System and method for navigating a dynamic collection of information

• US 20070271516A1
• Filed: 05/18/2006
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patential Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ubiquity Broadcasting Corporation
• Inventors: Carmichael, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,996,788 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A graphical user interface is provided that permits the navigation of dynamic collections of information. A simplified presentation allows navigation between multiple levels of information content. Navigating through the various levels of the collection of information causes the information to be recursively presented in a hierarchical fashion. Furthermore, the information content may be dynamic in nature such that changes to the information content or its structure is reflected in the hierarchical presentation. The present invention may be used to navigate collections of information including web sites, computer file systems, databases, and other hierarchical systems.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

arranging an information hierarchy including a set of selectable top-level elements, a dynamically-varying set of selectable mid-level elements which is dynamically selected based on a selection of one of said top level elements, and a displaying element;

electing one of said top-level elements, and responsive to said selecting, changing the set of said mid-level elements that are displayed;

enabling selection of any of the displayed mid-level elements; and

displaying at least one graphic part associated with a selection.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said top-level element, mid-level element and displaying element are concentrically arranged with each element surrounding an inner element.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein said top-level elements formed an outer ring, said mid-level elements form a middle ring, and said displaying element forms a center ring.

4. A method as in claim 3, further comprising displaying an additional ring outside said outer ring with text thereon.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein said graphic part displays at least one static image.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein said graphic part displays at least one video.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said selecting comprises selecting using a mouse that is part of a user interface.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein said selecting comprises selecting with a PDA wand.

9. A method as in claim 1, further comprising storing a table representing the relationship between a specific selected top-level element, and those of said mid-level elements associated with said top-level element.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein said changing a content comprises using the table to determine which of the mid-level elements are displayed based on the top-level element that is displayed.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein said using the table comprises using the table to determine said graphic part associated with the elements.

12. A computer with user interface, comprising:

a display, having a display part which displays information;

a processor, producing a user interface display and coupling said user interface display to said display, and which accepts and actuation of an item in said user interface display, and selects an object based on said actuation, and

wherein said user interface display produced by said processor includes a first portion of top-level elements, and a second portion of mid-level elements, wherein the selection of mid-level elements that is displayed is based on which of the top-level elements is selected, and wherein said user interface display further includes a display portion that is based on selection of at least one of said top-level elements and/or at least one of said mid-level elements.

13. A computer as in claim 12, wherein said user interface display includes first, second and third concentric rings of display elements, wherein said first ring include said top-level elements, said second ring includes said mid-level elements, and said third ring includes a display portion.

14. A computer as in claim 13, wherein said top-level element forms an outer ring, said mid-level element forms amid ring, and said display element forms a center ring.

15. A computer as in claim 12, wherein said displaying portion displays at least one graphic element that is associated with at least one selection.

16. A computer as in claim 12, further comprising a memory storing a table which includes information indicative of a hierarchy of said user interface, wherein said paper includes information indicative of plural mid-level elements that are associated with each of said top-level elements;

and at least one graphic element that is associated with at least one other element.

17. A computer as in claim 12, wherein said elements represent a webpage.

18. A method, comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of top-level elements from a group of top-level elements;

responsive to selecting said one of said plurality of top-level elements, adjusting a set of mid-level elements which is displayed to a user, wherein said set of mid-level elements is related to a selected top-level element, and wherein a first set of mid-level elements that is associated with a first top-level element includes different elements than a second set of mid-level elements that is associated with a second top-level element; and

responsive to selecting said one of said plurality of top-level elements, also displaying to the user at least one item of text, and at least one item of graphics associated with the selected top-level element.

19. A method as in claim 18, wherein said top-level element and said mid-level elements are concentrically arranged one within the other.

20. A method as in claim 19, further comprising carrying out said displaying concentrically inside said top-level element and said mid-level element.

21. A method as in claim 20, further comprising storing a table and memory which includes association between top-level elements, the set of mid-level elements that is displayed, and the text and graphics to be associated with top-level element that is displayed.