Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-28
2001-09-18
Bayerl, Raymond J. (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C345S215000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292188
ABSTRACT:
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to computer interface design and graphical user interfaces (GUIs). More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for navigating in digital information environments, such as websites on the World Wide Web portion of the Internet or other information collections.
Navigation tools are crucial for accessing digital information. Menu systems and hot links are examples of navigation tools for moving from one area to another in a digital information environment. However, existing navigation tools do not necessarily have a direct spatial relationship to the underlying content data. Since the structure of the content data is not visible, the user typically cannot ascertain how the displayed portion of the content data (a page in the website, for example) relates to the entire content data space (the website).
Pull-down menu systems exemplified by the APPLE MACINTOSH® and MICROSOFT WINDOWS® graphical environments are well known to those skilled in the art. Although many pull-down menu systems are hierarchical, there is no spatial relationship to the underlying information structure.
A need therefore exists for a system and method that address the above concerns and overcome the disadvantages of conventional information navigation systems.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a spatially intuitive information navigation system and method for browsing digital content data.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a multi-level menu and navigation system that corresponds to a spatial metaphor for accessing digital content data.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a scrolling system and method that displays intermediate views of the digital content data such that the user is given an intuitive feeling of moving through the information to reach the point at which their selected content data is located.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an information navigation tool that allows faster, more efficient access to content data.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an information navigation tool that helps the user to better understand and comprehend the content data that is being reviewed and the context in which it is situated.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an information navigation system that allows content authors and providers a particular method for formatting and packaging content data.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method of background information transfer over a computer network such that large units of content data are available for rapid, direct access using the navigation system and method discussed above.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a pleasing interface and interaction method that is enjoyable for a user to operate.
The above and other objects are achieved by a computer-implemented method for navigating a website on the Internet, where the website includes a plurality of content pages for display on a display screen. According to the method, a graphical object comprising a plurality of first-level items is displayed. Each first-level item is associated with a respective first-level page, and at least one first-level item comprises a plurality of second-level items associated with a plurality of second-level pages. Further according to the method, a first-level item of the graphical object is selected such that a first-level page associated with the first-level item is displayed on the display screen. Further according to the method, a move is carried out from the first-level item to another first-level item of the graphical object such that another first-level page associated with that another first-level item is displayed on the display screen and such that the graphical object remains displayed on the display screen.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, other first-level items located between the first-level item and that another first-level item of the graphical object are traversed at a predetermined speed during the step of moving.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the method includes scrolling on the display screen the respective first-level pages corresponding to the other first-level items during the moving operation.
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patent: 5801702 (1998-09-01), Dolan et al.
patent: 5802334 (1998-09-01), Nickolas et al.
patent: 5890172 (1999-03-01), Borman et al.
patent: 5903267 (1999-05-01), Fisher
patent: 5937419 (1999-08-01), Oshiro et al.
patent: 6035330 (2000-03-01), Astiz et al.
Carlson Samuel Garrett
Sharp John Franklin
Alltrue Networks, Inc.
Bayerl Raymond J.
Brown & Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP
Thai Cuong T.
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