Database graphical user interface with outline view

Claim 1

Apparatus for use on a computer system with a memory and a display, the apparatus generating a graphical user interface for displaying indicia related to a plurality of responses stored in a database, each response relating to one of a plurality of topics and having a content, the apparatus comprising: a response chain view representing a response chain comprising a selected response and other responses that are directly linked, by responses, between the selected response and a topic, the response chain view comprising a plurality of buttons, each response in the response chain view having an associated button and content associated with the response; an outline view adjacent to the response chain view, the outline view being in the form of an outline and having topic indicia identifying each of the plurality of topics, response indicia identifying a topic response, and reply indicia identifying a reply response, a topic response being a response replying to one of the plurality topics and also being visually grouped, in the outline view, with the one of the plurality of topics; a reply response being a response replying to a response and also being visually grouped, in the outline view, with the response to which the reply response is replying; each response having a response chain, the outline view further including selection means for selecting one response, and button creating means for creating a button, in the response chain view, for each response in the response chain of the selected response, and; means for displaying the contents of the selected response.

Claim 7

A method for use on a computer system with a memory and a display, the method generating a graphical user interface for summarizing information stored in a database, and comprising the steps: A. accessing the database, the database containing a plurality of topics and responses posted to those topics at a posting time, the responses being either topic responses or reply responses wherein topic responses reply to topics and reply responses reply to previously posted responses; B. displaying the topics and responses on a first view of a display, the topic responses being indented relative to the topics, the topic, the topic responses being grouped with the topics to which they reply, the reply responses being grouped with the responses to which they reply, the reply responses being indented relative to the responses to which they reply, each response having a response chain; C. displaying, in response to a user selecting a response, response chain view representing a response chain comprising a selected response and other responses that are directly linked, by responses, between the selected responses and a topic, the response chain view comprising a plurality of buttons, each response in the response chain in the selected response having an associated single button and content associated with the selected response; and D. displaying, in response to a user selecting one of the plurality of buttons, the content of the selected response associated with the selected button.

Claim 8

A method for use on a computer system with a memory and a display, the method generating a graphical user interface for summarizing information stored in a database, and comprising the steps: A. accessing the database, the database containing a plurality of topics and responses posted to those topics at a posting time, the responses being either topic responses or reply responses wherein topic responses reply to topics and reply responses reply to previously posted responses; B. displaying the topics and responses on a first view of a display, the topic responses being indented relative to the topics, the topic, the topic responses being grouped with the topics to which they reply, the reply responses being grouped with the responses to which they reply, the reply responses being indented relative to the responses to which they reply, each response having a response chain; C. displaying, in response to a user selecting a response, response chain view representing a response chain comprising a selected response and other responses that are directly linked, by responses, between the selected responses and a topic, the response chain view comprising a plurality of buttons, each response in the response chain in the selected response having an associated single button and content associated with the selected response; and D. displaying, in response to a user selecting one of the plurality of buttons, the content of the selected response associated with the selected button.