Method and system for generating a dynamic timeline

• US 6,600,501 B1
• Filed: 05/18/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Israel, Larry J., Knox, Kipling A., Woods, Lisa Everett, Cox, James H., Mohamed, Abdul Wajid “Shammi”, OʼDonnell, Adrienne E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/574,459
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 345/963, 345/810, 345/833, 345/838, 345/855, 705/9, 705/10, 715/501, 715/507, 707/1-5, 708/112, 708/110, 368/28, 368/41
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/963 Calendar or scheduling

Abstract

A Dynamic Timeline for a computer-based information source, such as an electronic encyclopedia. The Dynamic Timeline can display Links, typically a reference to a time period, topic, or event. When the user chooses the Link, an array of information is presented to the user about the Link-related time period, topic, or event. Links can highlight individual events and trends that occur over a period of time. Links also can present an editorial perspective of events. The Links are typically listed in chronological order on the Dynamic Timeline for an electronic encyclopedia. The Dynamic Timeline allows users to view different Links by changing some dynamic settings.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented process for generating a dynamic timeline for a selected time period associated with time-related information, including the steps of:

determining a center year for the selected time period and a pair of boundary years that define the time interval of the selected time period;

obtaining the time-related information associated with the selected time period based on the time interval bounded by the boundary years, each time-related information associated with at least one of the years of the selected time period;

determining the portion of time-related information that can be visibly presented proximate to the timeline and within a window frame;

rendering the timeline having the center year positioned in the approximate center of the window frame and each boundary year placed at one edge of the window frame;

rendering the portion of the time-related information proximate to the timeline and within the window frame, each time-related information positioned proximate to a location on the timeline that corresponds to at least one of the years associated with the time-related information.

2. The computer-implemented process of claim 1, wherein said step of determining a center year and boundary years comprises the steps of:

defining a time axis for the timeline based on the center year and the boundary years;

determining a total number of years “

x”

that can be visibly displayed on the timeline and within the window frame;

calculating the boundary year to be displayed at the left edge of the window frame by subtracting the center year from “

x/2”

; and

calculating the boundary year to be displayed at the right edge of the window frame by adding “

x”

to the boundary year displayed at the left edge.

3. The computer-implemented process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of identifying a presentation priority for each time-related information and rendering the portion of the time-related information proximate to the timeline and within the window frame based on the presentation priority assigned to the time-related information.

4. The computer-implemented process of claim 3, wherein the step of identifying the presentation priority of the time-related information step comprises ranking the information according to historical importance and ordering the information within a priority list based on the assigned ranking.

5. The computer-implemented process of claim 4, wherein the step of determining the portion of time-related information that can be visibly presented proximate to the timeline and within the window frame comprises the steps of:

(a) locating the information having the highest ranking in the priority list;

(b) identifying the location proximate to the timeline for placing the information;

(c) allocating an amount of space within the window frame that will be occupied by the information; and

repeating steps (a)-(c) for the information having the next highest ranking in the priority list until the information for the selected time period has been exhausted.

6. The computer-implemented process of claim 4, wherein the step of determining the portion of time-related information that can be visibly presented proximate to the timeline and within the window frame comprises the steps of:

(a) locating the information having the highest ranking in the priority list;

(b) identifying the horizontal and vertical locations proximate to the timeline for placing the information;

(c) allocating an amount of horizontal and vertical space within the window frame that will be occupied by the information; and

repeating steps (a)-(c) for the information having the next highest ranking in the priority list until the information for the selected time period has been exhausted.

7. The computer-implemented process of claim 6, wherein the step of identifying the horizontal location comprises determining at least one of the years associated with the time-related information.

8. The computer-implemented process of claim 6, wherein the step of identifying the vertical location proximate to the time line comprises the steps of:

creating multiple vertical slots extending across the vertical edges of the window frame and from the top edge of the window frame to the bottom edge of the window frame;

attempting to place the time-related information in a center vertical slot; and

if the center vertical slot is already allocated for use by other time-related information, then placing the information in one of the available vertical slots above or below the center vertical slot.