Interface including selectable items corresponding to single or multiple data items

• US 9,116,607 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2011
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hallock, Joseph, Kumar, Dileep, Coleman, Kenneth Patrick, Arguelles, Lara, Yetzer, Trinh Vo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuyetlien
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUCKWORTH, JIANMEI F
• Application Number:
  US13/104,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20120290982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,567 Days
• Field of Search: 715/828, 707/203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An interface may include a first portion of a linear scale having first upper and lower bounds and a first plurality of indicators identifying first demarcations of the linear scale between the first upper and lower bounds. A first selectable item corresponding to a single data item and a second selectable corresponding to multiple data items may be arranged along the linear scale. When the second selectable item is selected, the interface may be modified to include a second portion of the linear scale having second upper and lower bounds and the multiple data items corresponding to the second selectable item.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

displaying at a display device an interface including a first portion of a linear scale having first upper and lower bounds, a first plurality of indicators identifying first demarcations of the linear scale between the first upper and lower bounds, a first selectable item arranged along the linear scale and corresponding to a single data item, and a second selectable item arranged along the linear scale and corresponding to multiple data items;

receiving a selection of the second selectable item;

modifying the interface to include a second portion of the linear scale having second upper and lower bounds and the multiple data items corresponding to the second selectable item;

modifying the interface to include a preview interface, the preview interface including a preview of at least one data item corresponding to the second selectable item;

wherein the preview interface includes at least one of;

a right arrow icon at a right side of the preview interface that is selectable to display a first additional preview associated with a first particular selectable item by adding the first additional preview to the right side of the preview interface while concurrently displaying on the linear scale an indication of the first particular selectable item; and

a left arrow icon at a left side of the preview interface that is selectable to display a second additional preview associated with a second particular selectable item by adding the second additional preview to the left side of the preview interface while concurrently displaying on the linear scale an indication of the second particular selectable item; and

wherein the linear scale represents a segment of time, wherein each selectable item arranged along the linear scale is associated with a particular point in time and represents at least one version of one or more computer files that was backed up at the particular point in time, and wherein the preview interface includes at least one preview of at least one of the one or more computer files corresponding to each selectable item on the linear scale, the preview interface displayed concurrently with a visually designated sub-portion of the second portion of the linear scale and the visually designated sub-portion indicating one or more back-up times associated with the one or more computer files.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the multiple data items corresponding to the second selectable item are centered along the linear scale in the modified interface, wherein the second upper bound and the second lower bound correspond to a portion of the linear scale that is larger than a second portion of the linear scale, and wherein the second portion of the linear scale corresponds to a third upper bound and a third lower bound.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the preview interface includes both the right arrow icon and the left arrow icon.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the linear scale is integrated into a backup and restore application.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple data items corresponds to a particular version of a computer file.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the multiple data items corresponds to a plurality of individually selectable sub-items.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a visually designated segment comprises a gray band on the linear scale between a third upper bound and a third lower bound.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first demarcations correspond to months.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein each particular selectable item arranged along the first portion of the linear scale is associated with a particular day of a particular month associated with the first demarcations.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein for each particular selectable item corresponding to the second selectable item, upon selection of one particular selectable item displaying a backup time.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the particular selectable item is selectable via the interface to view multiple versions of the one or more computer files.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein each selectable item is selectable via the interface to restore the at least one version of the one or more computer files.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the selection of the second selectable item is received via a user input device.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first selectable item is displayed using a first visual style to indicate a selectable item that is associated with a single data item.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the second selectable item is displayed using a second visual style to indicate a selectable item that is associated with multiple data items.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein after receiving the selection of the second selectable item, the second selectable item is further displayed using a third visual style to indicate a selectable item that has been selected.

17. A computer system, comprising:

a display device;

an input interface;

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

display at the display device an interface including a first portion of a linear scale having first upper and lower bounds, a first plurality of indicators identifying first demarcations of the linear scale between the first upper and lower bounds, a first selectable item arranged along the linear scale and corresponding to a single data item, and a second selectable item arranged along the linear scale and corresponding to multiple data items;

receive a selection of the second selectable item via the input interface;

determine second upper and lower bounds of the linear scale based on the second selectable item;

modify the interface to include a second portion of the linear scale having the second upper and lower bounds, a second plurality of indicators identifying second demarcations of the linear scale between the second upper and lower bounds, and the multiple data items corresponding to the second selectable item arranged along the linear scale;

modify the interface to include a preview interface, the preview interface including a preview of at least one data item corresponding to the second selectable item;

wherein the preview interface includes at least one of;

a right arrow icon at a right side of the preview interface that is selectable to display a first additional preview associated with a first particular selectable item by adding the first additional preview to the right side of the preview interface while concurrently displaying on the linear scale an indication of the first particular selectable item; and

a left arrow icon at a left side of the preview interface that is selectable to display a second additional preview associated with a second particular selectable item by adding the second additional preview to the left side of the preview interface while concurrently displaying on the linear scale an indication of the second particular selectable item; and

wherein the linear scale represents a segment of time, wherein each selectable item arranged along the linear scale is associated with a particular point in time and represents at least one version of one or more computer files that was backed up at the particular point in time, and wherein the preview interface includes at least one preview of at least one of the one or more computer files corresponding to each selectable item on the linear scale, the preview interface displayed concurrently with a visually designated sub-portion of the second portion of the linear scale and the visually designated sub-portion indicating one or more back-up times associated with the one or more computer files.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the instructions are integrated into a backup and restore application.

19. A computer-readable hardware storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

display an interface including a first portion of a linear scale having first upper and lower bounds, a first plurality of indicators identifying first demarcations of the linear scale between the first upper and lower bounds, a first selectable item arranged along the linear scale and corresponding to a single data item, and a second selectable item arranged along the linear scale and corresponding to multiple data items;

receive a selection of the second selectable item;

determine second upper and lower bounds of the linear scale based on the second selectable item;

modify the interface to include a second portion of the linear scale having the second upper and lower bounds, a second plurality of indicators identifying second demarcations of the linear scale between the second upper and lower bounds, and wherein the modified interface includes a preview interface, the preview interface including at least one preview associated with at least one of the multiple data items corresponding to the second selectable item;

wherein the linear scale represents a segment of time, wherein each selectable item arranged along the linear scale is associated with a particular point in time and represents at least one version of one or more computer files that was backed up at the particular point in time, and wherein the preview interface includes at least one preview of at least one of the one or more computer files corresponding to each selectable item on the linear scale that is displayed concurrently with a visually designated sub-portion of the second portion of the linear scale, the visually designated sub-portion indicating one or more back-up times associated with the one or more computer files; and

wherein the preview interface includes at least one of;

a right arrow icon located at a right side of the at least one preview of the at least one of the one or more computer files that is selectable to display a first additional computer file at the preview interface while concurrently displaying on the linear scale an indication of the first additional computer file; and

a left arrow icon located at a left side of the at least one preview of the at least one of the one or more computer files that is selectable to display a second additional computer file at the preview interface while concurrently displaying on the linear scale an indication of the second additional computer file.

20. The computer-readable hardware storage device of claim 19, wherein one of the selectable items is selectable via the interface to view and restore the at least one version of the one or more computer files.