US6765597B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for using layer bars to indicate levels within non-indented tree view control
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 2001-04-19
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Granted: 2004-07-20
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Expires: 2021-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for displaying layered data, such as data with a hierarchical relationship is provided. A flat tree view control is provided that indicates the level corresponding to individual data items without indenting data items. Layer bars, or markers, are used to indicate the level of the individual data items within the data hierarchy. In addition, color or grayscale shading can be applied to each data item to further indicate the item's level within the hierarchy. Items within the same level use the same color or shading. When an item is selected by the user it is expanded or collapsed depending on whether the layers below the selected item already appear on the display screen. Additional level indicator values can be used to further indicate the level of data items. A data item can also be highlighted to indicate a particular attribute corresponding with an individual data item.
Inventors
- 👤 Molly Kestner Barksdale
- 👤 Bethany Lyn Kessen
- 👤 Martin Thomas Moore
- 👤 Gerald Ray Woods
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:12
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/10; G06F16/16; G06F16/168; G06F16/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of displaying layered data, said method comprising: identifying a plurality of item identifiers to be displayed in a display window; displaying the plurality of item identifiers using a plurality of vertically displaced identifier spaces, wherein each item identifier begins at a common margin within its respective identifier space; determining a layer level from a plurality of layer levels for each of the item identifiers; and overlaying a visual marker corresponding to the determined layer level in each identifier space.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of displaying layered data, said method comprising: identifying a plurality of item identifiers to be displayed in a display window; displaying the plurality of item identifiers using a plurality of vertically displaced identifier spaces, wherein each item identifier begins at a common margin within its respective identifier space; determining a layer level from a plurality of layer levels for each of the item identifiers; and overlaying a visual marker corresponding to the determined layer level in each identifier space.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the visual marker includes a visual discontinuity with respect to the identifier space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method as described in claim 2 wherein the visual discontinuity includes a horizontal displacement of at least one edge of the visual marker.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method as described in claim 1 further comprising: selecting a geometric shape from a plurality of geometric shapes corresponding to the plurality of layer levels, wherein the selected geometric shape corresponds to the determined layer level; and displaying the selected geometric shape in the identifier space corresponding to the item identifier.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as described in claim 4 wherein the displayed geometric shape is horizontally displaced within the identifier space, wherein the horizontal displacement is a function of the determined layer level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as described in claim 1 further comprising: analyzing an attribute corresponding to each item identifier; determining a visual highlight corresponding to the attribute; and displaying the visual highlight in the identifier space that includes the item identifier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method as described in claim 1 further comprising: formatting the visual marker using one of a plurality of shadings, wherein each of the plurality of shadings corresponds to one of the plurality of layer levels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
An information handling system comprising: one or more processors; a memory accessible by the processors; a display screen accessible by the processors; and a layered data display tool to display layered data on the display screen, the layered data display tool including: logic for identifying a plurality of item identifiers to be displayed in a display window; display control logic for displaying the plurality of item identifiers using a plurality of vertically displaced identifier spaces, wherein each item identifier begins at a common margin within its respective identifier space; level control logic for determining a layer level from a plurality of layer levels for each of the item identifiers; and visual marker logic for overlaying a visual marker corresponding to the determined layer level in each identifier space.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
An information handling system comprising: one or more processors; a memory accessible by the processors; a display screen accessible by the processors; and a layered data display tool to display layered data on the display screen, the layered data display tool including: logic for identifying a plurality of item identifiers to be displayed in a display window; display control logic for displaying the plurality of item identifiers using a plurality of vertically displaced identifier spaces, wherein each item identifier begins at a common margin within its respective identifier space; level control logic for determining a layer level from a plurality of layer levels for each of the item identifiers; and visual marker logic for overlaying a visual marker corresponding to the determined layer level in each identifier space.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The information handling system as described in claim 8 wherein the visual marker logic includes logic for creating a visual discontinuity with respect to the identifier space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The information handling system as described in claim 9 wherein the visual discontinuity includes a horizontal displacement of at least one edge of the visual marker.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
The information handling system as described in claim 8 further comprising: selection logic for selecting a geometric shape from a plurality of geometric shapes corresponding to the plurality of layer levels, wherein the selected geometric shape corresponds to the determined layer level; and geometric shape placement logic for displaying the selected geometric shape in the identifier space corresponding to the item identifier.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The information handling system as described in claim 11 wherein the displayed geometric shape is horizontally displaced within the identifier space, wherein the horizontal displacement is a function of the layer level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The information handling system as described in claim 8 further comprising: marker highlighting logic for formatting the visual marker using one of a plurality of shadings, wherein each of the plurality of shadings corresponds to one of the plurality of layer levels.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
A computer program product stored on a computer operable media for displaying layered data, said computer program product comprising: means for identifying a plurality of item identifiers to be displayed in a display window; means for displaying the plurality of item identifiers using a plurality of vertically displaced identifier spaces, wherein each item identifier begins at a common margin within its respective identifier space; means for determining a layer level from a plurality of layer levels for each of the item identifiers; and means for overlaying a visual marker corresponding to the determined layer level in each identifier space.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
A computer program product stored on a computer operable media for displaying layered data, said computer program product comprising: means for identifying a plurality of item identifiers to be displayed in a display window; means for displaying the plurality of item identifiers using a plurality of vertically displaced identifier spaces, wherein each item identifier begins at a common margin within its respective identifier space; means for determining a layer level from a plurality of layer levels for each of the item identifiers; and means for overlaying a visual marker corresponding to the determined layer level in each identifier space.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The computer program product as described in claim 14 wherein the visual marker includes a visual discontinuity with respect to the identifier space, and wherein the visual discontinuity includes a horizontal displacement of at least one edge of the visual marker.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The computer program product as described in claim 14 further comprising: means for selecting a geometric shape from a plurality of geometric shapes corresponding to the plurality of layer levels, wherein the selected geometric shape corresponds to the determined layer level; and means for displaying the selected geometric shape in the identifier space corresponding to the item identifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer program product as described in claim 14 further comprising: means for analyzing an attribute corresponding to each item identifier; means for determining a visual highlight corresponding to the attribute; and means for displaying the visual highlight in the identifier space that includes the item identifier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer program product as described in claim 14 further comprising: formatting the visual marker using one of a plurality of shadings, wherein each of the plurality of shadings corresponds to one of the plurality of layer levels.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-07-20 | 2008-01-19 | 2008-07-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-07-20 | 2012-01-19 | 2012-07-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-07-20 | 2016-01-19 | 2016-07-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |