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Context-based display technique with hierarchical display format

  • US 7,054,878 B2
  • Filed: 10/06/2004
  • Issued: 05/30/2006
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a computer system comprising a display and at least one user input device, a method for displaying elements in a database, the method comprising:

  • displaying a plurality of same level subject category identifiers on a display area; and

    in response to selection of at least a first of the plurality of subject category identifiers on the display,displaying on the same display area, in a matrix area on the display, a hierarchically linked matrix that is linked to first selected subject category identifier, a matrix having a plurality of cells and a plurality of icons displayed in the plurality of cells, each icon corresponding to an element in the database and comprising no textual identifying indicia, the plurality of icons being sufficient in number to establish a context for the user of the plurality of elements;

    superimposing a list of database elements associated with the subject category identifier, over at least a portion of the matrix to avoid obscuring the underlying matrix data; and

    ,in response to a user selecting an item on the list, generating a visual connector from the list to a corresponding icon locating element that visually identifies the icon in the matrix corresponding to the selected entry on the list.

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