CA2635794A1 - Array of documents management - Google Patents

Abstract

A method, a system and an interface for discriminating arrays of user- selectable elements is provided, the method comprising displaying a first array of user-selectable elements, the first array of user-selectable elements bei ng adapted to group user-selectable elements; displaying a second array of user - selectable elements, the second array of user-selectable elements being adapted to group user-selectable elements; enabling a discriminating visual feature to at least one of the first array of user-selectable elements and t he second array of user-selectable elements, the discriminating visual feature being adapted to indicate a position of the array of user-selectable element s in a sequence about which the array of user-selectable elements have been displayed. A method, a system and an interface for locking and unlocking a logical array intersection is also provided. A user selectable pop-up dialog associated with a user-selectable element or an array is also provided.</SDO AB>

Description

2

3 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

4 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to computer systems and more specifically to a 6 method, a system and an interface that facilitates localization and organization 7 of user-selectable elements. More precisely, the present invention relates to a 8 method for managing arrays of computer-readable files.

2. Description of the Related Art 11 United States Patent Application Publication No.: US 2007/0214169 Al, 12 published on September 13, 2007 discloses a Multi-dimensional locating 13 system and method (title). The patent application discloses ways for managing 14 and displaying vectors of documents and other computer-readable files. A
vector of documents that groups a plurality of documents along a 16 predetermined order, inter alia, is taught.

17 United States Patent Application Publication No.: US 2007/0271508 Al, 18 published on November 22, 2007 discloses a Multi-dimensional locating system 19 and method (title). A plurality of vectors of documents and other computer-readable files sharing a common timeline is disclosed.

21 With the possibility of displaying a plurality of vectors of documents and other 22 computer-readable files it might be desirable to manage the number of visible 23 vectors of documents and other computer-readable files to avoid confusion.

2 The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to 3 provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary 4 is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the 6 invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a 7 simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented 8 later.

9 This invention generally refers to user-selectable elements that include computer-readable files, like documents, and multimedia assets. User-11 selectable elements can alternatively be referred to simple icons or thumbnails 12 that are associated to a category, a tag or a menu and arranged as explained 13 below. In order to lighten the reading of the text, the term array of documents 14 is generally used.

The present invention relates to a method, a computer-readable medium 16 adapted to include computer-executable code providing a method, a system 17 adapted to produce the method and a graphical user interface. The applicant 18 reserves the right to file additional claims directed to the above listed claim 19 types.

Therefore, an aspect of the present invention provides a limited number of 21 visible arrays of documents, or files, to avoid overloading a display with too 22 many arrays of documents simultaneously visible on the display.

23 Another aspect of the present invention provides a limited number of 24 displayable arrays of documents; arrays of documents over the limited number of displayable arrays of documents are rendered invisible.

26 One other aspect of the present invention provides that, upon display of 27 additional arrays of documents over a predetermined number of visible arrays 1 of documents, the first arrays of documents that will be rendered invisible are 2 the formermost displayed arrays of documents.

3 One aspect of the present invention provides progressive invisibility 4 enablement to the arrays of documents to be rendered invisible so that one can appreciate which arrays of documents are disappearing.

6 An aspect of the present invention provides that the displayed array of 7 documents that are over the allowed number of displayable array of 8 documents that will be rendered invisible will become invisible after the new 9 array of documents is displayed.

Another one aspect of the present invention provides a limited number of 11 logical intersections created by the intersection of a plurality of arrays of 12 documents; the limited number of displayable logical intersections will 13 influence the number of arrays of documents that are displayed.

14 Another aspect of the present invention provides a limited number of logical intersections between arrays of documents. The arrays of documents material 16 in the enablement of the logical intersections exceeding the limited number 17 visible of logical intersection are rendered invisible.

18 One other aspect of the present invention provides navigational capability 19 among arrays of documents and displaying newer arrays of documents when needed and, conversely, rendering invisible older arrays of documents to 21 maintain a comprehensive number of visible arrays of documents.

22 An aspect of the present invention provides navigational capability among 23 arrays of documents displaying, in sequence, new arrays of documents and 24 rendering invisible, preferably in sequence, old arrays of documents to maintain a comprehensive number of visible arrays of documents, the 26 navigation capability also provides to go back in the sequence and displays 27 again the most recent arrays of documents that has been rendered invisible 1 and renders invisible the latter newly displayed array of documents such that 2 the comprehensive number of visible arrays of documents is maintained while 3 a user navigates along the sequence of arrays of documents.

4 Another aspect of the present invention provides a discriminating visual feature from which a viewer can infer the order of appearance/creation of arrays of 6 documents that is a perspective among arrays of documents to display, with a 7 closer appearance, the most recent arrays of documents and to display, 8 progressively further, the less recent arrays of documents.

9 An aspect of the present invention provides a third dimension orthogonal to a 2-dimensional display, representing time; the superposition of arrays of 11 documents on the display being made in accordance with the orthogonal time 12 line thus helping a viewer to infer which array is more recent than another 13 array.

14 One other aspect of the present invention provides a shadow in the neighborhood of the intersection of two arrays of documents to increase the 16 contrast between the two arrays and emphases one of the arrays of 17 documents.

