Graphical user interface and method for displaying hierarchically structured information

• US 6,437,812 B1
• Filed: 06/30/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cerebrus Solutions Ltd (Neural Technologies Limited)
• Inventors: Hobson, Philip W, Giles, David Peter, Coward, Jonathan, Bushell, Alexander, Jolliffe, Graham John, Tweedie, Lisa Anne
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu D.
• Application Number:
  US09/345,068
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 345/764, 345/810, 345/841, 345/843, 345/845, 345/853, 345/854, 345/855, 345/828
• US Class Current: 715/853
• 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

Abstract

A graphical user interface (GUI) is described which enables hierarchically structured information to be presented and analysed by a user quickly and easily. In one example, the GUI is for a fraud management system and the information is about “alarms”. Each alarm is an indicator of potential fraud and several types of alarm are presented, where the type of an alarm depends on the method of obtaining that alarm. The types of alarm are arranged in a hierarchical structure and a representation of the hierarchical structure is displayed on a display screen. A user is able to select one or more parts of the hierarchical structure in order to display information about all the alarms of the selected types and subtypes. This enables the user to quickly and easily view required information without the need to make many user actions and selections. The representation of the hierarchical structure may be tailored by the user. This is done by collapsing or expanding parts of the hierarchical representation.

Claims

1. A method of displaying hierarchically structured information, the hierarchy having at least two levels, the method comprising:

(i) displaying a first representation of at least part of the hierarchy;

(ii) receiving a first user input associated with the first representation to make a first selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

(iii) in response to the first selection, displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the first selection; and

(iv) displaying a second representation of at least part of the hierarchy, the second representation being independent of the first representation, the second representation including at least some information having a different format than information displayed in the first representation.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy comprises only displaying information of a common format.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises displaying information located at all levels below the level of the first selection.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises displaying information located at multiple different levels.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising receiving a second user input associated with the first representation to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, displaying information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising receiving a second user input associated with the second representation to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, displaying information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

7. A method of displaying hierarchically structured information, the hierarchy having at least two levels, the method comprising:

(i) displaying a first representation of at least part of the hierarchy;

(ii) receiving a first user input associated with the first representation to make a first selection of least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

(iii) in response to the first selection, displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the first selection, wherein said information is from a fraud management system.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises displaying information located at all levels below the level of the first selection.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises displaying information located at multiple different levels.

10. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising receiving a second user input associated with the first representation to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, displaying information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

11. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least some of the information is of different formats.

12. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy comprises only displaying information of a common format.

13. A method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising displaying a second representation of at least part of the hierarchy, the second representation being independent of the first representation.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising receiving a second user input associated with the second representation to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, displaying information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

15. A method of displaying hierarchically structured information, the hierarchy having at least two levels, the method comprising:

(i) displaying a first representation of at least part of the hierarchy;

(ii) receiving a first user input associated with the first representation to make a first selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

(iii) in response to the first selection, displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the first selection, wherein said information comprises a plurality of alarms each of which is an indicator of potential fraud.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises displaying information located at all levels below the level of the first selection.

17. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises displaying information located at multiple different levels.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising receiving a second user input associated with the first representation to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, displaying information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

19. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least some of the information is of different formats.

21. A method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising displaying a second representation of at least part of the hierarchy, the second representation being independent of the first representation.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising receiving a second user input associated with the second representation to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, displaying information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

20. A method as claimed in 15, wherein displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy comprises only displaying information of a common format.

23. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, said computer program displaying hierarchically structured information, the hierarchy having at least two levels, said computer program comprising instructions operable to cause a processor to

(i) display a first representation of at least part of the hierarchy;

(ii) receive a first user input associated with the first representation to make a first selection of at least part of the hierarchy at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

(iii) in response to the first selection, display information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the first selection; and

(iv) display a second representation of at least part of the hierarchy, the second representation being independent of the first representation, the second representation including at least some information having a different format than information displayed in the first representation.

24. A computer program as claimed in claim 23, wherein display information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises display information located at all levels below the level of the first selection.

