Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-30
2001-09-04
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2773)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06285366
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a navigation system for a hierarchy tree. More particularly, the invention relates to display management of and selective presentation of tree levels and tree branches in the hierarchy tree of an information system.
2. Description of the Related Art
The use of tree formats to display an object hierarchy in a computing system is quite well known. These trees typically follow a text outline format, and the outline is oriented vertically with each level of a branch positioned vertically lower and to the right on the display screen than the previous level of the branch. Thus, the tree grows from upper left to lower right on the display screen. Because of this format, the upper right portion of the display screen is wasted area, and never used to map the hierarchy being displayed.
In the known tree navigation system, objects at an outer branch level (further out on a branch) are displayed by clicking on the next inner level object. Accordingly, to move out a branch, the user must mouse click on each object along the branch to open the next outer level of the branch. For example, in Windows Explorer in the Microsoft Windows 95 program, the user must mouse click on each node of the tree to open the next branch level of the tree. Finally, the last level of the tree is displayed as objects in a folder of the previous branch level.
It is also well known to select drop down menus in a windowing system. A menu is opened by clicking on the menu name. Thereafter, an object in the menu that points to another menu will automatically open the next menu if the mouse cursor is placed on the object. Only objects pointing to further menus will open in this way, and only one menu at a next menu level may be opened at any one time.
A hierarchy navigation system is needed that has the capability to open multiple branches and display the multiple branches simultaneously. Further, a tree navigation system is needed that has the capability to explode multiple levels along a branch in one operation. Also, a tree navigation system is needed that rapidly opens branches to objects from which actions may be launched, and provides for controlled closure of selected branches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, the above needs have been met by a hierarchy navigation system in an information processing system through the computer-implemented steps beginning with detecting movement of a mouse pointer within an object displayed on a display screen by the information processing system. Then children of the object in the hierarchy are tested as to whether they are marked visible for display on the display screen. If the testing step detects the children are not marked visible, then a marking step marks the children as visible. When the display is redrawn, the children marked visible are displayed, and thus the object is exploded.
In a further feature of the invention, a setting step sets levels of explosion for branches from the object to a selected further level or depth level for explosion when the mouse moves within an object. The default depth level is one. The marking step marks the children of the object visible to this further level of explosion indicated by the selected depth level.
In another feature of the invention, the navigation system has a step for detecting a mouse click of a mouse pointer within an object displayed on a display screen. The object clicked on is tested for whether children of the object are marked visible for display on the display screen. If this testing step detects the children are marked visible, the children are then marked invisible. Now when the display is redrawn, the children marked invisible disappear, and branches of the object are imploded into the object clicked on.
In another feature of the invention, the depth of prior explosion of an imploded node is stored. In effect the children changed from visible to invisible during implosion are remembered. If the object is then autoexploded a second time by pointer movement within the object, the object explodes to its prior depth level of explosion, and all children of the object marked invisible during implosion are again marked visible. The object is thus re-exploded to the state it was in prior to implosion.
In another feature of the invention, desensitization intervals are set to inhibit explosion of objects. An object desensitization interval inhibits the explosion of an object that has just been imploded. A global desensitization interval inhibits the explosion of any object in the hierarchy to stabilize the display.
In another feature of the invention, the hierarchy display is redrawn with all objects from a preceding display plus, or minus, the children of objects marked visible or invisible by the marking step so as to explode or implode objects of the hierarchy. Also the object, whose children have been marked visible or invisible by the marking step, is highlighted.
The above computer-implemented steps in another implementation of the invention are provided as an article of manufacture; i.e., a computer storage medium or a computer transmission medium containing a computer program of instructions enabling a computer to perform a computer process having the above-described steps.
In a machine implementation of the invention, apparatus for navigating through a hierarchy of objects in an information processing system in a computer has an explosion module for exploding a displayed node of the hierarchy in response to a first characteristic stroke by a pointer control device while the pointer is within the boundary of the displayed node. In addition, an implosion module implodes nodes branching from a displayed node of the hierarchy in response to a second characteristic stroke by the pointer control device while the pointer is within the boundary of the displayed node. The first characteristic stroke by the pointer control device is movement of the pointer controlled by the pointer control device within the boundaries of the displayed node. The second characteristic stroke by the pointer control device is a mouse click while the pointer is within the boundaries of the displayed object. A keystroke module sets the depth or level of further explosion of the node when the displayed node is exploded by the explosion module.
The great advantage and utility of the present invention is that nodes of a tree in a hierarchy of objects may be rapidly exploded by sweeping a mouse pointer through nodes, or objects, of the tree. Further, the number of levels of further explosion may be controlled. Also, the action to explode nodes is a different physical action to implode branches to a node. Also, multiple nodes may be exploded simultaneously.
The foregoing and other features, utilities and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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Using Windows 95, Second Edition, Ron Person, Robert Voss, et al., Jan. 1997.
Maritzen Lynn Michael
Ng Bernard Ignatius
Sha Rong Qiang
Sponheim Claire Jean
Bayerl Raymond J.
Hogan & Hartson LLP
Kubida William J.
Langley Stuart T.
Nguyen Cao H.
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