a program configured to perform a method of graphically representing on a computer display a plurality of records including first and second records, wherein the first record includes a link to the second record, the method comprising displaying first and second node display elements, the first and second node display elements respectively associated with the first and second records; and
displaying a link display element that graphically links the first and second node display elements, the link display element at least partially overlapping the first node display element at a relative location on the first node display element that approximates a relative location of the link in the first record; and(b) a signal bearing media bearing the program. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60)
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62. A method of graphically representing on a computer display a plurality of records including first and second records, wherein the first record includes a link to the second record, the method comprising:
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(a) displaying first and second node display elements, the first and second node display elements respectively associated with the first and second records; and (b) displaying a link display element that graphically links the first and second node display elements, the link display element indicating a relative location of the link in the first record, wherein the link display element includes a marker display element overlapping the first node display element at a relative location along a longitudinal axis of the first node display element that approximates the relative location of the link in the first record.
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Specification