Navigation of electronic backups

• US 20080034327A1
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Tiene, Kevin, Christie, Gregory N., Vandereyken, Loic, Hart, David, Ragan, Gene Zyrl, Chinn, Robert M., Matas, Mike, Cisler, Pavel, van Os, Marcel MWA
• Granted Patent: US 7,853,566 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Systems and methods for navigating within snapshots are provided. In one implementation a method is provided. The method includes receiving, while a current view is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting that a history view associated with the current view be displayed. The history view is displayed in response to the first user input, the history view including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view, the earlier version including a hierarchical structure wherein a first element of the earlier version includes a second element. There is received, while the history view is displayed, a second user input requesting that the current view be modified according to the second element. The method includes modifying, in response to the second user input, the current view according to the second element.

Claims

1. A method relating to modifying a view in a user interface, the method comprising:

receiving, while a current view is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting that a history view associated with the current view be displayed;

displaying the history view in response to the first user input, the history view including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view, the earlier version including a hierarchical structure wherein a first element of the earlier version includes a second element;

receiving, while the history view is displayed, a second user input requesting that the current view be modified according to the second element; and

modifying, in response to the second user input, the current view according to the second element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first element is one selected from the group consisting of:

a folder, a file, an item, an information portion, a playlist, a directory, an image, system parameters, and combinations thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input is received while the current view presents a level of the hierarchical structure associated with the first element.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user input is received while the current view presents a level of the hierarchical structure associated with the second element.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first visual representation of the earlier version of the current view is included in a timeline presented in the history view, the timeline including several visual representations of earlier versions of the current view.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the history view further includes an input control for modifying the timeline to include only at least one of the visual representations whose corresponding earlier version differs from the current view.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the user selects the second element, further comprising displaying a revised timeline in response to the selection, the revised timeline including a first visual representation of an earlier version of the second element.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first element has a folder structure.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second element is a file in the folder structure of the first element.

10. The method of claim 1, where receiving the second user input comprises:

receiving an input to traverse the hierarchical structure and display the second element.

11. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, while a current view is displayed in a user interface, a first user input requesting that a history view associated with the current view be displayed;

displaying the history view in response to the first user input, the history view including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view, the earlier version including a hierarchical structure wherein a first element of the earlier version includes a second element;

receiving, while the history view is displayed, a second user input requesting that the current view be modified according to the second element; and

modifying, in response to the second user input, the current view according to the second element.

12. A computer program product tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a graphical user interface comprising:

a view display area for presenting a current view;

a history view display area for presenting (i) a history view associated with the current view, the history view including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view, the earlier version including a hierarchical structure wherein a first element of the earlier version includes a second element; and

(ii) a revised version of the history view after a user selects the second element, the revised version including at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the second element; and

an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view according to the earlier version of the second element.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the graphical user interface begins displaying the history view while the current view presents a level of the hierarchical structure associated with the first element.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the graphical user interface begins displaying the history view while the current view presents a level of the hierarchical structure associated with the second element.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the first visual representation is included in a timeline presented in the history view, the timeline including several visual representations of earlier versions of the current view.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the history view further includes another input control for modifying the timeline to include only at least one of the visual representations whose corresponding earlier version differs from the current view.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the revised history view includes a revised timeline that includes a first visual representation of an earlier version of the second element.

18. A method comprising:

defining a criterion for capturing a state of a structured element, the structured element including one or more second elements and being presented in a user interface;

capturing a state of the structured element including capturing an organization and content of the structured element;

receiving a prompt to suspend presentation of a current view and present a captured view, the captured view including organization and content of the structured element at a previous time; and

reinstating the captured view into the current view of the user interface.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

while presenting the captured view, navigating the structured element to locate the one or more second elements.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

while presenting the captured view, traversing the structured element to display one or more sub-structure elements.

21. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

defining a criterion for capturing a state of a structured element, the structured element including one or more second elements and being presented in a user interface;

capturing a state of the structured element including capturing an organization and content of the structured element;

receiving a prompt to suspend presentation of a current view and present a captured view, the captured view including organization and content of the structured element at a previous time; and

reinstating the captured view into the current view of the user interface.

22. A method comprising:

evaluating a current view of a user interface including evaluating a state of an organization and content of a structured element presented in the current view;

determining that an undesirable change to the current view of the user interface has occurred relative to a past view of the user interface, the undesirable change relative to the organization or content of the structured element;

suspending the current view of the user interface;

presenting one or more past views of the user interface each including an organization and content of the structured element at a respective time; and

reinstating a past view of the user interface into the current view including reinstating an organization or content of the structured element.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

navigating a presented past view to locate one or more structured elements.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

traversing a structured element to display one or more sub-structure elements associated with the structured element.

25. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:

evaluating a current view of a user interface including evaluating a state of an organization and content of a structured element presented in the current view;

determining that an undesirable change to the current view of the user interface has occurred relative to a past view of the user interface, the undesirable change relative to the organization or content of the structured element;

suspending the current view of the user interface;

presenting one or more past views of the user interface each including an organization and content of the structured element at a respective time; and

reinstating a past view of the user interface into the current view including reinstating an organization or content of the structured element.