Method and apparatus for displaying and header scrolling a hierarchical data structure

• US 6,430,574 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stead, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Veillard, Jacques
• Application Number:
  US09/465,423
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 707/4, 707/8, 707/102, 707/103, 707/104.1, 345/440, 345/841, 345/853, 345/854, 345/784-787, 345/830
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

Methods and apparatus can scroll a displayed hierarchical data structure. A hierarchical data structure can include a first parent node and a plurality of child nodes of the parent node, the plurality of subordinate nodes including a first child node and a second child node. The first parent node can be displayed in a first position of a display area. The first child node can be displayed in a second position of the display area, the second position being adjacent the first position. The second child node can be displayed in the display area. A first instruction to scroll at least the second child node in a direction toward the first position can be received, and the second child node can be displayed in the second position.

Claims

1. A method for scrolling a displayed hierarchical data structure including a first parent node and a plurality of child nodes of the parent node, the plurality of subordinate nodes including a first child node and a second child node, the method comprising:

displaying the first parent node in a first position of a display area,

displaying the first child node in a second position of the display area, the second position being adjacent the first position;

displaying the second child node in the display area;

receiving a first instruction to scroll at least the second child node in a direction toward the first position; and

displaying the second child node in the second position;

wherein the first parent node includes a spreadsheet header and the plurality of child nodes include spreadsheet child nodes.

2. A method for scrolling a displayed hierarchical data structure including a first parent node and a plurality of child nodes of the parent node, the plurality of subordinate nodes including a first child node and a second child node, the method comprising:

displaying the first parent node in a first position of a display area,

displaying the first child node in a second position of the display area, the second position being adjacent the first position;

displaying the second child node in the display area;

receiving a first instruction to scroll at least the second child node in a direction toward the first position; and

displaying the second child node in the second position;

wherein the first parent node includes artist data and the plurality of child nodes include album data.

3. A method for scrolling a displayed hierarchical data structure including a first parent node and a plurality of child nodes of the parent node, the plurality of subordinate nodes including a first child node and a second child node, the method comprising:

displaying the first parent node in a first position of a display area,

displaying the first child node in a second position of the display area, the second position being adjacent the first position;

displaying the second child node in the display area;

receiving a first instruction to scroll at least the second child node in a direction toward the first position; and

displaying the second child node in the second position;

wherein the first parent node includes album data and the plurality of child nodes include song data.

4. A method for scrolling a displayed hierarchical data structure including a first parent node and a plurality of child nodes of the parent node, the plurality of subordinate nodes including a first child node and a second child node, the method comprising:

displaying the first parent node in a first position of a display area,

displaying the first child node in a second position of the display area, the second position being adjacent the first position;

displaying the second child node in the display area;

receiving a first instruction to scroll at least the second child node in a direction toward the first position; and

displaying the second child node in the second position;

wherein the first parent node includes textual header data and the plurality of child nodes include subtext data.

5. A method for displaying hierarchical data, the method comprising:

displaying a parent node;

determining a first value corresponding to a number of child nodes of the parent node;

generating a subordinate data descriptor based at least in part on the determined first value; and

displaying the subordinate data descriptor as associated with the displayed parent node.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein displaying the subordinate data descriptor as associated with the displayed parent node includes displaying the subordinate data descriptor adjacent to the displayed parent node.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining a second value corresponding to a number of displayed child nodes of the parent node.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining a ratio of the second value to the first value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein

the subordinate data descriptor includes a first portion, and

the size of the first portion is based at least in part on the determined ratio.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the subordinate data descriptor includes a displayed number corresponding to the second value.

11. The method of claim 5, wherein generating the subordinate data descriptor is further based at least in part on the determined second value.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the subordinate data descriptor includes a first portion corresponding to the determined second value.

13. An apparatus to display hierarchical data, the apparatus comprising:

a. a processor; and

b. a memory, coupled to said processor, storing a plurality of instructions adapted to be executed by said processor to

display a parent node;

determine a first value corresponding to a number of child nodes of the parent node;

generate a subordinate data descriptor based at least in part on the determined first value; and

display the subordinate data descriptor as associated with the displayed parent node.

14. A computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to display hierarchical data, the plurality of instructions comprising instructions to:

display a parent node;

determine a first value corresponding to a number of child nodes of the parent node;

generate a subordinate data descriptor based at least in part on the determined first value; and

display the subordinate data descriptor as associated with the displayed parent node.