18 One aspect of the present invention provides a watermark of the position on 19 the display of the invisible arrays of documents illustrating the location of the invisible array of documents, the watermark being preferably different for 21 parent arrays of documents and for children arrays of documents.

22 An aspect of the present invention provides a name to an array of documents, 23 the name being displayable on the array of documents 24 An aspect of the present invention provides an identification of a logical intersection between two arrays of documents such that a user discriminates 26 the logical intersection from other trivial intersections.

1 An additional aspect of the present invention provides a discriminating visual 2 feature discriminating arrays of documents according to their sequence of 3 enablement.

4 Another additional aspect of the present invention provides a discriminating visual feature discriminating arrays of documents according to their sequence 6 of display.

7 One other aspect of the invention provides an intersection between two arrays 8 of documents that can be alternatively locked and unlocked such that the two 9 arrays of documents move together in the locked condition and move independently from one another in the unlocked condition.

11 One aspect of the present invention provides a visual indicator to logical 12 intersections between arrays of documents to discriminate the logical 13 intersections from other intersections.

14 An aspect of the present invention provides a visual indicator of the side where each portion of an unlocked logical intersection is located in respect to each 16 other.

17 One other aspect of the invention provides a function allowing reconnection of 18 an unlocked logical intersection; the reconnection is preferably progressive and 19 animated to allow a viewer to notice the change in the arrays' positions;
preferably the selected array is not moving such that the user keeps the focus 21 on the subject array.

22 Another aspect of the invention provides functions allowing a user to manage 23 an array of document; the function is preferably actuated through a menu 24 providing, inter alia, the user with options to put a name to the array, to decide to see the name of the array on the array, to decide to see the query at 26 the base of the array on the array, to change the background color of the 27 array, to hide parents or children arrays, to see the number of documents on

5 1 the array and to see the border dates between which the documents are 2 disposed when the documents are disposed along a timeline.

3 One additional aspect of the present invention provides a user-selectable 4 dialog to the user in relation with a document on an array of document; the dialog presenting editable information, metadata, thumbnail and selectable

6 attributes when the document does not display those information.

7 One additional aspect of the present invention provides a user-selectable

8 dialog to the user in relation with an array of document.

9 Another aspect of the present invention provides a machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing a method for 11 discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements, the method comprising:
12 displaying a first array of user-selectable elements, the first array of user-13 selectable elements being adapted to group user-selectable elements;
14 displaying a second array of user-selectable elements, the second array of user-selectable elements being adapted to group user-selectable elements;
16 enabling a discriminating visual feature to at least one of the first array of 17 user-selectable elements and the second array of user-selectable elements, the 18 discriminating visual feature being adapted to indicate a position of the array 19 of user-selectable elements in a sequence about which the arrays of user-selectable elements have been displayed.

21 One aspect of the present invention provides a machine-readable medium 22 comprising machine-readable instructions providing a method adapted to 23 connect longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements, the method 24 comprising: displaying a first longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements; displaying a second longitudinal alignment of user-selectable 26 elements intersecting the first longitudinal alignment of user-selectable 27 elements at an intersection; selecting one of a locked intersection state and an 28 unlocked intersection state, wherein the second longitudinal alignment of user-1 selectable elements is not moveable in respect with the first longitudinal 2 alignment of user-selectable elements when the intersection is the locked state 3 and wherein the second longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements is 4 moveable in respect with the first longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements when the intersection is in the unlocked state.

6 One other aspect of the present invention provides a machine-readable 7 medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing a method for 8 displaying information related to a document, the method comprising:
9 displaying an array of documents grouping a group of documents; receiving instructions regarding a desired portion of the display; if a document is 11 displayed at the desired portion of the display, displaying a dialog related to 12 the document; if an array of documents is displayed at the desired portion of 13 the display, displaying a dialog related to the array; and selecting an 14 information from the displayed dialog.

One other aspect of the present invention provides a shadow in the 16 neighborhood of the intersection of two arrays of documents to increase the 17 contrast between the two vectors and emphasis one of the arrays of 18 documents.

19 These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the attached drawings.

23 Figure 1 is a schematic view of a computer network;

24 Figure 2 is a schematic view of a computer system;

1 Figure 3 is a flow chart of illustrating an embodiment how to apply a 2 discriminating feature to an array of documents in accordance with an 3 embodiment of the present invention;

4 Figure 4 is a schematic view of four arrays of documents illustrated with a discriminating feature in accordance with an embodiment of the present 6 invention;

7 Figure 5 is a schematic view of four arrays of documents illustrated with a 8 discriminating feature in accordance with an embodiment of the present 9 invention;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of a plurality of arrays of documents illustrating, 11 inter alia, logical intersections;

12 Figure 7 is a schematic view of a plurality of arrays of documents illustrating, 13 inter alia, an unlocked logical intersection;

14 Figure 8 is a schematic view of a plurality of arrays of documents illustrating, inter alia, a displaced unlocked logical intersection;

16 Figure 9 is a schematic view of a plurality of arrays of documents illustrating, 17 inter alia, a displaced array based on an unlocked logical intersection;

18 Figure 10 is a schematic view of an interactive array dialog; and 19 Figure 11 is a schematic view of an interactive document dialog.

21 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION

22 The present invention is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein 23 like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the 24 following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details 1 are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present 2 invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention may be 3 practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known 4 structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the present invention.

6 The features provided in this specification mainly relates to computer software 7 and machine-readable code/instructions. These code/instructions are 8 preferably stored on a machine-readable medium to be read and acted upon to 9 with a computer or a machine having the appropriate code/instructions reading capability.

11 Exemplary Network 12 FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network 10 in which a system and method, 13 consistent with the present invention, may be implemented. The network 10 14 may include multiple client devices 11 connected to multiple servers 12, 13 via a network 14. The network 14 may include a local area network (LAN), a wide 16 area network (WAN), a telephone network, such as the Public Switched 17 Telephone Network (PSTN), an intranet, the Internet, Wi-Fi, WiMAX or a 18 combination of networks. Two client devices 11 and three servers 12, 13 have 19 been illustrated as connected to network 14 for simplicity. In practice, there may be more or less client devices and servers. Also, in some instances, a 21 client device may perform the functions of a server and a server may perform 22 the functions of a client device.

23 The client devices 11 may include devices, such as mainframes, 24 minicomputers, personal computers, laptops, personal digital assistants, telephones, or the like, capable of connecting to the network 14. The client 26 devices 11 may transmit data over the network 14 or receive data from the 27 network 14 via a wired, wireless, or optical connection.

1 The servers 12, 13 may include one or more types of computer systems, such 2 as a mainframe, minicomputer, or personal computer, capable of connecting to 3 the network 14 to enable servers 12, 13 to communicate with the client 4 devices 11. In alternative implementations, the servers 12, 13 may include mechanisms for directly connecting to one or more client devices 11. The 6 servers 12, 13 may transmit data over network 14 or receive data from the 7 network 14 via a wired, wireless, or optical connection.

8 In an implementation consistent with the present invention, the server 12 may 9 include a search engine 12.1 usable by the client devices 11. The servers 13 may store documents, such as web pages, accessible by the client devices 11.
11 Exemplary Client Architecture 12 Figure 2 and the following discussion provide a brief, general description of an 13 exemplary apparatus in which at least some aspects of the present invention 14 may be implemented. The present invention will be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being 16 executed by a personal computer. However, the methods of the present 17 invention may be effected by other apparatus. Program modules may include 18 routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, applets, WEB 2.0 19 type of evolved networked centered applications, etc. that perform a task(s) or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will 21 appreciate that at least some aspects of the present invention may be 22 practiced with other configurations, including hand-held devices, 23 multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer 24 electronics, network computers, minicomputers, set top boxes, mainframe computers, gaming console and the like. At least some aspects of the present 26 invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where 27 tasks are performed by remote processing devices linked through a 28 communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program 29 modules may be located in local and/or remote memory storage devices.

1 With reference to Figure 2, an exemplary apparatus 100 for implementing at 2 least some aspects of the present invention includes a general purpose 3 computing device in the form of a conventional personal computer 120. The 4 personal computer 120 may include a processing unit 121, a system memory 122, and a system bus 123 that couples various system components, including 6 the system memory 122, to the processing unit 121. The system bus 123 may 7 be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory 8 controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus 9 architectures. The system memory may include read only memory (ROM) 124 and/or random access memory (RAM) 125. A basic input/output system 126 11 (BIOS), containing basic routines that help to transfer information between 12 elements within the personal computer 120, such as during start-up, may be 13 stored in ROM 124. The personal computer 120 may also include a hard disk 14 drive 127 for reading from and writing to a hard disk, (not shown), a magnetic disk drive 128 for reading from or writing to a (e.g., removable) magnetic disk 16 129, and an optical disk drive 130 for reading from or writing to a removable 17 (magneto) optical disk 131 such as a compact disk or other (magneto) optical 18 media. The hard disk drive 127, magnetic disk drive 128, and (magneto) 19 optical disk drive 130 may be coupled with the system bus 123 by a hard disk drive interface 132, a magnetic disk drive interface 133, and a (magneto) 21 optical drive interface 134, respectively. The drives and their associated 22 storage media provide nonvolatile (or persistent) storage of machine readable 23 instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the personal 24 computer 120. Although the exemplary environment described herein employs a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk 129 and a removable optical disk 131, 26 those skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of storage media, such 27 as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks, Bernoulli 28 cartridges, random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROM), and 29 the like, may be used instead of, or in addition to, the storage devices introduced above.

1 A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk 127, magnetic 2 disk 129, (magneto) optical disk 131, ROM 124 or RAM 125, such as an 3 operating system 135 (for example, Windows NT® 4.0, sold by 4 Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash.), one or more application programs 136, other program modules 137 (such as "Alice", which is a 6 research system developed by the User Interface Group at Carnegie Mellon 7 University available at www.Alice.org, OpenGL from Silicon Graphics Inc. of 8 Mountain View Calif., or Direct 3D from Microsoft Corp. of Bellevue Wash.), 9 and/or program data 138 for example.

