Method and system for organizing and displaying data
First Claim
1. A user interface on an electronic computing device, comprising:
- a plurality of information categories and option nodes organized into a hierarchy;
a display screen associated with the electronic computing device, comprising a plurality of menu columns contained within a window on the display screen associated with the electronic computing device, the menu columns each being configured to display to an end user a portion of the plurality of categories and option nodes;
a first scrolling control, located adjacent the plurality of menu columns, configured to scroll the plurality of menu columns in a defined direction across the screen;
a second scrolling control located adjacent and on an opposite side of the plurality of menu columns, the second scrolling control being linked to the first scrolling control to enable either scrolling control to be moved in the defined direction in order to scroll the menu columns and unused scrolling control simultaneously;
a graphical button comprising a shortcut to any desirable menu column within the plurality of menu columns having at least one parent column, and wherein selection of the shortcut results in a display of the menu column and the at least one parent column; and
an input device associated with the electronic computing device for enabling user interaction;
wherein;
the menu columns are configured to add an additional column for each information category accessed by an end user and additional menu columns are added on a side of the scrolling columns; and
columns other than the additional menu column that are unable to fit within a viewable area of the window are automatically moved off the viewable area to enable an unlimited number of menu columns to be adjacently displayed, and are accessible using the first and second scrolling controls.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system are provided for a user interface. The system can include a plurality of information categories and option nodes organized into a hierarchy. A plurality of menu columns can be contained within a window. The menu columns can each be configured to display a portion of the plurality of categories and option nodes. A first scrolling control can be located adjacent to the plurality of menu columns and be configured to scroll the plurality of menu columns in a defined direction across the screen. A second scrolling control can be located adjacent on an opposite site of the plurality of menu columns. The second scrolling control can be linked to the first scrolling control to enable either scrolling control to be moved in the defined direction in order to scroll the menu columns and unused scrolling control simultaneously.
56 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A user interface on an electronic computing device, comprising:
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a plurality of information categories and option nodes organized into a hierarchy; a display screen associated with the electronic computing device, comprising a plurality of menu columns contained within a window on the display screen associated with the electronic computing device, the menu columns each being configured to display to an end user a portion of the plurality of categories and option nodes; a first scrolling control, located adjacent the plurality of menu columns, configured to scroll the plurality of menu columns in a defined direction across the screen; a second scrolling control located adjacent and on an opposite side of the plurality of menu columns, the second scrolling control being linked to the first scrolling control to enable either scrolling control to be moved in the defined direction in order to scroll the menu columns and unused scrolling control simultaneously; a graphical button comprising a shortcut to any desirable menu column within the plurality of menu columns having at least one parent column, and wherein selection of the shortcut results in a display of the menu column and the at least one parent column; and an input device associated with the electronic computing device for enabling user interaction; wherein; the menu columns are configured to add an additional column for each information category accessed by an end user and additional menu columns are added on a side of the scrolling columns; and columns other than the additional menu column that are unable to fit within a viewable area of the window are automatically moved off the viewable area to enable an unlimited number of menu columns to be adjacently displayed, and are accessible using the first and second scrolling controls. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A user interface on an electronic computing device, comprising:
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a plurality of information categories and option nodes organized into a hierarchy; a display screen associated with the electronic display screen, comprising a window having a plurality of menu columns for each displaying portions of the plurality of information categories and option nodes to an end user on the display screen associated with the electronic computing device; a first scrolling control located below the plurality of menu columns, configured to move the plurality of menu columns in a defined direction; a second scrolling control located above the plurality of menu columns, the second scrolling control being linked to the first scrolling control to enable either scrolling control to be moved while the counterpart scrolling control respectively moves; a speed control module for controlling movement speed of menu columns as the menu columns are scrolled through by an end user using the first and second scrolling controls; a graphical button comprising a shortcut to any desirable menu column within the plurality of menu columns having at least one parent column, and wherein selection of the shortcut results in a display of the menu column and the at least one parent column; and an input device associated with the electronic computing device for enabling user interaction; wherein additional menu columns are added on a first side of the scrolling columns for each information category accessed by an end user and columns other than the additional menu columns that are unable to fit within a viewable area of the window are moved toward a second side of the viewable area to enable an unlimited number of menu columns to be adjacently displayed and are accessible using the first and second scrolling controls. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method for controlling a user interface configured to access a plurality of information categories in a database, comprising:
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enabling access to the database via a graphical user interface; presenting at least one menu column containing information categories to an end user via the graphical user interface; displaying further related information in an additional menu column adjacent to an active menu column when an information category is selected in the active menu column; enabling the displayed menu columns to move in a defined direction when a display screen is filled to enable an unlimited number of additional menu columns to be adjacently displayed, each additional menu column added to the display separately in response to a separate information category selection in different active menu columns; enabling the menu columns to be navigated using a first scroll bar below the menu columns, and second scroll bar above the menu columns which is linked to the first scroll bar, to provide simultaneous movement in the defined direction regardless of which scroll bar is used; providing a graphical button comprising a shortcut to any desirable menu column within the plurality of menu columns having at least one parent column, and wherein selection of the shortcut results in a display of the menu column and the at least one parent column; and wherein menu columns that are unable to fit within a viewable area of the window are moved off the viewable area to make room for one or more additional menu columns within the viewable area and menu columns that are moved off the viewable area are accessible using the first or second scroll. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification