Efficient navigation of hierarchical data displayed in a graphical user interface

• US 9,262,744 B2
• Filed: 02/29/2012
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Phoenix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Apollo Education Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Jongwoo, Upendran, Manish, Berkebile, Locke D., Brightman, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chowdhury, Rayeez
• Application Number:
  US13/408,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20130125020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 715/738, 715/764, 715/863, 715/780
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Techniques are described for display and navigation of hierarchical messages, which displays include contextual data for the messages. Context information for a current message includes reply messages, parent messages, and metadata representations. Message representations are also associated with visual depth indicators that are independent of the text of the messages. Users may navigate displays of hierarchical message data using different navigational inputs. For example, more information may be requested for messages, without selecting a new message for viewing as a focal message, using swipes across portions of the display dedicated to displaying the messages. A limited number of messages for a requested list of messages is initially retrieved and displayed, and a mechanism for viewing more messages from the list is provided. Historical usage of the mechanism is recorded and the number of messages to be displayed for the list of messages is adjusted based on the historical usage data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

displaying, within a graphical user interface displayed on a surface of a computing device, a first set of messages;

detecting a first sweeping stroke that targets a particular message of the first set of messages;

wherein the particular message is displayed on a particular portion of the surface; and

wherein detecting the first sweeping stroke that targets the particular message further comprises;

detecting a first portion of the first sweeping stroke across the particular portion of the surface and a second portion of the first sweeping stroke across a certain portion of the surface on which a second message is displayed,

based, at least in part, on the first portion of the first sweeping stroke being larger than the second portion of the first sweeping stroke, identifying the particular message as a target message of the first sweeping stroke;

in response to detecting the first sweeping stroke that targets the particular message, performing the steps of;

determining whether the particular message is currently displayed in the graphical user interface at a collapsed level of detail or an expanded level of detail;

responsive to the particular message being currently displayed in the graphical user interface at the collapsed level of detail when the first sweeping stroke is detected, causing the particular message to be displayed at the expanded level of detail;

detecting a second sweeping stroke that targets the particular message; and

in response to detecting the second sweeping stroke, performing the steps of;

determining whether the particular message is currently displayed in the graphical user interface at the collapsed level of detail or the expanded level of detail; and

responsive to the particular message being currently displayed in the graphical user interface at the expanded level of detail when the second sweeping stroke is detected, causing the particular message to return to the collapsed level of detail;

wherein the expanded level of detail is more detailed than the collapsed level of detail.

2. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:

displaying, within a graphical user interface displayed on a surface of a computing device, a first set of messages;

detecting a first sweeping stroke that targets a particular message of the first set of messages;

wherein the particular message is displayed on a particular portion of the surface; and

wherein detecting the first sweeping stroke that targets the particular message further comprises;

detecting a first portion of the first sweeping stroke across the particular portion of the surface and a second portion of the first sweeping stroke across a certain portion of the surface on which a second message is displayed,

based, at least in part, on the first portion of the first sweeping stroke being larger than the second portion of the first sweeping stroke, identifying the particular message as a target message of the first sweeping stroke;

in response to detecting the first sweeping stroke that targets the particular message, performing the steps of;

determining whether the particular message is currently displayed in the graphical user interface at a collapsed level of detail or an expanded level of detail;

responsive to the particular message being currently displayed in the graphical user interface at the collapsed level of detail when the first sweeping stroke is detected, causing the particular message to be displayed at the expanded level of detail;

detecting a second sweeping stroke that targets the particular message; and

in response to detecting the second sweeping stroke, performing the steps of;

determining whether the particular message is currently displayed in the graphical user interface at the collapsed level of detail or the expanded level of detail; and

responsive to the particular message being currently displayed in the graphical user interface at the expanded level of detail when the second sweeping stroke is detected, causing the particular message to return to the collapsed level of detail;

wherein the expanded level of detail is more detailed than the collapsed level of detail.