A user may enter commands and information into the personal computer 120 11 through input devices, such as a keyboard 140, a camera 141 and pointing 12 device 142 for example. Other input devices (not shown) such as a 13 microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, a touch sensitive 14 screen, accelerometers adapted to sense movements of the user or movements of a device, or the like may also be included. These and other 16 input devices are often connected to the processing unit 121 through a serial 17 port interface 146 coupled to the system bus. However, input devices may be 18 connected by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, a game port, blue tooth 19 connection or a universal serial bus (USB). For example, since the bandwidth of the camera 141 may be too great for the serial port, the video camera 141 21 may be coupled with the system bus 123 via a video capture card (not shown).
22 The video monitor 147 or other type of display device may also be connected 23 to the system bus 123 via an interface, such as a video adapter 148 for 24 example. The video adapter 148 may include a graphics accelerator. One or more speaker 162 may be connected to the system bus 123 via a sound card 26 161 (e.g., a wave table synthesizer such as product number AWE64 Gold Card 27 from Creative Labs of Milpitas, Calif.). In addition to the monitor 147 and 28 speaker(s) 162, the personal computer 120 may include other peripheral 29 output devices (not shown), such as a printer for example. As an alternative or 1 an addition to the video monitor 147, a stereo video output device, such as a 2 head mounted display or LCD shutter glasses for example, could be used.

3 The personal computer 120 may operate in a networked environment which 4 defines logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer 149. The remote computer 149 may be another personal 6 computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common 7 network node, and may include many or all of the elements described above 8 relative to the personal computer 120, although only a memory storage device 9 has been illustrated in Figure 1. The logical connections depicted in Figure include a local area network (LAN) 14 and a wide area network (WAN) 152, an 11 intranet and the Internet.

12 When used in a LAN, the personal computer 120 may be connected to the LAN
13 14 through a network interface adapter (or "NIC") 153. When used in a WAN, 14 such as the Internet, the personal computer 120 may include a modem 154 or other means for establishing communications over the wide area network 152 16 (e.g. Wi-Fi, WinMax). The modem 154, which may be internal or external, may 17 be connected to the system bus 123 via the serial port interface 146. In a 18 networked environment, at least some of the program modules depicted 19 relative to the personal computer 120 may be stored in the remote memory storage device. The network connections shown are exemplary and other 21 means of establishing a communications link between the computers may be 22 used.

23 The Interface 24 An interface program providing an interface for managing documents is installed on a computer system. The interface might run through the operating 26 system and the hardware of the computer system or through a network based 27 system. The interface is adapted to manage documents, computer files, 28 multimedia content, applications and user-selectable menu elements in a 1 comprehensive fashion. We will refer to the term "documents" in this patent 2 application to ease the reading but no right is declined in respect to the 3 computer files, multimedia content, applications and user-selectable menu 4 elements. The documents are stored on a machine readable medium and can be retrieved when needed by the interface program. The documents are 6 disposed in an array structure providing a visually comprehensive display 7 layout of the documents. The array can illustratively be based on a 8 chronological order, a statistical order, an order representing an increasing file 9 size or simply according to an attribute e.g. owner of the file. The array thus helps the viewer to infer some additional meaning from the distribution of the 11 documents. An array is adapted to accommodate more than one type of 12 documents or a mix of documents, computer files, multimedia content and 13 user-selectable menu elements.

14 One type of array is a linear distribution, in other words a vector, disposing each document to be displayed on a line or on a curved line. Another 16 illustrative type of array is a group of juxtaposed linear distribution of 17 documents grouped together to form a matrix of documents. Only a portion of 18 the array can be visible and a play of zoom, pan and navigation along the 19 array allows a viewer to change the documents that are displayed on the display. One of the goals of using an array of documents is to meaningfully and 21 intuitively display the documents in accordance with a predetermined order.

22 Each array groups documents in accordance with, for example, a tag, a 23 category or an attribute that is commonly shared among the documents of the 24 array of documents. The selection of one or more attribute determined the documents to be part of the array of documents. If no specific attribute is 26 selected then the array of documents displays all documents. A linear 27 distribution of documents can sort documents on a timeline. That is all 28 documents on the same array of documents are associated with the selected 29 set of attributes in addition to meaningfully be distributed on a timeline as a suite of documents. In the case of a matrix of documents, then, one axis of the 1 matrix can represent a timeline while the other axis represents another 2 criterion like, for example, the type of computer files each document relates to.
3 The attributes of a document can be selected to create another array of 4 documents. The attribute of a document from the newly created array of documents can be selected to create an additional array of documents and so 6 on so forth. The user can "navigate" along the arrays of documents in 7 accordance with their metadata or categorization to visualize the documents.
8 Navigation tools are provided with the interface to allow navigation through 9 various arrays of documents and through the documents of a single array of documents.

11 Arrays Discrimination 12 An interface displaying a plurality of arrays of documents can become 13 overloaded if too many arrays of documents are found therein. One way to 14 prevent displaying too many arrays of documents is to limit the number of arrays that are displayable.

16 In the context of creating arrays more than one arrays of documents it is likely 17 that the interface can display a plurality of array purposefully and without 18 creating a confusing arrangement for a user. For example, a first array of 19 documents is displayed grouping documents about cars (all documents are associated with the category "car"), a second array of documents is displayed 21 grouping documents about phones and a third array of documents is displayed 22 grouping documents about books. The three arrays of documents have been 23 displayed one after the other thus defining a sequence, the first array, the 24 second array and then the third array.

If a maximum number of simultaneously displayable arrays of documents is set 26 to three arrays of documents then the next array of documents created will go 27 over the maximum number of array that is allowed.

1 A fourth array of documents is displayed grouping, for example, pictures. At 2 this point the first array of documents, the first one displayed in the sequence, 3 will become invisible so that only three, the maximum number of displayed 4 arrays allowed, will remain visible.

Referring now to Figure 3. The computer system 120 will receive instruction to 6 set a maximum number of arrays of documents 170. Then, one or many arrays 7 of documents will be displayed 172 and at each time the system will inquire 8 174 if the maximum number of arrays of documents 170 is reached. If the 9 number of displayed arrays is exceeded 176 a discriminating visual feature will be applied 178 to one or many arrays of documents in accordance to the 11 maximum number of displayable arrays 170. In contrast, if the maximum 12 number of displayable arrays is not reached 180 other arrays of documents 13 could be displayed 172 until the maximum number of visible arrays of 14 documents 170 is reached 176 and a discriminating visual feature is applied 178.

16 The discriminating visual feature is helping a user to infer the display sequence 17 of the arrays of documents. This can be done in different ways. Firstly, the 18 arrays of documents over the maximum number of displayable arrays 170 can 19 become invisible. Secondly, a graphical distinction can be applied to the arrays in accordance with their order of display in the sequence of arrays display.

21 In the former situation, the older displayed array simply becomes invisible to 22 leave displayed only the most recent arrays of documents up to the maximum 23 number of displayable arrays of documents. The invisibility can be made 24 instantaneously when an additional array is displayed or become invisible slowly after the new array is displayed. The latter option is advantageously 26 because a user could see which one is new and which one(s) is becoming 27 invisible.

1 An optional feature could be to leave a trace of the invisible arrays without 2 clustering the display just to allow the viewer to see where were disposed on 3 the display the arrays that were rendered invisible to lighten the interface. This 4 trace could be a "watermark" or a shadow made of a color that is slightly different from the color used for the rear of the interface of the invisible arrays.
6 The second option can be explained in light of Figure 11. Four arrays of 7 documents 190, 192, 194, 196 are displayed. Each displaying a group of 8 documents 198. The sequence of display was in the same order, e.g. array 9 190, array 192, array 194 and, at last, array 196. The discriminating feature here provides a clear graphical distinction when looking at the arrays 190, 192, 11 194, and 196. The darker is the border 200 of the array the newer it is in the 12 sequence of display. The change in thickness or in line types of the borders 13 200 of the arrays is considered a visual distinctive feature because it 14 graphically discriminates the arrays. This is one example of a discriminating visual feature that is usable to distinguish one array from another.

16 The color and the texture of the array are other ways to distinguish one array 17 from another. The brightness of the arrays could vary thus helping a user to 18 infer their sequence of display. A perspective view of the arrays is also within 19 the scope of the present invention by changing the size/depth of each array of documents so that the most recent array is either bigger, in front and/or 21 brighter than the second newer and so on so forth. Figure 4 illustrates a type 22 of perspective where the arrays overlapping indicate which one has been first 23 displayed. However, on Figure 4, the width of the arrays 190, 192, 194, 196 24 remains even to ensure a similar level of details of documents on all arrays 190, 192, 194, and 196.

26 On the other hand, as illustrated on Figure 5, the arrays 190, 192, 194, 27 can be displayed with a perspective influencing the width of each arrays 190, 28 192, 194, 196 such that the oldest displayed array, array 196, is the smallest 29 displayed, analogous to objects on a landscape where the further they are the I smallest the objects are. The change in width can be made progressively so 2 the viewer can appreciate the modifications on the arrays' layout.

3 Returning to Figure 4, it is possible to see what could look like a progressive 4 enablement of invisibility to an array of document that is over the maximum number of displayable arrays. Illustratively, the maximum number of 6 displayable arrays of documents is three (3). Array 196 was first displayed in 7 the sequence, then array 194 and, lastly, array 192. A new array 190 is 8 enabled and displayed. Array 196 is then over the maximum number of 9 displayable array of documents and must become invisible. The newly displayed array 190 is the darker 202 of all arrays that are displayed.
11 Conversely, the older array 196 is in the process of becoming invisible as 12 depicted by the fine dotted lines 204 that will become, with the documents 13 disposed thereon, lighter and lighter until they reach invisibility and leave only 14 three arrays displayed in accordance with the preset maximum number of displayable arrays. This progressive array invisibility enablement might be 16 preferable to provide an observer a mean to perceive and understand what 17 changes are occurring as opposed to provide an instant new layout leaving the 18 observer with very little help to appreciate the modifications in the arrays' 19 layout.

Additional discriminating visual feature will be appreciated by skilled reader 21 and are considered to fall within the scope of the present application.

22 Figure 4 also illustrates logical intersections A, B, C illustrated by circles. A
23 logical intersection between two or more arrays of documents is enabled by a 24 commonality between the arrays. In the present situation a document 208 is found in the logical intersection.

26 A logical intersection can be created in various ways. For instance, document 27 210 on array of documents 196 is associated with various attributes (or tags, 28 categories...). One attribute is selected from document 210 and array of 1 documents 194 is enabled displaying documents having the selected attribute 2 from document 210 in common. The selected attribute is the commonality and 3 the document 210 becomes the physical logical intersection A between arrays 4 of documents 196 and 194. The same process is repeated for logical intersection B and C.

6 The enablement of the logical intersections A, B, C is made in the course of 7 navigating array 196, 194, 192, respectively. The logical intersections A, B, C
8 are then enabled with a sequence of logical intersection enablement because 9 they were created one after the other the other with the creation of the arrays 196, 194, 192. This sequence of logical intersection enablement is also a way 11 to limit the number of displayed arrays of documents. Similarly to what was 12 explained with Figure 3 in regard to a maximum number or arrays of 13 documents, a maximum number of logical intersections can be used as basis 14 for deciding which array of documents remains displayed.

Another feature can be illustrated with Figure 4. Let's assume the maximum 16 number of logical intersections is two (2). Array 196 is first displayed, logical 17 intersection A is enabled with the displaying of array 194, then logical 18 intersection B with document 212 leading to array 192. At this point we have 19 displayed the maximum number of logical intersections allowed. Then document 214 is the base of a third logical intersection C. Logical intersection 21 A must then become invisible. This happens by rendering invisible the "base"
22 array 196 while leaving displayed "intersecting" array 194. With the absence of 23 the base array 196 the intersection, and the logical intersection by the same 24 time, automatically disappears.

Now array of document 190 is displayed but a user wants to come back to the 26 previous array 196 that is now invisible. A function analogous to the "forward"
27 and "back" functions of an Internet browser, such as Internet Explorer from 28 Microsoft Corporation, allows to"come-back-to-previous-logical-intersection"
29 B, then, if the come-back-to-previous-Iogical-intersection function is activated 1 a second time, it comes back to logical intersection A thus rendering invisible 2 array 190 and bringing back to visibility array 196 and logical intersection A.
3 This provides a means for navigating along logical intersections, forwardly and 4 rearwardly, while keeping only the maximum number of displayed logical intersections displayed. This navigation process can be used for navigating 6 over a significant number of logical intersections along their associated arrays 7 of documents without overcrowding the display. Despite the invisible arrays 8 are not displayed, they remain on memory so that they can be recalled by the 9 computer system if requested by the user.

The maximum number of arrays of documents or the maximum number of 11 logical intersections varies according to the strength of the zoom providing the 12 image on a display. The closer the view is, given a strong zoom-in, the smaller 13 is the maximum number of displayable arrays of documents (or the maximum 14 number of logical intersections). Conversely, the further the view is, given a strong zoom-out, the higher the maximum number of displayable arrays of 16 documents (or the maximum number of logical intersections). This is 17 customizable and a user/viewer could use the opposite logic if this is what 18 works better for her/him without departing from the scope of the present 19 invention.

In the case of many parallel arrays of documents are displayed, like illustrated 21 on Figure 6, the maximum number of displayable arrays of documents could 22 not consider the first series of parallel arrays of documents 220, 222, 224, 23 226, 228 as being five different arrays because the five parallel arrays are not 24 really confusing to the viewer. Instead, the first set of five (5) parallel arrays is considered as a single array in the count of the maximum number of 26 displayable arrays of documents. For example, array 220 is displaying 27 documents about apples (the actual documents are not shown on Figure 6 to 28 lighten the figure), array 222 is displaying documents about oranges, array 29 224 documents about bananas, array 226 documents about grapes, document 228 documents about pineapples. Logical intersection A enables array 230 1 displaying "images" documents (i.e. JPG, BMP...) of bananas because the 2 attribute "image" is selected from a document from array 224 displaying 3 documents having the attribute "banana". Along array 230 another attribute 4 "Africa" is selected from an image document of an African breed of banana thus enabling the logical intersection B with the array 232 grouping documents 6 having the attribute "Africa" in common. Along array 232 another attribute 7 "Congo" is selected from a document related to "Congo" and having the 8 attribute "Congo" associated therewith thus enabling the logical intersection C
9 with the array 234 grouping documents having the attribute "Congo" in common. And so on so forth. If the maximum number of displayable logical 11 intersections is set to two (2) then, when logical intersection C is enabled, the 12 series of arrays of documents 220, 222, 224, 226, 228 will become invisible 13 together as a group. It has to be noted that the intersections not identified 14 with a circle are non-logical intersections and happens to appears because of the creations of arrays based on logical intersections A, B and C.

16 It can also be appreciated from Figure 6 that shadows are used to emphasis 17 arrays superposition given the perspective discriminating visual feature applied 18 hereto.

19 Locked and unlocked logical intersections Turning now to Figure 7 where logical intersection C is "unlocked" as opposed 21 to "locked" logical intersection A and B. The locked intersections A and B
make 22 those arrays 220, 222, 224, 226, 228, 232 are all moving together when one 23 array is moved. Conversely, when a logical intersection is unlocked, like logical 24 intersection C identified with a circle in dotted line 240, the unlocked array 234 can move independently of the other arrays. On Figure 7, the array 234 can 26 move along its axis as identified by arrow 242. Right clicking on the subject 27 logical intersection to change the status of the logical intersection in the dialog 28 to "unlocked" unlocks the logical intersection. An unlocked logical intersection 29 can be locked again using the same dialog. An animation can move the arrays 1 to progressively reconnect the logical intersection and assists the 2 understanding of the viewer about the change occurring on the display.
3 Additionally, in order to ensure that a viewer clearly sees the unlocked array 4 234 is independently moveable from array 232, the unlocked array is shaped like a "bridge" 244.

6 Comparing between Figure 6 and Figure 8, unlocked logical intersections B
and 7 C on Figure 8 allow movement of the unlocked array 232 as identified with 8 arrow 250. Unlocked logical intersections B and C identified with the distinctive 9 dotted circle 252 (disposed on the intersecting document that is not shown on the arrays) on array 230, are doubled with another associated dotted circle 11 254 on the displaced array 232 (although the doubled dotted circle of logical 12 intersection B is outside the actual Figure 8 and is therefore not visible). Both 13 dotted circles 252, 254 are completing each other and are superposed at the 14 same position when the two arrays are locked and assembled. Array 232 is displaced and both portions of the logical intersection circle 232, 234 are 16 separated one from the other in accordance with the relative movement of the 17 unlocked array 232. Arrows 256, 258, facing each other, are disposed next to 18 the unlocked logical intersections 252, 254 to assist a viewer to determine on 19 which side is the other cooperating logical intersection dotted circle. A
selection of the arrow 256 leads to the other cooperating dotted circle. This is helpful 21 when the other portion of the unlocked logical intersection is outside of the 22 display to know on which side navigation must be done along array 232 to 23 reach the other cooperating logical intersection dotted circle. It has to be noted 24 that the logical intersection representation uses a circle and dotted circles, however, other means to distinguish the logical intersections is considered to 26 be within the scope of the present invention.

27 Still on figure 8, if logical intersection B has been locked, and therefore 28 represented with a solid circle, the movement of array 232 in respect with 29 array 234 would have also moved array 230 and array 224.

1 Figure 9 illustrates an example of movement of an associated array. Logical 2 intersection B in unlocked 252 while logical intersection C remains locked 260.
3 In array 232 moves in respect to array 230, array 230 remains at its position 4 because the logical intersection between both arrays 230, 232 is unlocked 252.
Although array 234 moved along with array 232 because its logical intersection 6 C is locked 260 with array 232.

7 Array and document dialogs 8 Turning now to Figure 10 where a dialog 276 providing a dialog 276 is 9 illustrated. The menu 276 relates to the array 274. Array 274 is illustrated with a few documents 272 disposed thereon and an array background 270. It is 11 shown as being graphically connected to its related array 274 but could be 12 produced to the viewer using a different fashion. The array dialog 276 is a 13 dialogue allowing the viewer to be informed of a number of significant 14 information in relation with the array 247.

The dialog 276 provides, inter alia, the following information. The array 16 identification with the default, preferably sequential, array number 278, the 17 name of the array 280 attributed by the user, the color or the texture of the 18 array background, 284, 270, the query 286 at the base of the documents 19 filtering that determines which documents will be displayed on the array, the timescale 288 used for presenting the documents on the array 274, the 21 number of documents 290 present on the array 274, if applicable, the date of 22 the first document 292 present on the array 274 (in the event a chronological 23 order is used otherwise it might be omitted), the date of the last document 24 294 present on the array 274 (here again it might be omitted as described earlier), a list of parent arrays 296 when parent arrays exist, a list of child 26 arrays 298 when child arrays exist.

27 When useful, the information depicted on the array dialog 276 is editable.
The 28 user can change the value of the edited information preferably through a drop 1 down menu 300, a picker or other adapted means to modify the value. In the 2 illustrative embodiment of Figure 10 the name of the array 280, the documents 3 ordering 282, the color of the array background 284, the query 286 and the 4 timescale 288 can be modified by the user through the dialog 276 without modifying the documents on the array 274.

6 The array name 280 is written on the array's background 270 so that the user 7 always sees the name 280. The document ordering 282 can be changed to use 8 other statistically related ordering (e.g. most recent viewed, document size, 9 most viewed documents...). The color 284 can be changed using a color picker that also memorizes the most used colors or preferred colors of the user. The 11 query 286 can be edited and modified. In the present example the query could 12 be modified to add a specific duration of time, let's say between January 15t, 13 1998 and December 31st 2003. The query could also be changed; let's say the 14 exemplary modified query is: E-mail AND Travel AND New-Zealand.

