Computer-implemented display of ordered items

• US 8,161,410 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Bray, Cédric
• Primary Examiner(s): TAN, ALVIN H
• Application Number:
  US11/540,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20080126934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,027 Days
• Field of Search: 715/848
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method, in one embodiment, of displaying items arranged in a hierarchy, the hierarchy having predetermined levels and divisions. The method comprising: displaying divisions of a first level of the hierarchy along a first direction; and displaying the items on a plane in perspective view, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction. It is preferred that each of the items has associated with it a value, such as a time value, that can be represented on a scale. The divisions of the first level of the hierarchy are first units of the scale, such as years, and the items are arranged at positions corresponding to their value with respect to the first units.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of displaying items arranged in a hierarchy, the hierarchy having predetermined levels and divisions, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of divisions of a first level of the hierarchy along a first direction on a ground pane in a first display area of a display, each division corresponding to a time scale unit;

displaying one or more items in one or more of the divisions, wherein each item is displayed in a division based on a time attribute of the item in view of a relationship with a corresponding time scale unit;

for each division, determining whether a number of items in the division exceeds a predetermined density threshold, wherein the predetermined density threshold is configurable by a user;

aggregating and displaying at least two of the items into a single block in each division if the number of items of that division exceeds the predetermined density threshold;

displaying the items on the ground pane in perspective view within the first display area, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction; and

in response to a selection of one or more divisions displayed on the ground pane in perspective view by highlighting the one or more divisions of the ground pane in order to select a segment of time, displaying one or more attributes of each of the items displayed within the highlighted one or more divisions on a listing pane in a second display area, the listing pane including a plurality of records each corresponding to one of the selected items, each record including displayed therein an author of the item, a brief description of the item, and time in which the item was created or last modified.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the items has associated with it a value that can be represented on a scale;

the divisions of the first level of the hierarchy are first units of the scale; and

the items are arranged at positions corresponding to their value with respect to the first units.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the respective second directions represent a second level of the scale having second units that are smaller than the first units, and each item is arranged at a position in its respective second direction corresponding to its value with respect to the second units.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein:

the value is a time value; and

the divisions of the first level of the scale are one of years, months, weeks, days or hours, respectively.

5. A method according to claim 3, comprising, on receipt of a user command:

displaying divisions of the second level of the scale along the first direction; and

displaying the items on the pane, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division of the second level with which it is associated in the respective second direction at an angle to the first direction,

wherein the respective second directions represent a third level of the scale having third units that are smaller than the second units, and each item is arranged at a position in its respective second direction corresponding to its value.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising an animation of movement of the items from display with the first units represented along the first direction and the second level along the respective second directions to display with the second units represented along the first direction and the third level represented along the respective second directions.

7. A method according to claim 2, wherein the scale is non-linear.

8. A method according to claim 1, comprising, on receipt of a user command:

displaying divisions of a second level of the hierarchy along the first direction; and

displaying the items on the plane, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division of the second level with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction.

9. A method according to claim 8, further comprising displaying an animation of movement of the items from display with the first level of the hierarchy represented along the first direction to display with the second level of the hierarchy represented along the first direction.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the items has associated with it a second value that can be represented on a scale;

and the depth of each item in the respective second direction corresponds to the second value.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of the items has associated with it a second value that can be represented on a scale;

and the height of each item in a third direction orthogonal to the plane corresponds to the second value.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the respective second directions are different to one another.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the levels and the divisions are pre-defined by a user.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchy is a hierarchy of folders, with each division representing a different folder.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein each of the items has associated with it a second value;

and the depth of each item in the respective second direction corresponds to the second value.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein each of the items has associated with it a second value;

and the height of each item in a third direction orthogonal to the plane corresponds to the second value.

17. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a method of displaying a plurality of items, each item having a time associated with it, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of divisions of a first level of the hierarchy along a first direction on a ground pane in a first display area of a display, each division corresponding to a time scale unit;

displaying one or more items in one or more of the divisions, wherein each item is displayed in a division based on a time attribute of the item in view of a relationship with a corresponding time scale unit;

for each division, determining whether a number of items in the division exceeds a predetermined density threshold, wherein the predetermined density threshold is configurable by a user;

aggregating and displaying at least two of the items into a single block in each division if the number of items of that division exceeds the predetermined density threshold;

displaying the items on the ground pane in perspective view within the first display area, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction; and

in response to a selection of one or more divisions displayed on the ground pane in perspective view by highlighting the one or more divisions of the ground pane in order to select a segment of time, displaying one or more attributes of each of the items displayed within the highlighted one or more divisions on a listing pane in a second display area, the listing pane including a plurality of records each corresponding to one of the selected items, each record including displayed therein an author of the item, a brief description of the item, and time in which the item was created or last modified.

18. A medium according to claim 17, wherein each of the items has associated with it a value that can be represented on a scale;

the divisions of the first level of the hierarchy are first units of the scale; and

the items are arranged at positions corresponding to their value with respect to the first units.

19. A medium according to claim 18, wherein the respective second directions represent a second level of the scale having second units that are smaller than the first units, and each item is arranged at a position in its respective second direction corresponding to its value with respect to the second units.

20. A data processing system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor for storing instructions, which when executed from the memory, cause the processor to perform operations, including

displaying a plurality of divisions of a first level of the hierarchy along a first direction on a ground pane in a first display area of a display, each division corresponding to a time scale unit,

displaying one or more items in one or more of the divisions, wherein each item is displayed in a division based on a time attribute of the item in view of a relationship with a corresponding time scale unit,

for each division, determining whether a number of items in the division exceeds a predetermined density threshold, wherein the predetermined density threshold is configurable by a user,

aggregating and displaying at least two of the items into a single block in each division if the number of items of that division exceeds the predetermined density threshold,

displaying the items on the ground pane in perspective view within the first display area, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction, and

in response to a selection of one or more divisions displayed on the ground pane in perspective view by highlighting the one or more divisions of the ground pane in order to select a segment of time, displaying one or more attributes of each of the items displayed within the highlighted one or more divisions on a listing pane in a second display area, the listing pane including a plurality of records each corresponding to one of the selected items, each record including displayed therein an author of the item, a brief description of the item, and time in which the item was created or last modified.

21. An apparatus comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the apparatus further comprising:

means for displaying a plurality of divisions of a first level of the hierarchy along a first direction on a ground pane in a first display area of a display, each division corresponding to a time scale unit;

means for displaying one or more items in one or more of the divisions, wherein each item is displayed in a division based on a time attribute of the item in view of a relationship with a corresponding time scale unit;

for each division, means for determining whether a number of items in the division exceeds a predetermined density threshold, wherein the predetermined density threshold is configurable by a user;

means for aggregating and displaying at least two of the items into a single block in each division if the number of items of that division exceeds the predetermined density threshold;

means for displaying the items on the ground pane in perspective view within the first display area, each item arranged at a position corresponding to the division with which it is associated in a respective second direction at an angle to the first direction;

in response to a selection of one or more divisions displayed on the ground pane in perspective view by highlighting the one or more divisions of the ground pane in order to select a segment of time, means for displaying one or more attributes of each of the items displayed within the highlighted one or more divisions on a listing pane in a second display area, the listing pane including a plurality of records each corresponding to one of the selected items, each record including displayed therein an author of the item, a brief description of the item, and time in which the item was created or last modified.