Computer controlled user interactive display interface implementation for tracking the organization of items in a hierarchical tree of nested categories

• US 6,948,125 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hersey, Mark, Detweiler, Keely RaNae
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonshock, Dennis G.
• Application Number:
  US10/132,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20030202019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 715/853, 715/713, 715/864, 715/854, 715/855, 715/784
• US Class Current: 715/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

The implementation of the invention involves a conventional display window and a system for displaying a portion of said hierarchical tree within the borders of the window in combination with an implementation enabling a user to expand each nested displayed category into a displayed list of items in said category, and to collapse said displayed list back to each displayed category. There are means for scrolling said displayed hierarchy through said window. This invention provides for a set of displayed indicators, each representing a hidden expanded category in the hierarchical chain of a list of items displayed within said window. There is a further implementation associated with each displayed indicator enabling a user to select the indicator to collapse the hidden category represented by said indicator and thereby enable the display of the collapsed category within said window.

Claims

1. In a computer controlled user interactive display system, a display interface implementation for tracking the organization of items in a hierarchy of nested categories comprising:

means for displaying a window;

means for displaying a portion of said hierarchy within the borders of said window;

means enabling a user to expand each nested displayed category into a displayed list of items in said category, and to collapse said displayed list back to each displayed category;

means for scrolling said displayed hierarchy through said window; and

a set of displayed indicators, each representing a hidden completely expanded category in the hierarchical chain of a list of items displayed within said window;

further including means associated with each displayed indicator enabling a user to select said indicator to collapse the hidden category represented by said indicator and thereby enable the display of the collapsed category within said window;

wherein each of the nested categories in said displayed hierarchy have associated twistie symbols wherein a twistie pointing in a first direction indicates the category is expanded and a twistie pointing in a second direction indicates that the category is collapsed.

2. The display interface implementation of claim 1 wherein each twistie has associated therewith means enabling a user to point the twistie in said first and second directions to thereby expand and collapse the category associated with the twistie whereby the displayed indicators in said set function as surrogate twisties for the represented hidden categories.

3. The display interface implementation of claim 1 further including means for automatically displaying an indicator representing a hidden expanded category whenever a displayed expanded category in said hierarchical chain is strolled out of said window.

4. The display interface implementation of claim 3 further including means for automatically removing an indicator representing a hidden expanded category whenever said hidden category is redisplayed in said window.

5. A method for tracking the organization of items in a hierarchy of nested categories on a computer controlled user interactive display interface comprising:

defining a window on said display interface;

displaying a portion of said hierarchy within the borders of said window;

enabling a user to expand each nested displayed category into a displayed list of items in said category, and to collapse said displayed list back to each displayed category;

scrolling said displayed hierarchy through said window; and

displaying a set of indicators, each representing a hidden completely expanded category in the hierarchical chain of a list of items displayed within said window;

further including the step of enabling a user to select each indicator to collapse the hidden category represented by said indicator and thereby enable the display of the collapsed category within said window;

wherein each of the nested categories in said displayed hierarchy have associated twistie symbols wherein a twistie pointing in a first direction indicates the category is expanded and a twistie pointing in a second direction indicates that the category is collapsed.

6. The method of claim 5 further including the step of enabling a user to point the twistie in said first and second directions to thereby expand and collapse the category associated with the twistie whereby the displayed indicators in said set function as surrogate twisties for the represented hidden categories.

7. The method of claim 5 further including the step of automatically displaying an indicator representing a hidden expanded category whenever a displayed expanded category in said hierarchical chain is scrolled out of said window.

8. The method of claim 7 further including the step of automatically removing an indicator representing a hidden expanded category whenever said hidden category is redisplayed in said window.

9. A computer program having program code included on a computer readable medium for tracking the organization of items in a hierarchy of nested categories on a computer controlled user interactive display system interface comprising:

means for displaying a window;

means for displaying a portion of said hierarchy within the borders of said window;

means enabling a user to expand each nested displayed category into a displayed list of items in said category, and to collapse said displayed list back to each displayed category;

means for scrolling said displayed hierarchy through said window; and

a set of displayed indicators, each representing a hidden completely expanded category in the hierarchical chain of a list of items displayed within said window;

further including means associated with each displayed indicator enabling a user to select said indicator to collapse the hidden category represented by said indicator and thereby enable the display of the collapsed category within said window;

wherein each of the nested categories in said displayed hierarchy have associated twistie symbols wherein a twistie pointing in a first direction indicates the category is expanded and a twistie pointing in a second direction indicates that the category is collapsed.

10. The computer program of claim 9 wherein each twistie has associated therewith means enabling a user to point the twistie in said first and second directions to thereby expand and collapse the category associated with the twistie whereby the displayed indicators in said set function as surrogate twisties for the represented hidden categories.

11. The computer program of claim 9 further including means for automatically displaying an indicator representing a hidden expanded category whenever a displayed expanded category in said hierarchical chain is scrolled out of said window.

12. The computer program of claim 11 further including means for automatically removing an indicator representing a hidden expended category whenever said hidden category is redisplayed in said window.