Graphical user interface for navigating between levels displaying hallway and room metaphors

• US 5,689,669 A
• Filed: 04/29/1994
• Issued: 11/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: General Magic, Inc.
• Inventors: Lynch, Kevin M., Hertzfeld, Andrew J., Atkinson, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/235,603
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• Field of Search: 395/119-127, 395/155-161, 434/118, 463/32-33, 345/117-120, 345/146, 345/902
• US Class Current: 715/848
• 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

Abstract

A graphical navigation user interface for enabling user control of a computer system incorporating navigation levels, each of which is based on a physical real-world metaphor. The navigation system includes a first navigation level, a second navigation level and a third navigation level. The first navigation level includes a plurality of first level objects having a respective plurality of functions. When the first navigation level is accessed, a first level object is displayed. The presentation of the first level object is based on the appearance of a corresponding real-world device. From the first level, the second level is accessed by actuating a step back control. The second navigation level includes a second level object which represents a room or a similar architectural structure. This second level object includes a plurality of objects representing first navigation level objects. From the second level room object, navigation to a first level is performed by actuating one of the first level objects. From the second navigation level, the third navigation level is accessed by actuating a step back control. The third navigation level includes a third level object which depicts a hallway or similar commonly understood continuous structure for linearly moving between locations. From the third navigation level, the second navigation level is accessed by touching an object representing the second level. The third level object can be extended lengthwise to provide navigation space for new second level and first level objects.

Claims

1. A method for navigating within a graphical user interface of a computer system having a central processing unit coupled to a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first navigation level, the first navigation level including a plurality of first level objects having a respective plurality of functions;

displaying on the display device, when the first navigation level is accessed, a first level object using a functional metaphor representing the function of the object;

providing a second navigation level, the second navigation level including a second level object;

displaying on the display device, when the second level is accessed, the second level object using a physical metaphor of a room, the room including physical metaphors for the plurality of first level objects, the room providing a superview for the plurality of first level objects;

accessing a first level object from the second navigation level by actuating the physical metaphor of the first level object;

accessing the second navigation level from the first navigation level by stepping back from the first navigation level;

providing a third navigation level, the third navigation level including a third level object;

displaying on the display device, when the third navigation level is accessed, the third level object using a physical metaphor of a hallway of a building, the physical metaphor of the hallway including a metaphor for an entrance, the entrance representing a room of the second navigation level;

accessing the room of the second navigation level from the third navigation level by actuating the entrance; and

accessing the third navigation level from the second navigation level by stepping back from the second navigation level.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a fourth navigation level, the fourth navigation level including a fourth level object;

displaying on the display device, when the fourth navigation level is accessed, the fourth level object using a physical metaphor of a street of a town, the street including a metaphor of a building, the building representing a building of the third navigation level;

accessing the third navigation level from the fourth navigation level by actuating the building; and

accessing the fourth navigation level from the third navigation level by stepping back from the third navigation level.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein

the physical metaphor of the room is an office scene;

and

the office scene includes a physical metaphor of a desk; and

further comprising

displaying the physical metaphors of a plurality of the first level objects on the top of the desk.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein

the physical metaphor of the desk includes a metaphor of a desk accessory drawer and further comprising

actuating the desk accessory drawer to access other first level objects.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising

displaying the desk accessory drawer open when the desk accessory drawer is actuated;

and

displaying a desk accessory window when the desk accessory drawer is actuated, the desk accessory window including metaphors of the objects which are contained in the desk accessory drawer.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein

the physical metaphor of the desk includes a metaphor of a stationery drawer and further comprising

actuating the stationery drawer to access stationery first level objects.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising

displaying the stationery drawer open when the stationery drawer is actuated;

and

displaying a stationery window when the stationery drawer is actuated, the stationery window including metaphors of stationery first level objects which are contained in the stationery drawer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein

the second navigation level includes a plurality of second level objects, and further comprising

displaying, when a second level object is accessed, a physical metaphor of a room, the physical metaphor for each room representing a type of activity provided by objects which are contained by the room.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein

the plurality of second level objects include an office object;

and

the physical metaphor of the office object is an office scene; and

further comprising

displaying, when the office object is accessed, the office scene, the office scene including a plurality of the first level objects.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein

the plurality of second level objects include a storeroom object;

and

the physical metaphor of the storeroom object is a storeroom scene including a plurality of physical metaphors for first level objects; and

further comprising

displaying, when the storeroom object is accessed, the storeroom scene.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the physical metaphors of the plurality of first level objects are a respective plurality of boxes, each box corresponding to an object that is stored in the memory.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein

each box includes a name portion and a memory consumption indicator for indicating how much memory the software package consumes when active.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising

providing the storeroom with a metaphor of a directory and

actuating the directory to provides a verbal list of the plurality of boxes.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising

providing the storeroom with a physical metaphor of a computer;

and

actuating the computer to provide access to an external computer system.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein

the plurality of second level objects include a library object;

and

the physical metaphor of the library object is a library scene having a physical metaphor of a bookshelf, a plurality of physical metaphors for first level objects being displayed on the bookshelf; and

further comprising

displaying, when the library object is accessed, the library scene.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein

the plurality of first level objects on the bookshelf are represented as books, each book having a respective title.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein

actuating a book on the bookshelf causes a scene of an open book to be presented on the display device.

