Apparatus and method for navigating electronic files using an array display
First Claim
1. A method of navigating a hierarchical data structure comprising:
- a) beginning at an active node;
b) referencing a table to determine the descendant nodes of the active node;
c) assigning identifiers to the descendant nodes;
d) displaying the identifiers in the cells of a grid-like display which cells correspond to the physical configuration of keys in a keypad;
e) accepting user input from the keypad which corresponds to a selected identifier;
f) designating the descendant node assigned to the selected identifier as the active node;
g) repeating steps b through f until the selected identifier is assigned to a leaf node; and
, h) activating the leaf node.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An end-user interface system for a computer, telephone or other electronic apparatus used to access the Internet or operating in standalone mode for navigating, displaying, and manipulating folders and files, web page links, and Internet bookmarks, such that each displayed folder, file, web page link, or Internet bookmark is displayed in a cell on a grid. To activate or further explore a particular file, an end-user activates a key on a computer keyboard or numeric keypad of a telephone or other electronic apparatus that corresponds to a particular option located within a cell on the grid. Hierarchical information such as file or folder structure, web site organization, or Internet bookmarks are arranged into the grid configuration. Use of the interface allows the manipulation of hierarchical data structures using a simple keypad having keys which correspond to the physical organization of the displayed grid, thus alleviating the need to use cumbersome or confusing point and click devices.
58 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of navigating a hierarchical data structure comprising:
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a) beginning at an active node;
b) referencing a table to determine the descendant nodes of the active node;
c) assigning identifiers to the descendant nodes;
d) displaying the identifiers in the cells of a grid-like display which cells correspond to the physical configuration of keys in a keypad;
e) accepting user input from the keypad which corresponds to a selected identifier;
f) designating the descendant node assigned to the selected identifier as the active node;
g) repeating steps b through f until the selected identifier is assigned to a leaf node; and
,h) activating the leaf node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for navigating a hierarchical data structure comprising:
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means for determining descendant nodes of a given active node;
a labeling means for labeling each descendant node;
a display means for displaying the labels associated with each descendant node in the cells of a grid-like display, said cells of the grid-like display corresponding to the physical location of keys in a keypad;
means for receiving user input in the form of actuation of a key from said keypad, said actuation corresponding to a selected label; and
,means for designating the node identified by the selected label as the active node and supplying said active node to the means for determining descendant nodes. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification