User interface navigation elements for navigating datasets

• US 9,996,244 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Glueck, Michael, Khan, Azam, Lee, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Nabi, Reza
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US13/802,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20140282268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,917 Days
• Field of Search: 715771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention sets forth a data navigation engine that generates user interface navigation elements for navigation large and expanding datasets. The user interface navigation elements may include a pivot control zoom slider for adjusting the data resolution with respect to different zoom pivot locations, an interactive ruler for consistent visual feedback and navigation of intervals of data within the dataset, a context bar for viewing the data proximate to a current view, and a multi-scale slider for repositioning the dataset within the current view. These user interface navigation elements provide the end-user with consistent control and visual feedback while navigating the dataset, independent of the size of the dataset or the portion of the dataset displayed within the current view. Therefore, large and expanding datasets can be navigated more effectively relative to prior art approaches.

Claims

1. A method for navigating data included in a data set, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of discrete zoom pivot locations within a current view of the data set, each discrete zoom pivot location corresponding to a different zoom pivot location associated with a zoom operation;

displaying a slider element for selecting a particular discrete zoom pivot location within the plurality of discrete zoom pivot locations, the slider element displaying a plurality of discrete indicators that map to the plurality of discrete zoom pivot locations displayed within the current view of the data set;

receiving a request to perform the zoom operation;

determining a zoom pivot location associated with the zoom operation;

and

performing the zoom operation relative to the zoom pivot location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-in operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed substantially in the middle of the current view of the data set.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-in operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed on the right side of the current view of the data set.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-in operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed on the left side of the current view of the data set.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-out operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed substantially in the middle of the current view of the data set.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-out operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed on the right side of the current view of the data set.

7. The method claim 1, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-out operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed on the left side of the current view of the data set.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving user input via either a slider element or a button element within a graphical user interface to effect the zoom operation.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving user input via the slider element to effect selecting the zoom pivot location, wherein the zoom pivot location is disposed at an arbitrary location of the current view of the data set.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the slider element is configured to move in a first direction within the graphical user interface to effect the zoom operation and in a second direction within the graphical user interface to effect selecting the zoom pivot location, wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the data set is displayed in a viewport of a user interface; and

the zoom pivot location comprises a point in the viewport from which the current view of the data set zooms-in or zooms-out.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the zoom operation relative to the zoom pivot location comprises displaying the data set surrounding the zoom pivot location in the current view.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a plurality of selectable zoom pivot locations within the current view of the data set, each selectable zoom pivot location corresponding to a different zoom pivot location associated with the zoom operation.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of selectable zoom pivot locations are displayed on a left side, right side, and middle of the current view of the data set.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processing unit, cause the processing unit to navigate data included in a data set, by performing the steps of:

displaying a plurality of discrete zoom pivot locations within a current view of the data set, each discrete zoom pivot location corresponding to a different zoom pivot location associated with a zoom operation;

displaying a slider element for selecting a particular discrete zoom pivot location within the plurality of discrete zoom pivot locations, the slider element displaying a plurality of discrete indicators that map to the plurality of discrete zoom pivot locations displayed within the current view of the data set;

receiving a request to perform the zoom operation;

determining a zoom pivot location associated with the zoom operation;

and

performing the zoom operation relative to the zoom pivot location.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-in operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed substantially in the middle of the current view of the data set.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-in operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed on the right side of the current view of the data set.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-in operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed on the left side of the current view of the data set.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-out operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed substantially in the middle of the current view of the data set.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-out operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed on the right side of the current view of the data set.

21. The computer-readable medium claim 15, wherein the zoom operation comprises a zoom-out operation, and the zoom pivot location is disposed on the left side of the current view of the data set.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising receiving user input via either a slider element or a button element within a graphical user interface to effect the zoom operation.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, further comprising receiving user input via the slider element to effect selecting the zoom pivot location, wherein the zoom pivot location is disposed at an arbitrary location of the current view of the data set.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the slider element is configured to move in a first direction within the graphical user interface to effect the zoom operation and in a second direction within the graphical user interface to effect selecting the zoom pivot location, wherein the first direction is substantially orthogonal to the second direction.

25. A system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory and configured to;

display a plurality of discrete zoom pivot locations within a current view of a data set, each discrete zoom pivot location corresponding to a different zoom pivot location associated with a zoom operation,

display a slider element for selecting a particular discrete zoom pivot location within the plurality of discrete zoom pivot locations, the slider element displaying a plurality of discrete indicators that map to the plurality of discrete zoom pivot locations displayed within the current view of the data set,

receive a request to perform the zoom operation,

determine a zoom pivot location associated with the zoom operation,

and

perform the zoom operation relative to the zoom pivot location.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processing unit, cause the processing unit to receive the request, determine whether the zoom operation is a zoom-in operation, determine the zoom pivot location, and perform the zoom operation.