Graphical user interface for displaying objects

• US 7,752,565 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Finke, Sabine, Bombolowsky, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Ting
• Application Number:
  US12/266,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20100115457A1
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 715/781, 715/766, 715/767, 715/794, 715/782, 715/783, 715/764, 715/722, 715/705, 715/724, 715/725
• US Class Current: 715/766
• 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

First user-generated input is received that selects a first element in a graphical user interface identifying a work area. In response, a plurality of second elements characterizing categories of objects associated with the work area are displayed in the graphical user interface. Thereafter, second user-generated input is received that selects a second element in the graphical user interface element. Once the second element is selected, a visual representation of a plurality of primary objects associated with the category corresponding to the second element is displayed. The plurality of displayed primary objects are displayed in a first person perspective projection format with the objects being displayed in order at depths in the first person perspective projection according to values of an attribute associated with the second element. Related apparatus, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Claims

1. An article comprising a tangible machine-readable storage medium embodying instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprising:

receiving first user-generated input selecting a first element in a graphical user interface identifying a work area;

displaying, in response to the first user-generated input, a plurality of second elements characterizing categories of primary objects associated with the work area in the graphical user interface;

receiving second user-generated input selecting a second element in the graphical user interface element; and

displaying a visual representation of a plurality of primary objects associated with the category corresponding to the second element, the plurality of displayed primary objects being displayed in a first person perspective projection format with the objects being displayed in order at depths along a depth dimension in the first person perspective projection format according to values of an attribute associated with the second element;

displaying, concurrently with the plurality of primary objects, a visual representation of a plurality of secondary objects associated with a category other than the category corresponding to the selected element, wherein the plurality of secondary objects are displayed in the first person perspective projection format with the objects being displayed in order at depths along the depth dimension in the first person perspective projection format according to values of an attribute;

wherein the plurality of primary objects are displayed in the first person perspective projection format in a center of the graphical user interface and the plurality of secondary objects are displayed in the first person perspective projection format offset from the first person perspective projection format of the plurality of primary objects;

wherein distances between the primary objects characterize a relative difference in the attribute values along the depth dimension.

2. An article as in claim 1, wherein the displayed primary objects are further ordered along a horizontal dimension according to values of a second attribute.

3. An article as in claim 1, wherein the tangible machine-readable storage medium further embodies instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprise:

receiving user-generated input selecting one of the objects; and

increasing a display size of the selected object.

4. An article as in claim 1, wherein each displayed object comprises a graphical preview of content encapsulated within such object.

5. An article as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary objects are documents.

6. An article as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary objects are web pages.

7. An article as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary objects characterize data encapsulated within a business object.

8. An article as in claim 1, wherein the tangible machine-readable storage medium further embodies instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprise:

receiving user-generated input selecting one of the primary objects; and

displaying the plurality of primary objects so that a perspective termination point corresponds with the selected object so that the depth dimension extends in one direction for primary objects having first attribute values prior to the selected primary object, and the depth dimension extends in an opposite direction for primary objects having first attribute values after the selected object.

9. An article as in claim 1, wherein the tangible machine-readable storage medium further embodies instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprise:

displaying, adjacent to the plurality of primary objects, a graphical user interface element that allows a user to define a range of first attribute values.

10. An article as in claim 1, wherein the tangible machine-readable storage medium further embodies instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprise:

displaying, adjacent to the plurality of primary objects, counter elements that characterize a number of primary objects having the same attribute value.

11. An article as in claim 1, wherein the tangible machine-readable storage medium further embodies instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprise:

visually modifying a rendering of a counter element when a corresponding primary object is selected.

12. A method for implementation by one or more data processors comprising:

receiving, by at least one data processor, first user-generated input selecting a first element in a graphical user interface identifying a work area;

displaying, by at least one data processor in response to the first user-generated input, a plurality of second elements characterizing categories of primary objects associated with the work area in the graphical user interface;

receiving, by at least one data processor, second user-generated input selecting a second element in the graphical user interface element; and

displaying, by at least one data processor, a visual representation of a plurality of primary objects associated with the category corresponding to the second element, the plurality of displayed primary objects being displayed in a first person perspective projection format with the objects being displayed in order at depths along a depth dimension in the first person perspective projection format according to values of an attribute associated with the second element;

displaying, by at least one data processor concurrently with the plurality of primary objects, a visual representation of a plurality of secondary objects associated with a category other than the category corresponding to the selected element, wherein the plurality of secondary objects are displayed in the first person perspective projection format with the objects being displayed in order at depths along the depth dimension in the first person perspective projection format according to values of an attribute;

wherein the plurality of primary objects are displayed in the first person perspective projection format in a center of the graphical user interface and the plurality of secondary objects are displayed in the first person perspective projection format offset from the first person perspective projection format of the plurality of primary objects;

wherein distances between the primary objects characterize a relative difference in the attribute values along the depth dimension.

13. A method as in claim 12, wherein the displayed primary objects are further ordered along a horizontal dimension according to values of a second attribute.

14. A method as in claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by at least one data processor, user-generated input selecting one of the objects; and

increasing, by at least one data processor, a display size of the selected object.

15. A method as in claim 12, wherein each displayed object comprises a graphical preview of content encapsulated within such object.

16. A method as in claim 12, wherein the plurality of primary objects are documents.

17. A method as in claim 12, wherein the plurality of primary objects are web pages.

18. A method as in claim 12, wherein the plurality of primary objects characterize data encapsulated within a business object.

19. A method as in claim 12 further comprising:

receiving, by at least one data processor, user-generated input selecting one of the primary objects; and

displaying, by at least one data processor, the plurality of primary objects so that a perspective termination point corresponds with the selected object so that the depth dimension extends in one direction for primary objects having first attribute values prior to the selected primary object, and the depth dimension extends in an opposite direction for primary objects having first attribute values after the selected object.

20. An article comprising a tangible machine-readable storage medium embodying instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprising:

receiving first user-generated input selecting a first element in a graphical user interface identifying a work area;

displaying, in response to the first user-generated input, a plurality of second elements characterizing categories of primary objects associated with the work area in the graphical user interface;

receiving second user-generated input selecting a second element in the graphical user interface element; and

displaying a visual representation of a plurality of primary objects associated with the category corresponding to the second element, the plurality of displayed primary objects being displayed in a first person perspective projection format with the objects being displayed in order at depths along a depth dimension in the first person perspective projection format according to values of an attribute associated with the second element;

displaying, concurrently with the plurality of primary objects, a visual representation of a plurality of secondary objects associated with a category other than the category corresponding to the selected element, wherein the plurality of secondary objects are displayed in the first person perspective projection format with the objects being displayed in order at depths along the depth dimension in the first person perspective projection format according to values of an attribute;

displaying, adjacent to the plurality of primary objects, a graphical user interface element that allows a user to define a range of first attribute values; and

displaying, adjacent to the plurality of primary objects, counter elements that characterize a number of primary objects having the same attribute value;

wherein the plurality of primary objects are displayed in the first person perspective projection format in a center of the graphical user interface and the plurality of secondary objects are displayed in the first person perspective projection format offset from the first person perspective projection format of the plurality of primary objects;

wherein distances between the primary objects characterize a relative difference in the attribute values along the depth dimension.