Multi-node user interface component and method thereof for use in displaying visual indication of search results

• US 6,404,446 B1
• Filed: 02/22/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Day, Paul Reuben, Bates, Cary Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/510,719
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 345/700, 345/853, 345/854, 345/973, 345/804, 345/762, 345/764, 345/808
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/94 Hypermedia Hyperlinking G06F40/134
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/973 Scroll tool, e.g. window scroll bar

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.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of generating a graphic representation of 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;

(b) searching at least a portion of the plurality of linked records based upon a search criteria to identify any matching records therefrom that meet the search criteria; and

(c) providing for each node display element a visual indication of whether its associated record is a matching record meeting the search criteria.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each node display element includes a search criteria matching status indicator that visually represents whether its associated record is a matching record.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the search criteria matching status indicator for each node display element is selected from the group consisting of a color indicator, a pattern indicator, a border indicator, an icon indicator, an alphanumeric indicator, and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising, for any intermediate node display element that is associated with a record not meeting the search criteria, but for which a descendant record meeting the search criteria exists, displaying the intermediate node display element as a link display element.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein searching at least a portion of the plurality of linked records includes beginning a search at a root record.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein searching at least a portion of the plurality of linked records further includes searching only records that are within a predetermined number of links from the root record.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the search criteria is based upon at least one of the group consisting of record contents, record title, record address, record description, record date, and record size.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein searching at least a portion of the plurality of linked records includes dynamically generating node display elements associated with searched records.

9. 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:

(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 plurality of matching status display elements, each matching status display element configured to indicate for a node display element from the plurality of node display elements whether its associated record meets a predetermined search criteria.

10. The user interface component of claim 9, wherein the search criteria matching status indicator for each node display element is selected from the group consisting of a color indicator, a pattern indicator, a border indicator, an icon indicator, an alphanumeric indicator, and combinations thereof.

11. The user interface component of claim 9, wherein the user interface component further includes an intermediate node display element that is associated with a record not meeting the search criteria, but for which a descendant record meeting the search criteria exists, the intermediate node display element displayed as a link display element.

12. The user interface component of claim 9, wherein the search criteria is based upon at least one of the group consisting of record contents, record title, record address, record description, record date, and record size.

13. A computer system configured to display a graphic representation of a plurality of linked records, the computer system comprising:

(a) a computer display; and

(b) a processor configured to display on the computer 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;

to search each record based upon a search criteria to identify any matching records in the plurality of linked records that meet the search criteria; and

to provide for each node display element a visual indication of whether its associated record is a matching record meeting the search criteria.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein each node display element includes a search criteria matching status indicator that visually represents whether its associated record is a matching record.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the search criteria matching status indicator for each node display element is selected from the group consisting of a color indicator, a pattern indicator, a border indicator, an icon indicator, an alphanumeric indicator, and combinations thereof.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to, for any intermediate node display element that is associated with a record not meeting the search criteria, but for which a descendant record meeting the search criteria exists, display the intermediate node display element as a link display element.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to search at least a portion of the plurality of linked records by beginning a search at a root record.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to search at least a portion of the plurality of linked records by searching only records that are within a predetermined number of links from the root record.

19. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the search criteria is based upon at least one of the group consisting of record contents, record title, record address, record description, record date, and record size.

20. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to search at least a portion of the plurality of linked records by dynamically generating node display elements associated with searched records.

21. A program product comprising:

(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;

searching each record based upon a search criteria to identify any matching records in the plurality of linked records that meet the search criteria; and

providing for each node display element a visual indication of whether its associated record is a matching record meeting the search criteria; and

(b) a signal bearing media bearing the program.

22. The program product of claim 21, wherein the signal bearing media is transmission type media.

23. The program product of claim 21, wherein the signal bearing media is recordable media.

24. The program product of claim 21, wherein each node display element includes a search criteria matching status indicator that visually represents whether its associated record is a matching record.

25. The program product of claim 24, wherein the search criteria matching status indicator for each node display element is selected from the group consisting of a color indicator, a pattern indicator, a border indicator, an icon indicator, an alphanumeric indicator, and combinations thereof.

26. The program product of claim 21, wherein the method further comprises, for any intermediate node display element that is associated with a record not meeting the search criteria, but for which a descendant record meeting the search criteria exists, displaying the intermediate node display element as a link display element.

27. The program product of claim 21, wherein searching at least a portion of the plurality of linked records includes beginning a search at a root record.

28. The program product of claim 27, wherein searching at least a portion of the plurality of linked records further includes searching only records that are within a predetermined number of links from the root record.

29. The program product of claim 21, wherein the search criteria is based upon at least one of the group consisting of record contents, record title, record address, record description, record date, and record size.

30. The program product of claim 21, wherein searching at least a portion of the plurality of linked records includes dynamically generating node display elements associated with searched records.