Methods for navigating collections of information in varying levels of detail
First Claim
1. A method comprising the steps of:
- presenting to a user at least a portion of an ordered collection, wherein the portion comprises a set of entries that correspond to items in the ordered collection;
identifying a current location of a focus, wherein the current location of the focus corresponds to a subset of the set of entries;
selecting a level of detail, from a set of at least three distinct levels of detail, for each entry in the set of entries based on (a) the current location of the focus and (b) a current location of each entry, wherein the at least three distinct levels of detail include a first level of detail, a second level of detail that is more detailed than the first level of detail, and a third level of detail that is more detailed than the second level of detail;
displaying, for each entry, a set of semantic details that is based on the level of detail that was selected for each entry; and
wherein each level of detail from the set of at least three distinct levels of detail is used to display at least one entry in said portion;
wherein any entry of the set of entries that coincides with the current location of the focus is displayed at a highest level of detail of the set of at least three distinct levels of detail; and
receiving user input that shifts the focus in a particular direction, wherein the shifting of the focus (a) moves the focus away from at least a first entry of the set of entries and a second entry of the set of entries, and (b) moves the focus toward at least a third entry of the set of entries and a fourth entry of the set of entries;
wherein the second entry is between the first entry and the third entry;
wherein the third entry is between the second entry and the fourth entry;
in response to receiving the user input, automatically;
collapsing the detail with which the first entry is displayed from the second level of detail to the first level of detail;
collapsing the detail with which the second entry is displayed from the third level of detail to the second level of detail;
expanding the detail with which the third entry is displayed from the second level of detail to the third level of detail;
expanding the detail with which the fourth entry is displayed from the first level of detail to the second level of detail;
wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices programmed to be special purpose machines pursuant to program instructions.
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Abstract
By varying the levels of detail associated with items in an ordered collection of information, items may be organized in a way to emphasize details about item of current interest. Displaying varying levels of detail about items in an ordered collection of information involves determining a focus, and based on their relative location to the focus adding additional detail to other items displayed from the collection of information. For instance, a user browsing a web search results list typically only sees a few essential details such as the name, link, and brief abstract about each item in the list. Providing the user with varying levels of detail about each item in the list helps them decide to where they want to navigate.
61 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method comprising the steps of:
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presenting to a user at least a portion of an ordered collection, wherein the portion comprises a set of entries that correspond to items in the ordered collection; identifying a current location of a focus, wherein the current location of the focus corresponds to a subset of the set of entries; selecting a level of detail, from a set of at least three distinct levels of detail, for each entry in the set of entries based on (a) the current location of the focus and (b) a current location of each entry, wherein the at least three distinct levels of detail include a first level of detail, a second level of detail that is more detailed than the first level of detail, and a third level of detail that is more detailed than the second level of detail; displaying, for each entry, a set of semantic details that is based on the level of detail that was selected for each entry; and wherein each level of detail from the set of at least three distinct levels of detail is used to display at least one entry in said portion; wherein any entry of the set of entries that coincides with the current location of the focus is displayed at a highest level of detail of the set of at least three distinct levels of detail; and receiving user input that shifts the focus in a particular direction, wherein the shifting of the focus (a) moves the focus away from at least a first entry of the set of entries and a second entry of the set of entries, and (b) moves the focus toward at least a third entry of the set of entries and a fourth entry of the set of entries; wherein the second entry is between the first entry and the third entry; wherein the third entry is between the second entry and the fourth entry; in response to receiving the user input, automatically; collapsing the detail with which the first entry is displayed from the second level of detail to the first level of detail; collapsing the detail with which the second entry is displayed from the third level of detail to the second level of detail; expanding the detail with which the third entry is displayed from the second level of detail to the third level of detail; expanding the detail with which the fourth entry is displayed from the first level of detail to the second level of detail; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices programmed to be special purpose machines pursuant to program instructions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising the steps of:
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presenting to a user, in a web browser, a search results list, wherein the search results list comprises a set of hyperlinks corresponding to web pages; selecting a focus from the set of hyperlinks, wherein the focus corresponds to a subset of the set of hyperlinks; selecting a level of detail, from a set of at least three distinct levels of detail, for each hyperlink in the set of hyperlinks based on (a) the current location of the focus and (b) a current location of each hyperlink in relation to the focus, wherein the at least three distinct levels of detail include a first level of detail, a second level of detail that is more detailed than the first level of detail, and a third level of detail that is more detailed than the second level of detail; displaying, for each hyperlink, a set of semantic details that is based on the level of detail that was selected for each hyperlink; wherein each level of detail is used to display at least one hyperlink in said search results list; and wherein the semantic detail of at least one hyperlink includes information that originates from a source other than the web page that corresponds to the hyperlink; receiving user input that shifts the focus in a particular direction, wherein the shifting of the focus (a) moves the focus away from at least a first hyperlink of the set of hyperlinks and a second hyperlink of the set of hyperlinks, and (b) moves the focus toward at least a third hyperlink of the set of hyperlinks and a fourth hyperlink of the set of hyperlinks; wherein the second hyperlink is between the first hyperlink and the third hyperlink; wherein the third hyperlink is between the second hyperlink and the fourth hyperlink; in response to receiving the user input, automatically; collapsing the detail with which the first hyperlink is displayed from the second level of detail to the first level of detail; collapsing the detail with which the second hyperlink is displayed from the third level of detail to the second level of detail; expanding the detail with which the third hyperlink is displayed from the second level of detail to the third level of detail; expanding the detail with which the fourth hyperlink is displayed from the first level of detail to the second level of detail; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices programmed to be special purpose machines pursuant to program instructions.
