User interface for backup management

• US 8,166,415 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Cisler, Pavel, Matas, Mike, van Os, Marcel M W A, Christie, Gregory N., Tiene, Kevin, Ragan, Gene Zyrl, Forstall, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hassan, Rashedul
• Application Number:
  US11/760,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20080034307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 715766-768, 715/778, 715/781, 715/788, 715/790, 715791-793, 715/794, 715/796, 715797-801
• US Class Current: 715/778
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Methods and a computer program product for providing a user interface including earlier versions of data. 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 backup interface be displayed. In response to the first user input, the transition from displaying the current view in the user interface to displaying the backup interface is animated. The backup interface is displayed including a display area for presenting at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the current view, where the earlier version includes a first element. While the backup interface is displayed, a second user input is received requesting that the current view be modified according to the earlier version. In response to the second user input, the current view is modified according to the earlier version.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, while a current view of a graphical user interface including at least a first user interface window is displayed, a first user input requesting that a backup interface be displayed;

animating, in response to the first user input, a transition from displaying the current view of the graphical user interface to displaying the backup interface, the animating including sliding the backup interface into view while decreasing the display of the graphical user interface;

displaying the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the first user interface window the earlier version including a first element, the backup interface being different from the graphical user interface;

receiving, while the backup interface is displayed, a second user input requesting that the current view of the first user interface window be modified according to the first visual representation of the earlier version of the first user interface window, at least with regard to the first element; and

modifying, in response to the second user input, the current view of the first user interface window according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element.

2. The method of claim 1, where animating the transition from displaying the current view of the graphical user interface to displaying the backup interface further comprises:

animating a sliding of the graphical user interface by simultaneously displaying decreasing portions of a representation of the graphical user interface while displaying increasing portions of a representation of the backup interface.

3. The method of claim 2, where the current view of the graphical user interface is not animated to slide with the backup interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the modified current view in the graphical user interface, the modified current view including the first interface window including the first element from the visual representation of the earlier version.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

animating the transition from displaying the backup interface to displaying the modified current view in the graphical user interface.

6. A method comprising:

defining criteria for capturing a state of a view for a user interface window;

capturing the state of the view in accordance with the criteria;

receiving a prompt to suspend presentation of a current view of the user interface window and present a captured view of the user interface window;

animating a transition from presenting the current view of the user interface window to presenting the captured view of the user interface window, the animating including animating a sliding of a graphical user interface by simultaneously displaying decreasing portions of a representation of the graphical user interface while displaying increasing portions of a representation of a backup interface;

presenting the captured view of the user interface window in the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting a first visual representation of the user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window, the first visual representation of the user interface window corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window; and

reinstating data for the captured view of the user interface window into the current view of the user interface window.

7. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a graphical user interface comprising:

a display area for presenting a first visual representation of a user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window in a stack, the first visual representation of the user interface window corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window, and where each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window are at least partially visible in the stack;

a calendar with a plurality of date ranges, each version of the current view of the user interface window being associated with a particular date range of the plurality of date ranges; and

an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view according to at least a portion of an earlier version.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, where each earlier version includes at least a first element that a user can select, and wherein initiation of the input control after the selection initiates the restoration of the current view according to only the first element of the earlier version.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, where an earlier version is selectable in response to a user input of the associated date range.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, where each date range is a single date.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, where each date range is represented by a tick mark in the calendar.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, where the graphical user interface further includes one or more scroll bars for scrolling through the plurality of date ranges, including scrolling to additional date ranges not initially shown in the calendar.

13. The computer program product of claim 7, where the graphical user interface further includes another input control for modifying the display area to present only at least one of the second visual representations whose corresponding earlier version differs from the current version of the current view.

14. The computer program product of claim 7, where the graphical user interface further includes arrow buttons for scrolling to additional visual representations of earlier versions not initially shown in the display area.

15. The computer program product of claim 7, where the graphical user interface further includes another input control for canceling a restoration of the current view.

16. The computer program product of claim 7, where the display area presents the visual representations as a stack of snapshots.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, where the graphical user interface further includes a date display, the date display displaying a date range associated with a version corresponding to a visual representation at the front of the stack.

18. A computer program product tangibly embodied in a machine-readable storage device, the computer program product including instructions that, when executed, generate on a display device a graphical user interface comprising:

a display area for presenting a first visual representation of a user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window, the visual representations of the user interface window presented as a stack, one visual representation in the stack corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window in the stack corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window and where each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window are at least partially visible in the stack;

a date display overlay, the date display overlay displayed in proximity to a visual representation of the user interface window at the front of the stack, the date display overlay displaying a date range associated with a version corresponding to the visual representation at the front of the stack; and

an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view of the user interface window according to at least a portion of an earlier version of the user interface window.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, where the date display overlay fades over time.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, further comprising receiving user input to navigate between visual representations of the user interface window in the stack such that a particular visual representation in the stack is a top most visual representation.

21. A system comprising:

one or more processors configured to interact with a machine-readable storage device to perform operations including;

receiving, while a current view of a graphical user interface including at least a first user interface window is displayed, a first user input requesting that a backup interface be displayed;

animating, in response to the first user input, a transition from displaying the current view of the graphical user interface to displaying the backup interface, the animating including sliding the backup interface into view while decreasing the display of the graphical user interface;

displaying the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the first user interface window the earlier version including a first element, the backup interface being different from the graphical user interface;

receiving, while the backup interface is displayed, a second user input requesting that the current view of the first user interface window be modified according to the first visual representation of the earlier version of the first user interface window, at least with regard to the first element; and

modifying, in response to the second user input, the current view of the first user interface window according to the earlier version, at least with regard to the first element.

22. A system comprising:

one or more processors configured to interact with a machine-readable storage device to perform operations including;

defining criteria for capturing a state of a view for a user interface window;

capturing the state of the view in accordance with the criteria;

receiving a prompt to suspend presentation of a current view of the user interface window and present a captured view of the user interface window;

animating a transition from presenting the current view of the user interface window to presenting the captured view of the user interface window, the animating including animating a sliding of a graphical user interface by simultaneously displaying decreasing portions of a representation of the graphical user interface while displaying increasing portions of a representation of a backup interface;

presenting the captured view of the user interface window in the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting a first visual representation of the user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window, the first visual representation of the user interface window corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window; and

reinstating data for the captured view of the user interface window into the current view of the user interface window.

23. A system comprising:

one or more processors configured to interact with a machine-readable storage device to perform operations including displaying a graphical user interface comprising;

a display area for presenting a first visual representation of a user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window in a stack, the first visual representation of the user interface window corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window, and where each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window are at least partially visible in the stack;

a calendar with a plurality of date ranges, each version of the current view of the user interface window being associated with a particular date range of the plurality of date ranges; and

an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view according to at least a portion of an earlier version.

24. A system comprising:

one or more processors configured to interact with a machine-readable storage device to perform operations including displaying a graphical user interface comprising;

a display area for presenting a first visual representation of a user interface window and one or more second visual representations of the user interface window in a stack, the visual representations of the user interface window presented as a stack, one visual representation in the stack corresponding to a current version of a current view of the user interface window, each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window in the stack corresponding to an earlier version of the current view of the user interface window, and where each of the one or more second visual representations of the user interface window are at least partially visible in the stack;

a date display overlay, the date display overlay displayed in proximity to a visual representation of the user interface window at the front of the stack, the date display overlay displaying a date range associated with a version corresponding to the visual representation at the front of the stack; and

an input control for initiating a restoration of the current view of the user interface window according to at least a portion of an earlier version of the user interface window.

25. A method comprising:

receiving, while a current view of a graphical user interface including at least a first user interface window is displayed, a first user input requesting that a backup interface be displayed;

animating, in response to the first user input, a transition from displaying the current view of the graphical user interface to displaying the backup interface, the animating including sliding the backup interface into view while decreasing the display of the graphical user interface without changing the display of the current view; and

displaying the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the first user interface window, the earlier version including a first element, the backup interface being different from the graphical user interface.

26. A method comprising:

receiving, while a current view of a graphical user interface including at least a first user interface window is displayed, a first user input requesting that a backup interface be displayed;

animating, in response to the first user input, a transition from displaying the current view of the graphical user interface to displaying the backup interface, the animating including animating the disappearance of the current view of the graphical user interface and the first user interface window into a vortex including animating a representation of the graphical user interface to move independently of a representation of the first user interface window; and

displaying the backup interface, the backup interface including a display area for presenting at least a first visual representation of an earlier version of the first user interface window, the earlier version including a first element, the backup interface being different from the graphical user interface.