18. A method for navigating within a graphical user interface of a computer system having a central processing unit coupled to a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first navigation level, the first navigation level including a plurality of first level functions;

displaying on the display device, when the first navigation level is accessed, a first navigation level scene, the first level navigation scene including a functional metaphor representing one of the plurality of functions;

providing a second navigation level;

displaying on the display device, when the second level is accessed, the second level navigation scene using a physical metaphor of a room, the room including physical metaphors corresponding to the plurality of first level functions, the room providing a superview for the plurality of first level functions;

accessing a first level function from the second navigation level by actuating the corresponding physical metaphor of the first level function;

accessing the second navigation level from the first navigation level by stepping back from the first navigation level;

providing a third navigation level;

displaying on the display device, when the third navigation level is accessed, the third level navigation scene using a physical metaphor of a hallway of a building, the physical metaphor of the hallway including a metaphor for an entrance, the entrance representing a room of the second navigation level;

accessing the room of the second navigation level from the third navigation level actuating the entrance; and

accessing the third navigation level from the second navigation level by stepping back from the second navigation level.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising providing a fourth navigation level;

displaying on the display device, when the fourth navigation level is accessed, a fourth level navigation scene using a physical metaphor of a street of a town, the street including a metaphor of a building, the building representing a building of the third navigation level;

accessing the third navigation level from the fourth navigation level by actuating the building; and

accessing the fourth navigation level from the third navigation level by stepping back from the third navigation level.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein

the stepping back is provided by accessing a step back function, the step back function being presented on the display device external to a displayed navigation scene.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein

the third navigation level is extensible by adding metaphors of additional buildings to the fourth level navigation scene.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein

the street is lengthened to include the additional buildings.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein

when the street is lengthened so that the street is not entirely visible on the display device, the street that is not visible is accessed by actuating an arrow indicating a direction of movement down the street.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein

the first navigation level is extensible by adding physical metaphors of additional first level objects to the second level navigation scene.

25. A method for navigating within a graphical user interface of a computer system having a central processing unit coupled to a display device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a first navigation level, the first navigation level including a plurality of first level functions;

displaying on the display device, when the first navigation level is accessed, a first navigation level scene, the first level navigation scene including a functional metaphor representing one of the plurality of functions;

providing a second navigation level;

displaying on the display device, when the second level is accessed, a second level navigation scene using a physical metaphor of a commonly understood volume of space, the volume of space including physical metaphors corresponding to the plurality of first level functions, the volume of space providing a superview for the plurality of first level functions;

accessing a first level function from the second navigation level by actuating the corresponding physical metaphor of the first level function;

accessing the second navigation level from the first navigation level by stepping back from the first navigation level;

providing a third navigation level;

displaying on the display device, when the third navigation level is accessed, the third level navigation scene using a physical metaphor of a commonly understood way of traveling between locations, the physical metaphor of the way of traveling between locations including a metaphor for accessing the locations, the metaphor for accessing the locations representing a corresponding volume of space of the second navigation level;

accessing the volume of space of the second navigation level from the third navigation level by actuating the metaphor for accessing the locations; and

accessing the third navigation level from the second navigation level by stepping back from the second navigation level.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein

the second navigation level is extensible by adding metaphors of additional entrances to the third level navigation scene.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein

the hallway is lengthened to include the additional entrances.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein

when the hallway is lengthened so that the hallway is not entirely visible on the display device, the hallway that is not visible is accessed by actuating an arrow indicating a direction of movement down the hallway.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein

the first navigation level is extensible by adding physical metaphors of additional first level functions.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein

the second navigation level is extensible by adding additional metaphors for accessing the locations.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein

the commonly understood way of traveling between locations is lengthened to include the additional metaphors for accessing the locations.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein

when the commonly understood way of traveling between locations is lengthened so that the commonly understood way of traveling between locations is not entirely visible on the display device, the commonly understood way of traveling between locations that is not visible is accessed by moving down the commonly understood way of traveling between locations.