Method and apparatus for scrollable cross-point navigation in a user interface
First Claim
1. A method for displaying information in a display associated with an electronic device, comprising:
- organizing a plurality of information entries into a hierarchy comprising a plurality of groups, at least one of which groups having at least one sublevel of subgroups; and
displaying panels on a display associated with an electronic device, the panels being arranged into two bars of panels with a common focus panel, each of the panels being linked to and identifying one of (a) one of the plurality of information entries, (b) one of the groups, and (c) one of the subgroups,wherein the focus panel identifies (a) a currently selectable lowest level in the hierarchy and (b) the next higher level, if any,wherein levels, if any, in the hierarchy higher than that displayed in the focus panel are identified in succeeding adjoining panels of a first of the two bars, other panels of the first bar identifying highest level groups in the hierarchy, andwherein panels of the second of the two bars each identify one of (a) information entries, if any, (b) groups, if any, and (c) subgroups, if any, of the same level in the hierarchy as the currently selectable lowest level in the hierarchy identified in the focus panel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for controlling an electronic device by navigating through a hierarchy of groups of commands while continuously providing the current location and path in the hierarchical structure. A displayed scrollable cross-point navigation image has two bars, each containing panels corresponding to a separate folder, etc. At the intersection of the bars is displayed the current lowest level and the next upper level, if any. The next higher level is shown in an adjoining panel on a first bar, the next higher level in a next adjoining panel on that bar, until there are no further higher levels to display, at which point the remaining upper-most level folders are displayed. The second bar displays sub-folders or settings within the folder in the focus panel. Moving in the folder hierarchy causes the panels in the first bar to shift to display all intervening levels through the top level.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for displaying information in a display associated with an electronic device, comprising:
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organizing a plurality of information entries into a hierarchy comprising a plurality of groups, at least one of which groups having at least one sublevel of subgroups; and displaying panels on a display associated with an electronic device, the panels being arranged into two bars of panels with a common focus panel, each of the panels being linked to and identifying one of (a) one of the plurality of information entries, (b) one of the groups, and (c) one of the subgroups, wherein the focus panel identifies (a) a currently selectable lowest level in the hierarchy and (b) the next higher level, if any, wherein levels, if any, in the hierarchy higher than that displayed in the focus panel are identified in succeeding adjoining panels of a first of the two bars, other panels of the first bar identifying highest level groups in the hierarchy, and wherein panels of the second of the two bars each identify one of (a) information entries, if any, (b) groups, if any, and (c) subgroups, if any, of the same level in the hierarchy as the currently selectable lowest level in the hierarchy identified in the focus panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for displaying information in a display associated with an electronic device, comprising:
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a database storing a plurality of information entries in a hierarchy comprising a plurality of groups, at least one of which groups having at least one sublevel of subgroups; and a means for displaying panels on a display associated with an electronic device, the panels being arranged into two bars of panels with a common focus panel, each of the panels being linked to and identifying one of (a) one of the plurality of information entries, (b) one of the groups, and (c) one of the subgroups, wherein the focus panel identifies (a) a currently selectable lowest level in the hierarchy and (b) the next higher level, if any, wherein levels, if any, in the hierarchy higher than that displayed in the focus panel are identified in succeeding adjoining panels of a first of the two bars, other panels of the first bar identifying highest level groups in the hierarchy, and wherein panels of the second of the two bars each identify one of (a) information entries, if any, (b) groups, if any, and (c) subgroups, if any, of the same level in the hierarchy as the currently selectable lowest level in the hierarchy identified in the focus panel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification