Method and apparatus for manipulating very long lists of data displayed in a graphical user interface using a layered list mechanism
First Claim
1. A method for displaying a data collection within a data processing system, wherein the data collection includes a plurality of entries, the method comprising the data processing implemented steps of:
- displaying a control layer;
displaying entries from the plurality of entries in the data collection within the control layer using a first format, wherein a portion of the plurality of entries in the data collection are undisplayed within the control layer; and
in response to the portion of the plurality of entries being undisplayed within the control layer, displaying a secondary layer and displaying entries from the portion of the plurality of entries within the secondary layer using a second format, wherein the data collection is efficiently displayed within the data processing system.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for displaying a data collection within a data processing system, wherein the data collection includes a plurality of entries. First a control layer is displayed. Next, entries from the plurality of entries in the data collection are displayed within the control layer. In response to entries within the plurality of entries being undisplayed within the control layer, a secondary layer and entries from the additional entries from the plurality of entries are displayed within the secondary layer, wherein the data collection is efficiently displayed within the data processing system.
97 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for displaying a data collection within a data processing system, wherein the data collection includes a plurality of entries, the method comprising the data processing implemented steps of:
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displaying a control layer; displaying entries from the plurality of entries in the data collection within the control layer using a first format, wherein a portion of the plurality of entries in the data collection are undisplayed within the control layer; and in response to the portion of the plurality of entries being undisplayed within the control layer, displaying a secondary layer and displaying entries from the portion of the plurality of entries within the secondary layer using a second format, wherein the data collection is efficiently displayed within the data processing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for displaying a plurality of objects within a data processing system, the method comprising the data processing implemented steps of:
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displaying objects from the plurality of objects within a primary layer using a first format, wherein a portion of the plurality of objects are undisplayed within the primary layer; and in response to the portion of the plurality of being undisplayed within the primary layer, displaying objects within the portion of the plurality of objects within a secondary layer using a second format, wherein some of the objects within the plurality of objects remain undisplayed. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A data processing system for displaying a data collection within the data processing system, wherein the data collection includes a plurality of entries, comprising:
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first display means for displaying a control layer; second display means for displaying entries from the plurality of entries in the data collection within the control layer, wherein the entries are displayed using a first format; third display means, in response to other entries within the plurality of entries being undisplayed within the control layer, for displaying a secondary layer and displaying entries from the other entries within the secondary layer using a second format, wherein the data collection is efficiently displayed within the data processing system. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A data processing system comprising:
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a memory; a plurality of objects located in the memory; a display; and a processor having a plurality of modes of operation including; a first mode of operation in which the processor displays objects from the plurality of objects within a primary layer in a first format, wherein a portion of the plurality of objects are undisplayed in the primary layer; and a second mode of operation, responsive to the portion of the plurality of objects being undisplayed within the primary layer, in which the processor displays at least some of the portion of the plurality of objects within a secondary layer in a second format.
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19. A computer program product for use with a computer for displaying a plurality of data collections within the computer, the computer program product comprising:
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a computer usable medium; first instructions for displaying objects from the plurality of objects within a primary layer using a first format, wherein a portion of the plurality of objects are undisplayed within the primary layer; and second instructions for, responsive to the portion of the plurality of objects being undisplayed in the primary layer, for displaying at least a portion of the plurality of objects within a secondary layer using a second format, wherein the instructions are embodied within the computer usable medium.
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20. A method for displaying a data collection within a data processing system, wherein the data collection includes a plurality of entries, the method comprising the data processing implemented steps of:
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displaying a control layer; displaying entries from the plurality of entries in the data collection within the control layer using a first format, wherein a portion of the plurality of entries in the data collection are undisplayed within the control layer; in response to the portion of the plurality of entries being undisplayed within the control layer, displaying a secondary layer and displaying entries from the portion of the plurality of entries within the secondary layer using a second format, wherein the data collection is efficiently displayed within the data processing system; and wherein each of the plurality of entries in the data collection includes a number of fields, the entries from plurality of entries displayed in the control layer using the first format are displayed using a first number of fields from the plurality of fields, the entries from the portion of the plurality of entries displayed in the secondary layer using a second format are displayed using a second number of fields from the plurality of fields, and the second number is unequal to the first number. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification