System and method for partially collapsing a hierarchical structure for information navigation
First Claim
1. A method of displaying a plurality of items in a hierarchical tree structure, the method comprising:
- selecting at least one child item in a plurality of items residing in a hierarchical tree structure, wherein the at least one child item is a child of at least one other item in the plurality of items;
selectively associating, in response to selecting the at least one child, a visibility state with the at least one child item;
modifying a current view of the hierarchical tree structure by one ofcollapsing at least a viewable portion of the hierarchical tree structure, wherein the viewable portion comprises at least the at least one child item and its immediate parent item, andexpanding the portion of the hierarchical tree structure; and
dynamically adjusting the current view which has been modified, wherein the dynamically adjusting includesapplying the visibility state that has been selectively associated with the at least one child item to its immediate parent in response to i) collapsing the viewable portion at a parent of the immediate parent of the at least one child item and ii) the visibility state being set to visible; and
displaying the at least one child item simultaneously with its immediate parent in response to i) collapsing the viewable portion at the parent of the immediate parent of the at least one child item;
ii) the visibility state being set to visible; and
iii) applying the visibility state to the immediate parent.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A partially collapsing hierarchical display system aids information navigation by providing a dynamic mechanism for labeling items with one or more states. In one embodiment, states comprise “hidden”, “visible” and “unmarked”. An expanded list of items displays all items. A partially expanded list of items displays all visible and unmarked items, removing hidden items from the display. A further collapsed list of items displays all visible items. A completely collapsed list of items hides all items. Users customize the amount of detail displayed in a sub-tree, reducing the display size of the sub-tree. Expansion of a hierarchical structure is combined with filtering, allowing users to partially collapse or partially expand a sub-tree structure. Partially collapsed lists comprise one or more focus points, allowing users to view several relevant sections of a hierarchical structure concurrently. Displayed sizes or other visual characteristics of items within the hierarchical structure are automatically adjusted to reflect the states designated by the user.
52 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of displaying a plurality of items in a hierarchical tree structure, the method comprising:
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selecting at least one child item in a plurality of items residing in a hierarchical tree structure, wherein the at least one child item is a child of at least one other item in the plurality of items; selectively associating, in response to selecting the at least one child, a visibility state with the at least one child item; modifying a current view of the hierarchical tree structure by one of collapsing at least a viewable portion of the hierarchical tree structure, wherein the viewable portion comprises at least the at least one child item and its immediate parent item, and expanding the portion of the hierarchical tree structure; and dynamically adjusting the current view which has been modified, wherein the dynamically adjusting includes applying the visibility state that has been selectively associated with the at least one child item to its immediate parent in response to i) collapsing the viewable portion at a parent of the immediate parent of the at least one child item and ii) the visibility state being set to visible; and displaying the at least one child item simultaneously with its immediate parent in response to i) collapsing the viewable portion at the parent of the immediate parent of the at least one child item;
ii) the visibility state being set to visible; and
iii) applying the visibility state to the immediate parent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An information processing system for displaying a plurality of items in a hierarchical tree structure, the information processing system comprising:
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a memory; and a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to perform a method comprising; receiving a selection of at least one child item in a plurality of items residing in a hierarchical tree structure, wherein the at least one child item is a child of at least one other item in the plurality of items; selectively associating, in response to receiving the selection of the at least one child, a visibility state with the at least one child item; modifying a current view of the hierarchical tree structure by one of collapsing at least a viewable portion of the hierarchical tree structure, wherein the viewable portion comprises at least the at least one child item and its immediate parent item, and expanding the portion of the hierarchical tree structure; and dynamically adjusting the current view which has been modified, wherein the dynamically adjusting includes applying the visibility state that has been selectively associated with the at least one child item to its immediate parent in response to i) collapsing the viewable portion at a parent of the immediate parent of the at least one child item and ii) the visibility state being set to visible; and displaying the at least one child item simultaneously with its immediate parent in response to i) collapsing the viewable portion at the parent of the immediate parent of the at least one child item;
ii) the visibility state being set to visible; and
iii) applying the visibility state to the immediate parent. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A computer readable storage medium for displaying a plurality of items in a hierarchical tree structure, the computer readable storage medium comprising instructions embedded thereon for performing a method comprising
receiving a selection of at least one child item in a plurality of items residing in a hierarchical tree structure, wherein the at least one child item is a child of at least one other item in the plurality of items; -
selectively associating, in response to receiving the selection of the at least one child, a visibility state with the at least one child item; modifying a current view of the hierarchical tree structure by one of collapsing at least a viewable portion of the hierarchical tree structure, wherein the viewable portion comprises at least the at least one child item and its immediate parent item, and expanding the portion of the hierarchical tree structure; and dynamically adjusting the current view which has been modified, wherein the dynamically adjusting includes applying the visibility state that has been selectively associated with the at least one child item to its immediate parent in response to i) collapsing the viewable portion at a parent of the immediate parent of the at least one child item and ii) the visibility state being set to visible; and displaying the at least one child item simultaneously with its immediate parent in response to i) collapsing the viewable portion at the parent of the immediate parent of the at least one child item;
ii) the visibility state being set to visible; and
iii) applying the visibility state to the immediate parent. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification