Non-linear navigation in discussion forums
First Claim
1. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions that if executed by a machine cause the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:
- maintaining in a tangible medium a location data to identify a first logical point in a discussion forum (DF) hierarchy to which a first user has navigated; and
selectively manipulating a navigation control on a graphical user interface (GUI) based, at least in part, on the location data,the navigation control to provide access to a second logical point in the DF hierarchy that is not reachable from the first logical point in a single vertical navigation step, and where the navigation control includes a set of non-linear navigation options to provide access to a set of second logical points in the discussion forum hierarchy that include a second logical point that is updated automatically without intervention from a user and is based, at least in part, on an action of a different user than the first user in the discussion forum.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with providing non-linear navigation in a discussion forum are described. One method embodiment includes maintaining a location data that identifies a thread or message to which a user has navigated. The method also includes manipulating a navigation control in a graphical user interface based on actions taken by the user and/or other users of the system. The navigation control facilitates a user moving to points not traditionally reachable in a single vertical navigation step in a discussion forum interface.
32 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions that if executed by a machine cause the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:
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maintaining in a tangible medium a location data to identify a first logical point in a discussion forum (DF) hierarchy to which a first user has navigated; and selectively manipulating a navigation control on a graphical user interface (GUI) based, at least in part, on the location data, the navigation control to provide access to a second logical point in the DF hierarchy that is not reachable from the first logical point in a single vertical navigation step, and where the navigation control includes a set of non-linear navigation options to provide access to a set of second logical points in the discussion forum hierarchy that include a second logical point that is updated automatically without intervention from a user and is based, at least in part, on an action of a different user than the first user in the discussion forum. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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14. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions that if executed by a machine cause the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:
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maintaining, in a tangible medium, location data to identify a first logical point in a discussion forum (DF) hierarchy to which a first user has navigated; and selectively manipulating a navigation control on a graphical user interface (GUI) based, at least in part, on the location data; where the navigation control provides access to a second logical point in the DF hierarchy that is not reachable from the first logical point in a single vertical navigation step, and where manipulating the navigation control includes automatically manipulating a rankings element on the GUI without intervention from a user, where the rankings element updates the navigation control to display a different second logical point in the DF hierarchy to provide access to a logical point not currently displayed and available to a user of the GUI. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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21. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions that if executed by a machine cause the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:
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maintaining in a tangible medium a location data to identify a first logical point in a discussion forum (DF) hierarchy to which a first user has navigated; selectively manipulating a navigation control on a graphical user interface (GUI) based, at least in part, on the location data, the navigation control being configured to provide access to a second logical point in the DF hierarchy that is not reachable from the first logical point in a single vertical navigation step; receiving a signal from the navigation control; and based on the signal, selectively relocating the first user to a second logical point in the DF hierarchy by manipulating the location data; where manipulating the navigation control includes manipulating a user-centric element on the GUI, where the contents of the user-centric element depend, at least in part, on an action taken by the first user, the action taken by the first user comprising one or more of, viewing a message in the DF, posting a message to the DF, replying to a message in the DF, establishing a bookmark to a message in the DF, and establishing a link to a message in the DF, and where the action taken by the first user is taken at a point in time that occurs inside a pre-determined period of time; where manipulating the navigation control includes manipulating a system-centric element on the GUI, and where the contents of the system-centric element depend, at least in part, on an action taken by a user other than the first user, the action taken by the user other than the first user comprising one or more of, viewing a message in the DF, posting a message to the DF, replying to a message in the DF, establishing a bookmark to a message in the DF, and establishing a link to a message in the DF; where manipulating the navigation control includes manipulating a user-system interaction element on the GUI, where the contents of the user-system interaction element depend, at least in part, on one or more of, a computer-generated suggestion for a message for the first user to view, and a user-generated recommendation for a message for the first user to view, where the computer-generated suggestion depends on a relation between an action of the first user and an action of a user other than the first user, and where the user-generated recommendation is based on a relation between an action of the first user and an action of a user other than the first user; where manipulating the navigation control includes manipulating a rankings element on the GUI, where manipulating the rankings element depends on one or more of, a set of message rankings produced by the first user, and a set of message rankings produced by a user other than the first user, the contents of the rankings element comprising a pre-determined, configurable number of messages; and where manipulating the navigation control includes manipulating a related message element on the GUI, where manipulating the related message element depends on a relation between a first data associated with the first user and a second data associated with a user other than the first user, the first data comprising data concerning the first user viewing a message in the DF, the first user posting a message to the DF, the first user replying to a message in the DF, the first user establishing a link to a message in the DF, and the first user establishing a bookmark to a message in the DF, the second data comprising data concerning a second user viewing a message in the DF, a second user posting a message to the DF, a second user replying to a message in the DF, a second user establishing a link to a message in the DF, and a second user establishing a bookmark to a message in the DF.
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22. A non-linear navigation system for a discussion forum (DF), comprising:
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a graphical user interface (GUI) element stored on a machine readable storage medium to display a set of non-linear navigation options to a DF user and to receive a non-linear navigation signal; a location logic to determine a location to which a first user has navigated in a DF, the location being one of, a thread, and a message; a user input logic to receive a signal from the first user through the GUI element, and in response to receiving the signal, selectively updating the set of non-linear navigation options in the DF that cannot be reached in a single vertical navigation step from the location to which the first user has navigated in the DF, where the signal received from the first user being related to one or more of, providing a ranking for a message, establishing a bookmark associated with a message, and establishing a link to a message; a user action logic to identify a DF action taken by the first user that includes interacting with a message in the DF; and a customization logic to selectively customize the GUI element based, at least in part, on one or more of, the non-linear navigation signal, the signal received from the user input logic, and the DF action identified by the user action logic, where customizing the GUI element comprises updating the set of non-linear navigation options in the DF that cannot be reached in a single vertical navigation step from the location to which the first user has navigated in the DF. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-executable instructions that if executed by a machine cause the machine to perform a method, the method comprising:
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identifying a location in a discussion forum to which a user has navigated, where the discussion forum is arranged as a linear hierarchy; providing a non-linear navigation option that is one of, a button, a menu, or an icon to the user in a graphical user interface associated with the discussion forum based, at least in part, on the location where providing the non-linear navigation option includes automatically providing a set of non-linear navigation options without intervention from a user that includes an option based, at least in part, on an action of a different user than the user in the discussion forum; and updating the graphical user interface to display a second location in the discussion forum in response to the user selecting the non-linear navigation option by performing a non-linear horizontal navigation of the discussion forum linear hierarchy. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification