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System and process for manipulating and viewing hierarchical iconic containers

  • US 6,208,344 B1
  • Filed: 07/29/1998
  • Issued: 03/27/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A user interface system for use with a multi-level hierarchical data structure, the multi-level hierarchical data structure including at least one child data element and apparent data elements at a next higher level, and wherein each child data element may include positioning coordinates relative to its parent data element, the user interface system comprising:

  • (a) display means for displaying to a user of the user interface system a first set of iconic representations, each of the first set of iconic representations corresponding to one of the parent data elements at a selected level of the multi-level hierarchical structure, and each of the first set of iconic representations being positioned on the display means at a selected location correspond to the parent data element'"'"'s associated coordinates;

    (b) pointing means coupled to the video display for visually pointing to a selected one of the first set of iconic representations displayed by the display means;

    (c) means, responsive to the pointing means for directing the display means to display a second set of iconic representations at the selected coordinates, each of the second set of iconic representations corresponding to one of the child data elements associated with the parent data element corresponding to the selected one of the first set of iconic representations; and

    (d) means for establishing what data elements corresponding to iconic representations are allowed to be parents or children of other data elements corresponding to iconic representations.

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