User interface management through branch isolation

• US 6,549,221 B1
• Filed: 12/09/1999
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schwerdtfeger, Richard S., Weiss, Lawrence F., Brown, Frances C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai, Cuong T.
• Application Number:
  US09/458,643
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 345/760, 345/762, 345/763, 345/764, 345/853, 345/835, 345/854, 345/767
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods for presenting (e.g., displaying) a hierarchical structure are presented. The hierarchical structure includes multiple elements and defines hierarchical relationships between the elements. The hierarchical structure may be embodied within an electronic document such as a Web document, an interactive application program, or a map divided into sections. Each element has a “presentation property” which may be a value or a function. One of the elements has “focus” (e.g., as created, by default, etc.). A “branch isolation” method includes forming a tree-like model of the hierarchical structure having multiple nodes and at least one branch. Each node represents one of the elements. One node is a root node and occupies a highest level in the hierarchical structure. A given branch connects a first node in a first level to a second node in a level directly below the first level. Each branch represents a hierarchical relationship between connected nodes. A “focus node” represents the element receiving focus. A “path” in the model from the root node to the focus node is determined. The presentation property of the element represented by the root node is selectively presented. The presentation property of each element represented by a node, other than the root node, along the path from the root node to the focus node is also presented. The presentation property of each element represented by a node in a subtree is also presented, wherein the focus node is a root node of the subtree.

Claims

1. A method for presenting an electronic document having a plurality of elements at a client machine having a client application, the method comprising:

receiving the electronic document in a first digital format, wherein a hierarchical structure of the electronic document defines hierarchical relationships between the plurality of elements, wherein each of the plurality of elements has a presentation property, and wherein a single one of the plurality of elements has focus;

forming a model of the hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of levels ranked with respect to one another;

using the model to produce, in a second digital format, an original script having the presentation properties of at least a portion of the plurality of elements;

selectively presenting, in the original script, the presentation property of the element represented in the hierarchical structure by a root node;

presenting, in the original script, the presentation property of each element in the hierarchical structure represented by a node along a path from the root node to a focus node representing the element having focus; and

presenting, in the original script, the presentation property of each element in the hierarchical structure represented by a node in a level lower than the level of the focus node and coupled to the focus node by one or more branches.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic document is a Web page, an interactive application program, a map, a table having rows and columns, or a document having sections.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the model is a tree structure, wherein nodes in levels lower than the level of the focus node and coupled to the focus node by one or more branches comprise a subtree of the tree structure, and wherein the focus node is the root node of the subtree.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the presentation property of a given node is either a value or a function.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of using the model to produce, in a second digital format, an original script having presentation properties of at least a portion of the elements further comprises producing the original script based upon client data indicating the capabilities of the client machine wherein the script contains a portion of the hierarchical structure such that the hierarchical structure presented is within a presentation capability of the client machine.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the client data comprises at least one of memory size, processing capability, and display size.

7. A method for presenting an electronic document having a plurality of elements at a client machine having a client application, the method comprising:

receiving the electronic document from a host application coupled to the client application in a first digital format, wherein a hierarchical structure of the electronic document defines hierarchical relationships between the plurality of elements, and wherein a single one of the plurality of elements has focus at a given instance;

forming a tree model of the hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of levels ranked with respect to one another, a plurality of nodes, and at least one branch, wherein each node represents a single one of the elements, and wherein a single one of the nodes is a root node of the tree model and occupies a highest level, and wherein a given branch connects a first node in a first level to a second node in a level directly below the first level, and wherein each branch represents a hierarchical relationship between the nodes connected by the branch;

generating, by the client application, a presentation property for each element;

using the tree model to produce an original script expressed in a second digital format, wherein the original script includes the presentation properties of at least a portion of the plurality of elements;

using the original script, by a user agent, to produce presentation information for issuing output commands to at least one output device associated with the client machine to effectuate;

selectively presenting, in the original script, the presentation property of the element represented by the root node;

presenting, in the original script, the presentation property of each element represented by a node along a path from the root node to the focus node; and

presenting, in the original script, the presentation property of each element represented by a node in a level lower than the level of the focus node and coupled to the focus node by one or more branches;

thereby presenting, by the output device, at least a portion of the hierarchical structure of the electronic document.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the first digital format is a text-based markup language.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the text-based markup language is hypertext markup language (HTML) or extensible markup language (XML).

10. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the second digital format is a scripting language.

11. The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

receiving an event, wherein the event signals a change in the element having focus, and in response to the received event;

using the tree model to produce a new script expressed in the second digital format;

using the new script to produce presentation information to issue new output commands to at least one output device connected to the client machine;

thereby presenting, by the output device, at least a different portion of the hierarchical structure of the electronic document.