25. A computer program as claimed in claim 23, wherein display information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises display information located at multiple different levels.

26. A computer program as claimed in claim 23, comprising further instructions operable to cause the processor to receive a second user input associated with the first representation to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, display information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

27. A computer program as claimed in claim 23, comprising further instructions operable to cause the processor to receive a second user input associated with the second representation of the hierarchy to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, display information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

28. A computer program as claimed in claim 23, wherein display information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy comprises only display information of a common format.

29. A fraud management system comprising:

(i) a display screen;

(ii) user input means;

(iii) a processor arranged to display information from the fraud management system on the display screen, said information comprising a plurality of alarms each alarm being an indicator of potential fraud, and wherein said alarms are hierarchically structured, the hierarchy having at least two levels, said processor being arranged to

(i) display a first representation of at least part of the hierarchy;

(ii) receive a first user input associated with the first representation to make a first selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

(iii) in response to the first selection, display information within the selected part of the hierarchy, including information about alarms located two or more levels below the level of the first selection.

30. A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein display information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises display information located at all levels below the level of the first selection.

31. A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein display information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises display information located at multiple different levels.

32. A system as claimed in claim 29, the processor being further arranged to receive a second user input associated with the first representation to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, display information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

33. A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein at least some of the information is of different formats.

34. A system as claimed in claim 29, the processor being further arranged to display a second representation of at least part of the hierarchy, the second representation being independent of the first representation.

35. A system as claimed in claim 34, the processor being further arranged to receive a second user input associated with the second representation of the hierarchy to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, display information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

36. A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy comprises only displaying information of a common format.

37. A graphical user interface comprising:

(i) display screen;

(ii) a user input means; and

(iii) a processor arranged to display information on the display screen, said information comprising a plurality of items each item being of a given type, said processor being arranged to

(i) form a hierarchy of said items;

(ii) display a first representation of the hierarchy on the display screen;

(iii) receive a first use input associated with the first representation to make a first selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

(iv) in response to the first selection, displaying information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the first selection; and

(v) displaying a second representation of at least part of the hierarchy, the second representation being independent of the first representation, the second representation including at least some information having a different format than information displayed in the first representation.

38. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 37, wherein display information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises display information located at all levels below the level of the first selection.

39. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 37, wherein display information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises display information located at multiple different levels.

40. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 37, the processor being further arranged to receive a second user input associated with the first representation to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, display information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

41. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 37, the processor being further arranged to receive a second user input associated with the second representation of the hierarchy to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, display information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

42. A graphical user interface as claimed in claim 37, wherein display information located within the first selected part of the hierarchy comprises only display information of a common format.

43. A method of operating a display for displaying hierarchically structured information, the hierarchy having at least two levels, said method comprising

(i) causing a first representation of at least part of the hierarchy to be displayed;

(ii) making a user enter a first input associated with the first representation to select at least part of the hierarchy at a given one of the levels of the hierarchy;

(iii) in response to the first selection, causing information to be displayed within the first selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the first selection; and

(iv) causing a second representation of at least part of the hierarchy to be displayed, the second representation being independent of the first representation, the second representation including at least some information having a different format than information displayed in the first representation.

44. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein causing information to be displayed within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises causing information located at all levels below the level of the first selection to be displayed.

45. A method as claimed in claim 43, wherein causing information to be displayed within the first selected part of the hierarchy further comprises causing information located at multiple different levels to be displayed.

46. A method as claimed in claim 43, further comprising making a user enter a second input associated with the first representation to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, causing information to be displayed within the second selected part of the hierarchy, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

48. A method as claimed in claim 43, further comprising making a user enter a second input associated with the second representation to make a second selection of at least part of the hierarchy, at a given one of the levels in the hierarchy;

and, in response to the second selection, causing information located within the second selected part of the hierarchy to be displayed, including information located two or more levels below the level of the second selection.

47. A method as claimed in 43, wherein causing information to be displayed within the first selected part of the hierarchy comprises causing only information of a common format to be displayed.