Graphically represented dynamic time strip for displaying user-accessible time-dependent data objects
First Claim
1. A system for displaying time dependent information on a computer display device comprising:
- graphically displaying sequential data objects representing the time dependant information on the computer display device, and wherein the data objects have at least one associated time;
wherein the graphical display of sequential data objects is represented by a dynamic time strip further comprising a graphical representation of each sequential data object;
wherein the dynamic time strip further comprises at least one indication of time along the length of the dynamic time strip;
wherein data objects are added to the dynamic time strip via a user interface by selection of an area on the dynamic time strip not having a graphically represented sequential data object; and
wherein data objects are removed from the dynamic time strip by dragging the data objects off of the time strip via a user interface using a computer pointing device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention involves a new system and process for graphically representing time dependent information or data objects, from at least one separate program, in a sequential manner using a dynamic time strip having implicit or explicit indications of time. In particular, the dynamic time strip is a linear graphical strip comprising graphical representations of time dependent information elements or data objects which may or may not include text or markers to indicate the time (i.e. second, minute, hour, day and/or date) along the length of the strip. As time passes, and data objects are changed, added or removed from the time strip, either automatically or through user interaction, the time strip is automatically and dynamically updated to reflect these changes along with showing the passage of time. The period of time represented by the dynamic time strip is preferably one day, with the dynamic time strip automatically scrolling forward as time passes. However, in one embodiment, the period of time represented by the dynamic time strip is user configurable.
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Citations
48 Claims
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1. A system for displaying time dependent information on a computer display device comprising:
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graphically displaying sequential data objects representing the time dependant information on the computer display device, and wherein the data objects have at least one associated time;
wherein the graphical display of sequential data objects is represented by a dynamic time strip further comprising a graphical representation of each sequential data object;
wherein the dynamic time strip further comprises at least one indication of time along the length of the dynamic time strip;
wherein data objects are added to the dynamic time strip via a user interface by selection of an area on the dynamic time strip not having a graphically represented sequential data object; and
wherein data objects are removed from the dynamic time strip by dragging the data objects off of the time strip via a user interface using a computer pointing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A computer-implemented process for automatically displaying time-dependant data objects on a computer display device, comprising:
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retrieving the data objects from at least one electronic database, wherein the data objects represent time dependant information having at least one associated time;
sequentially sorting the data objects with respect to an earliest time associated with each data object;
dynamically displaying graphical representations of the sequentially sorted data objects within a geometrically linear dynamic time strip;
updating the dynamic time strip to reflect the passage of time by scrolling the dynamic time strip forward in time as time passes; and
opening and displaying contents of the at least one electronic database of data objects by user selection of a portion of the dynamic time strip not including a graphical representation of the sequentially sorted data objects. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
adding data objects to the dynamic time strip;
deleting data objects from the dynamic time strip;
editing data objects displayed within the dynamic time strip; and
viewing the time dependant information associated with each data object;
simultaneously selecting multiple objects on the dynamic time strip for allowing at least one user specified action to be applied to each selected object.
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34. The computer-implemented process of claim 32 further comprising a user interface for adjusting the length of a total period of time represented by the dynamic time strip.
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35. The computer-implemented process of claim 32 further comprising a user interface for scrolling the dynamic time strip forward in time, and wherein the dynamic time strip is automatically updated as the dynamic time strip is scrolled forward in time.
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36. The computer-implemented process of claim 32 further comprising a user interface for scrolling the dynamic time strip backwards in time, and wherein the dynamic time strip is automatically updated as the dynamic time strip is scrolled backwards in time.
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37. The computer-implemented process of claim 32 wherein updating the dynamic time strip to reflect the passage of time further comprises:
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automatically removing data objects from the time strip once all times associated with the removed data objects are earlier than an earliest time represented by the dynamic time strip; and
automatically adding data objects to the time strip once any times associated with the added data objects are earlier than a latest time represented by the time strip.
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38. The computer-implemented process of claim 32 wherein each data object is automatically assigned to a category for defining a type of information represented by each data object, and wherein an appearance of the graphical representation of each data object is automatically determined based upon the category assigned to each data object.
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39. The computer-implemented process of claim 32 wherein each graphically represented data object is associated with a computer application, and wherein each graphically represented data object is opened by the associated application when the data object is selected by a computer pointing device via a user interface.
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40. The computer-implemented process of claim 32 further comprising adjusting at least one time associated with graphically represented data objects via a user interface.
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41. The computer-implemented process of claim 32 wherein graphically represented data objects are displayed at least partially side by side when the data objects have at least one partially overlapping time period defined by the at least one associated time for each data object.
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42. The computer-implemented process of claim 32 wherein the dynamic time strip remains visible from within whatever application is currently active on the computer display device.
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43. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for dynamically displaying a subset of at least one time-dependant data object from a set of data objects on a computer display device, said computer executable instructions comprising:
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retrieving the data objects from at least one electronic database, wherein the data objects represent time dependant information having at least one associated time;
sequentially sorting the data objects;
dynamically displaying graphical representations of sequentially sorted data objects within a semi-transparent dynamic time strip, wherein only those data objects having any times falling within a total time period represented by the dynamic time strip are displayed;
updating the dynamic time strip to reflect the passage of time by scrolling the dynamic time strip forward in time as time passes;
providing a user interface for interacting with the dynamic time strip and the data objects displayed therein;
wherein the user interface further provides a capability for moving a position of the dynamic time strip to any desired location within the computer display device; and
wherein the semi-transparent dynamic time strip remains visible from within whatever application is currently active on the computer display device. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
adding data objects to the dynamic time strip;
deleting data objects from the dynamic time strip;
editing data objects displayed within the dynamic time strip; and
viewing the time dependant information associated with each data object.
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45. The computer-readable medium of claim 43 wherein the user interface further provides a capability for adjusting at least one time associated with each data object.
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46. The computer-readable medium of claim 43 wherein the user interface further provides a capability for adjusting the total time period represented by the dynamic time strip.
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47. The computer-readable medium of claim 43 wherein the user interface further provides a capability for scrolling forward in time and backward in time to view any desired total time period represented by the dynamic time strip.
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48. The computer-readable medium of claim 43 wherein an amount of transparency of the dynamic time strip changes in response to motion of a computer pointing device with respect to the dynamic time strip.
Specification