Method and system for sequentially navigating axes of elements

• US 8,316,306 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2007
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 9224-5489 Quebec Inc., Maya-Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Maya-Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Audet, Mathieu
• Primary Examiner(s): SALOMON, PHENUEL S
• Application Number:
  US11/997,743
• Publication Number:
  US 20090019371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,065 Days
• Field of Search: 715/738, 715/765, 715/810, 715/736, 707/736, 707/758
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method for navigating user-selectable element comprising graphically representing a first axis grouping a first plurality of user-selectable elements having a first attribute in common, graphically representing a second axis grouping a second plurality of user-selectable elements having a second attribute associated therewith, the second axis intersecting the first axis at a first intersection, graphically representing a third axis grouping a third plurality of user-selectable elements having a third attribute associated therewith, the third axis intersecting the second axis at a second intersecting location, and, enabling sequential navigation from one axis to another axis by selecting a command. A system and a graphical interface adapted to provide same are also provided.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store thereon computer-readable instructions that, when executed with a computer, provide a method for navigating among user-selectable elements on a display, the method comprising:

graphically representing a first user-selectable element axis, at least some of the user-selectable elements of the first user-selectable element axis having a plurality of characterization attributes associated therewith;

selecting a first characterization attribute associated with a user-selectable element from the first axis;

graphically representing a second user-selectable element axis grouping user-selectable elements having the first characterization attribute in common, at least some of the user-selectable elements from the second user-selectable element axis having a plurality of characterization attributes associated therewith, the second user-selectable element axis being configured to intersect, or abut, the first user-selectable element axis at a first location;

selecting a second characterization attribute associated with a user-selectable element from the second axis;

graphically representing a third user-selectable element axis grouping user-selectable elements having the second characterization attribute in common, at least some of the user-selectable elements of the second user-selectable element axis having a plurality of characterization attributes associated therewith, the third user-selectable element axis being configured to intersect, or abut, the second user-selectable element axis at a second location, wherein at least some of the characterization attributes are configurable to represent intrinsic characteristics and at least some of the characterization attributes are configurable to represent extrinsic characteristics, at least some of the intrinsic characteristics being configurable to represent relationship meaning related to user-selectable elements associated therewith and at least some of the extrinsic characteristics being configurable to represent relationship meaning related to user-selectable elements associated therewith; and

providing sequential navigation between consecutive axes that have a common location on a basis of a command without having to navigate along elements of the axes.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the locations are user-selectable elements.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the locations are user-selectable elements having the respective selected characterization attribute.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein a user-selectable element is configured to have a plurality of characterization attributes associated therewith, and is configured to be a location for the intersection, or the abutment, of an axis of user-selectable elements on a basis of a selection of at least one characterization attribute thereof.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium claim 1, wherein the selection of at least one of the characterization attributes is made on a basis of a selection of a user-selectable element.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the characterization attributes associated with a user-selectable element are displayable in association with the user-selectable element and at least some of the characterization attributes are configured to be selected.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the command is configured to be one of a forward command and a rearward command to navigate between axes.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the sequential navigation is made from one location to another location.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the command is provided by a user via a touch screen.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein at least one of the user-selectable elements is configured to have a preselected characterization attribute associated therewith and wherein the selection of the characterization attribute is made on a basis of a selection of an information element.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein one axis of user-selectable elements is configured to longitudinally move in respect to the other intersecting, or abutting, axis of user-selectable elements.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein at least two of the axes of user-selectable elements are coplanar.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein two displayed axes of user-selectable elements are defining a plurality of quadrants, at least one quadrant being configured to display a magnified user-selectable element.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein at least one axis of user-selectable elements is configured to be laterally moveable to enlarge a quadrant adapted to display the magnified user-selectable element.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein at least one user-selectable element is a document.

16. A method for navigating among user-selectable elements on a display of a computer, the method comprising:

graphically representing a first user-selectable element axis, at least some of the user-selectable elements of the first user-selectable element axis having a plurality of characterization attributes associated therewith;

selecting a first characterization attribute associated with a user-selectable element from the first axis;

graphically representing a second user-selectable element axis grouping user-selectable elements having the first characterization attribute in common, at least some of the user-selectable elements from the second user-selectable element axis having a plurality of characterization attributes associated therewith, the second user-selectable element axis being configured to intersect, or abut, the first user-selectable element axis at a first location;

selecting a second characterization attribute associated with a user-selectable element from the second axis;

graphically representing a third user-selectable element axis grouping user-selectable elements having the second characterization attribute in common, at least some of the user-selectable elements of the second user-selectable element axis having a plurality of characterization attributes associated therewith, the third user-selectable element axis being configured to intersect, or abut, the second user-selectable element axis at a second location, wherein at least some of the characterization attributes are configurable to represent intrinsic characteristics and at least some of the characterization attributes are configurable to represent extrinsic characteristics, at least some of the intrinsic characteristics being configurable to represent relationship meaning related to user-selectable elements associated therewith and at least some of the extrinsic characteristics being configurable to represent relationship meaning related to user-selectable elements associated therewith; and

providing sequential navigation between consecutive axes that have a common location on a basis of a command without having to navigate along elements of the axes.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a user-selectable element is adapted to have a plurality of characterization attributes associated therewith, and is configured to be a location for the intersection, or the abutment, of an axis of user-selectable elements on a basis of a selection of at least one characterization attribute thereof.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the characterization attributes associated with a user-selectable element are displayable in association with the user-selectable element and at least some of the characterization attributes are configured to be selected.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the sequential navigation is made from one location to another location.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the command is provided by a user via a touch screen.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the user-selectable elements is configured to have a preselected characterization attribute associated therewith and wherein the selection of the characterization attribute is made on a basis of a selection of an information element.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein two displayed axes of user-selectable elements are defining a plurality of quadrants, at least one quadrant being configured to display a magnified user-selectable element.

23. A device, comprising a processor configured to present to a user a graphical interface for navigating axes of user-selectable elements, the graphical interface comprising:

a first display area that is operable to display a first axis of user-selectable elements substantially rectilinearly disposed on the display to provide a visual continuity between adjacent user-selectable elements;

a first command area that is operable to select a first characterization attribute associated with at least one user-selectable element from the first axis of user-selectable elements;

a second display area operable to display a second axis of user-selectable elements grouping user-selectable elements having the first characterization attribute in common, at least some of the user-selectable elements from the second axis of user-selectable elements having a plurality of characterization attributes associated therewith, the second axis of user-selectable elements being configured to intersect, or abut, the first axis of user-selectable element at a first location;

a second command area that is operable to select a second characterization attribute associated with at least one user-selectable element from the second axis of user-selectable elements;

a third display area that is operable to display a third axis of user-selectable elements grouping elements having the second characterization attribute in common, at least some of the elements of the third axis of user-selectable elements having a plurality of characterization attributes associated therewith, the third axis of user-selectable elements being configured to intersect, or abut, the second axis of user-selectable elements at a second location, wherein at least some of the characterization attributes are configurable to represent intrinsic characteristics and at least some of the characterization attributes are configurable to represent extrinsic characteristics, at least some of the intrinsic characteristics being configurable to represent relationship meaning related to user-selectable elements associated therewith and at least some of the extrinsic characteristics being configurable to represent relationship meaning related to user-selectable elements associated therewith; and

a third command area that is operable to enable sequential navigation between consecutive axes, that have a common location, without having to navigate along elements of the axes.