12. A method for presenting an electronic document having a plurality of elements at a client machine having a client application, the method comprising:

receiving the electronic document, at a host application coupled to the client application, in a first digital format, wherein a hierarchical structure of the electronic document defines hierarchical relationships between the plurality of elements, and wherein a single one of the plurality of elements has focus;

forming a tree model of the hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of levels ranked with respect to one another, a plurality of nodes, and at least one branch, wherein each node represents a single one of the elements, and wherein a single one of the nodes is a root node of the tree model and occupies a highest level, and wherein a given branch connects a first node in a first level to a second node in a level directly below the first level, and wherein each branch represents a hierarchical relationship between the nodes connected by the branch;

generating, by the client application, a presentation property for each of the plurality of elements;

using the tree model to produce an original script expressed in a second digital format, wherein the original script includes the presentation properties of at least a portion of the plurality of elements represented by nodes;

along a first path from the root node to an original focus node, wherein the original focus node is the node representing the element having focus; and

within a first subtree of the tree model, wherein the original focus node is a root node of the first subtree;

using the original script to produce presentation information for issuing output commands to at least one output device associated with the client machine to present the presentation properties within the original script;

generating an event in response to user input, wherein the event signals a change in the element having focus;

using the tree model to produce a new script in response to the event, wherein the new script is expressed in the second digital format and includes the presentation properties of at least a portion of the elements represented by nodes;

along a second path from the root node to a new focus node, wherein the new focus node is the node representing the element having focus as a result of the change in focus signaled by the event; and

within a second subtree, wherein the new focus node is a root node of the second subtree; and

using the new script to produce presentation information for issuing new output commands to at least one output device associated with the client machine to present the presentation properties within the new script.

13. The methods as recited in claims 7 or 12, wherein the step of using the tree model to produce an original script expressed in a second digital format further comprises producing the original script based upon client data indicating the capabilities of the client machine wherein the script contains a portion of the hierarchical structure such that the hierarchical structure presented is within a presentation capability of the client machine.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the client data comprises at least one of memory size, processing capability, and display size.

15. A method for presenting an electronic document having a plurality of elements at a client machine having a client application, the method comprising:

receiving an original script, which includes the plurality of elements expressed in a second digital format, wherein a hierarchical structure of the electronic document defines hierarchical relationships between the plurality of elements, wherein each of the plurality of elements has a presentation property, wherein a single one of the plurality of elements has focus, and wherein the original script is derived from a tree model of the hierarchical structure having a first digital format, a plurality of levels ranked with respect to one another and a plurality of nodes, and wherein each node represents a single one of the plurality of elements, and wherein the original script includes the presentation properties of elements represented by nodes;

along a first path from the root node to an original focus node, wherein the original focus node is the node representing the element having focus; and

within a first subtree of the tree model, wherein the original focus node is a root node of the first subtree; and

presenting, in the second digital format, the presentation properties within the original script.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising:

generating an event in response to user input, wherein the event signals a change in the element having focus;

providing the event;

receiving a new script expressed in the second digital format and derived from the tree model, wherein the new script includes the presentation properties of at least a portion of the plurality of elements represented by nodes;

along a second path from the root node to a new focus node, wherein the new focus node is the node representing the element having focus as a result of the change in focus signaled by the event; and

within a second subtree, wherein the new focus node is a root node of the second subtree; and

presenting, in the second digital format, the presentation properties within the new script.

17. A system for presenting a hierarchical structure, comprising:

a transcoder proxy configured to;

receive the hierarchical structure expressed in a first digital format, wherein the hierarchical structure includes a plurality of elements and defines hierarchical relationships between the elements, and wherein each element has a presentation property, and wherein a single one of the elements has focus;

form a tree model of the hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of levels ranked with respect to one another, a plurality of nodes, and at least one branch, wherein each node represents a single one of the elements, and wherein a single one of the nodes is a root node of the tree model and occupies a highest level, and wherein a given branch connects a first node in a first level to a second node in a level directly below the first level, and wherein each branch represents a hierarchical relationship between the nodes connected by the branch;

use the tree model to produce an original script expressed in a second digital format, wherein the original script includes the presentation properties of at least a portion of the elements represented by nodes;

along a first path from the root node to an original focus node, wherein the original focus node is the node representing the element having focus; and

within a first subtree of the tree model, wherein the original focus node is a root node of the first subtree; and

provide the original script; and

a client machine coupled to the transcoder proxy, wherein the client machine comprises;

an output device; and

a user agent coupled to the output device and configured to;

receive the original script;

form presentation information in response to the original script, wherein the presentation information includes the presentation properties within the original script;

use the presentation information to produce output commands; and

provide the output commands to the output device.

18. The system as recited in claim 17, wherein the user agent of the client machine is further configured to:

generate an event in response to user input, wherein the event signals a change in the element having focus; and

provide the event.