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20. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, the instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
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presenting to a user at least a portion of an ordered collection, wherein the portion comprises a set of entries that correspond to items in the ordered collection; identifying a current location of a focus, wherein the current location of the focus corresponds to a subset of the set of entries; selecting a level of detail, from a set of at least three distinct levels of detail, for each entry in the set of entries based on (a) the current location of the focus and (b) a current location of each entry, wherein the at least three distinct levels of detail include a first level of detail, a second level of detail that is more detailed than the first level of detail, and a third level of detail that is more detailed than the second level of detail; displaying, for each entry, a set of semantic details that is based on the level of detail that was selected for each entry; and wherein each level of detail from the set of at least three distinct levels of detail is used to display at least one entry in said portion; wherein any entry of the set of entries that coincides with the cuffent location of the focus is displayed at a highest level of detail of the set of at least three distinct levels of detail; and receiving user input that shifts the focus in a particular direction, wherein the shifting of the focus (a) moves the focus away from at least a first entry of the set of entries and a second entry of the set of entries, and (b) moves the focus toward at least a third entry of the set of entries and a fourth entry of the set of entries; wherein the second entry is between the first entry and the third entry; wherein the third entry is between the second entry and the fourth entry; in response to receiving the user input, automatically; collapsing the detail with which the first entry is displayed from the second level of detail to the first level of detail; collapsing the detail with which the second entry is displayed from the third level of detail to the second level of detail; expanding the detail with which the third entry is displayed from the second level of detail to the third level of detail; expanding the detail with which the fourth entry is displayed from the first level of detail to the second level of detail. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions, the instructions including instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
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presenting to a user, in a web browser, a search results list, wherein the search results list comprises a set of hyperlinks corresponding to web pages; selecting a focus from the set of hyperlinks, wherein the focus corresponds to a subset of the set of hyperlinks; selecting a level of detail, from a set of at least three distinct levels of detail, for each hyperlink in the set of hyperlinks based on (a) the current location of the focus and (b) a current location of each hyperlink in relation to the focus, wherein the at least three distinct levels of detail include a first level of detail, a second level of detail that is more detailed than the first level of detail, and a third level of detail that is more detailed than the second level of detail; displaying, for each hyperlink, a set of semantic details that is based on the level of detail that was selected for each hyperlink; wherein each level of detail is used to display at least one hyperlink in said search results list; and wherein the semantic detail of at least one hyperlink includes information that originates from a source other than the web page that corresponds to the hyperlink; receiving user input that shifts the focus in a particular direction, wherein the shifting of the focus (a) moves the focus away from at least a first hyperlink of the set of hyperlinks and a second hyperlink of the set of hyperlinks, and (b) moves the focus toward at least a third hyperlink of the set of hyperlinks and a fourth hyperlink of the set of hyperlinks; wherein the second hyperlink is between the first hyperlink and the third hyperlink; wherein the third hyperlink is between the second hyperlink and the fourth hyperlink; in response to receiving the user input, automatically; collapsing the detail with which the first hyperlink is displayed from the second level of detail to the first level of detail; collapsing the detail with which the second hyperlink is displayed from the third level of detail to the second level of detail; expanding the detail with which the third hyperlink is displayed from the second level of detail to the third level of detail; expanding the detail with which the fourth hyperlink is displayed from the first level of detail to the second level of detail.
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Specification