19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the transcoder proxy is further configured to:

receive the event;

use the tree model to produce a new script in response to the event and expressed in the second digital format, wherein the new script includes the presentation properties of at least a portion of the elements represented by nodes;

along a second path from the root node to a new focus node, wherein the new focus node is the node representing the element having focus as a result of the change in focus signaled by the event;

within a second subtree, wherein the new focus node is a root node of the second subtree; and

provide the new script.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein the user agent of the client machine is further configured to:

receive the new script; and

modify the presentation information in response to the new script.

21. A method for presenting a hierarchical structure, comprising:

accessing the hierarchical structure, wherein the hierarchical structure includes a plurality of elements and defines hierarchical relationships between the elements, and wherein each element has a presentation property, and wherein a single one of the elements has focus;

forming a model of the hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of levels ranked with respect to one another, a plurality of nodes, and at least one branch, wherein each node represents a single one of the elements, and wherein a single one of the nodes is a root node and occupies a highest level, and wherein a given branch connects a first node in a first level to a second node in a level directly below the first level, and wherein each branch represents a hierarchical relationship between the nodes connected by the branch;

selecting a first portion of the model, comprising;

nodes along a path in the model from the root node to a focus node, wherein the focus node is the node representing the element having focus; and

nodes in a level lower than the level of the focus node and coupled to the focus node by one or more branches;

selecting a second portion of the model, comprising;

nodes in the same level as the focus node; and

nodes in a selected number of levels lower than the level of the focus node; and

presenting the presentation properties of elements represented by nodes within both the first and second portions of the model.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the path is a route from the root node to the focus node formed along branches.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the root node is within both the first and second portions of the model, and wherein the presentation property of the element represented by the root node is selectively presented.

24. A computer system configured to receive an electronic document having a plurality of elements expressed in a first digital format and present the electronic document expressed in a second digital format, comprising:

a host application configured to;

access a hierarchical structure of the electronic document expressed in the first digital format, wherein the hierarchical structure defines hierarchical relationships between the plurality of elements, wherein each of the plurality of elements has a presentation property, and wherein a single one of the plurality of elements has focus;

form a model of the hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of levels ranked with respect to one another, a plurality of nodes, and at least one branch, wherein each node represents a single one of the elements, and wherein a single one of the nodes is a root node and occupies a highest level, and wherein a given branch connects a first node in a first level to a second node in a level directly below the first level, and wherein each branch represents a hierarchical relationship between the nodes connected by the branch;

a client application coupled to the host application and configured to;

access the model of the hierarchical structure;

determine a path in the model from the root node to a focus node, wherein the focus node is the node representing the element having focus;

use the model to produce, in the second digital format, an original script having a set of presentation properties, wherein the set of presentation properties comprises;

the presentation property of each element represented by a node, other than the root node, along the path from the root node to the focus node; and

the presentation property of each element represented by a node in a level lower than the level of the focus node and coupled to the focus node by one or more branches; and

provide the set of presentation properties;

an output device; and

a user agent coupled to the output device and to receive the set of presentation properties, wherein the user agent is configured to;

use the set of presentation properties to produce output commands; and

provide the output commands to the output device.

25. The computer system as recited in claim 24, wherein the host application is a Web browser.

26. The computer system as recited in claim 24, wherein the client application is an assistive technology which functions as an interface between the host application and the user agent.

27. The computer system as recited in claim 24, wherein the user agent functions as an interface between the client application and the output device.

28. The computer system as recited in claim 24, wherein the output device is a Braille display or a text-to-speech converter.

29. The computer system as recited in claim 24, further comprising an input device coupled to the user agent.

30. The computer system as recited in claim 29, wherein the input device is a speech-to-text converter.

31. A computer system configured to receive an electronic document having a plurality of elements expressed in a first digital format and present the electronic document expressed in a second digital format, comprising:

a host application;

a client application coupled to the host application and configured to;

access a hierarchical structure of the electronic document expressed in the first digital format via the host application, wherein the hierarchical structure defines hierarchical relationships between the plurality of elements, wherein each of the plurality of elements has a presentation property, and wherein a single one of the plurality of elements has focus;

form a model of the hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of levels ranked with respect to one another, a plurality of nodes, and at least one branch, wherein each node represents a single one of the elements, and wherein a single one of the nodes is a root node and occupies a highest level, and wherein a given branch connects a first node in a first level to a second node in a level directly below the first level, and wherein each branch represents a hierarchical relationship between the nodes connected by the branch;

determine a path in the model from the root node to a focus node, wherein the focus node is the node representing the element having focus;

use the model to produce, in the second digital format, an original script having a set of presentation properties, wherein the set of presentation properties comprises;

the presentation property of each element represented by a node, other than the root node, along the path from the root node to the focus node; and

the presentation property of each element represented by a node in a level lower than the level of the focus node and coupled to the focus node by one or more branches; and

provide the set of presentation properties;

an output device; and

a user agent coupled to the output device and to receive the set of presentation properties, wherein the user agent is configured to;

use the set of presentation properties to produce output commands; and

provide the output commands to the output device.