The array dialog 276 can be locked to the array 274 to which it relates. When 16 the array dialog 276 is locked the menu remains connected, only vertically as 17 indicated with arrow 302 or both vertically and horizontally as indicated with 18 arrow 304, to the array 274. Conversely, when the array dialog 276 is 19 unlocked, the array dialog 276 appears like a floating window and remains visible on the display if the array 274 is moved. A graphical link between the 21 array and its related array dialog is desirable to make sure the user clearly 22 perceive the link.

23 Figure 11 illustrates an array of document 310 with a single document 312.
A
24 "mouse over" document dialog 314 is displayed in a pop-up window 316 or in a floating window. The pop-up dialog 316 displays relevant information in 26 addition to allow edition of the information and selection of attributes without 27 having to change the zoom level of the array 310. A delay can be 28 predetermined by the user so that the pop-up dialog 316 only pops up after 1 the predetermined delay once the pointing device has identified the subject 2 document.

3 The document dialog 314 is normally displayed when the document 312 on the 4 array 310 is in a size that does not allow a clear view of the information associated therewith or if the user chooses by default not to see the 6 information related to the document 312. For instance, if the document 312 is 7 in a thumbnail or icon size, then, the document is not large enough to 8 distinguish the associated information. In contrast, if the document 312 is 9 large enough to see the information associated thereto and the user has decided not to see the information thereon, then, the pop-up window 316 will 11 alternatively show the information. The size threshold enabling pop-up 12 windows 316 is also predetermined by the user.

13 The pop-up dialog 316 provides information about the document 212, 14 selectable attributes 324 and a thumbnail of the document if needed (thumbnail not displayed though on Figure 10). The document number 318 is 16 displayed on top of the pop-up dialog 316 followed by the title 320 that is 17 editable using the dedicated edit button 322. A list of attributes 324 associated 18 with the document 312 is illustrated. A scroll bar can be added if the number of 19 information or the number of attributes is too large to be completely displayed on the pop-up dialog 316. The attributes 324 are selectable through either a 21 button 326 or a simple selectable text (not shown) with the pointing device 22 328. Some attributes are editable 330 right from the pop-up menu 316. A
23 summary 332 is displayed with the date of the document 334. A note 24 associated with the document or other relevant information 336 about the document 312 and the relations the document 312 has with other documents 26 can be displayed in the pop-up menu window 316.

27 To ensure each pop-up dialog 316 is associated correctly with the document it 28 relates to, a visual mark 336 connects the pop-up dialog 316 with the 29 document 312. The pop-up dialog 316 can be moved on the display to allow 1 the user to free a desired area of the display. The pop-up dialog 316 can also 2 be automatically activated from a predetermined zoom level. This will prevent 3 the pop-up dialog 316 to open when the document 312 is large enough to 4 provide the information to the user.

Alternatively, a floating window can remain open on the display and be used as 6 a magnifier to display the information of a document the pointing device is 7 hovering over. The floating window remains open and the content of the 8 floating window changes in correspondence with the pointed document.
9 Also, the pop-up dialog 316 couid present the equivalent of the specific interface associated with the document 312 and visible when the document 11 312 is large enough to display the specific interface.

12 The present invention also covers a machine-readable medium comprising 13 machine-readable instructions providing a method for discriminating arrays of 14 user-selectable elements comprising: displaying an array of user-selectable elements; selecting an array background associable with the array of user-16 selectable elements; displaying the array with the selected array background 17 such that the array of user-selectable elements is visually distinctive.

18 The computer-readable medium comprising computer-readable instructions 19 providing a method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claim, wherein the array of user-selectable elements groups user-selectable 21 elements having an attribute in common, the background comprises, at least 22 in part, a name of the attribute in common.

23 The description and the drawings that are presented above are meant to be 24 illustrative of the present invention. They are not meant to be limiting of the scope of the present invention. Modifications to the embodiments described 26 may be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which 27 is defined by the following claims

Claims (20)

What is claimed is:

1. A machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing a method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements, the method comprising:

displaying a first array of user-selectable elements, the first array of user-selectable elements being adapted to group user-selectable elements;
displaying a second array of user-selectable elements, the second array of user-selectable elements being adapted to group user-selectable elements;

enabling a discriminating visual feature to at least one of the first array of user-selectable elements and the second array of user-selectable elements, the discriminating visual feature being adapted to indicate a position of the array of user-selectable elements in a sequence about which the arrays of user-selectable elements have been displayed.

2. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of documents of claim 1, wherein the discriminating visual feature is selected from the group consisting of a size of an array of user-selectable elements, a color of an array of user-selectable elements and a brightness of an array of user-selectable elements.

3. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claims 1 and 2, wherein the array is a substantially longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements.

4. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claim 3, wherein at least some of the user-selectable elements are a computer files.

5. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claims 3 and 4, wherein at least some of the user-selectable elements are a documents.

6. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claims 3 to 5, wherein at least some of the user-selectable elements are a multimedia assets.

7. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claims 3 to 6, wherein the discriminating visual feature is a perspective representing the spatial relationship between the arrays.

8. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claims 3 to 7, wherein the most recent array is displayable on top of the foremost arrays.

9. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claims 3 to 8, comprising:

defining a maximum number of displayable arrays of user-selectable elements;

displaying additional arrays of user-selectable elements;
enabling invisibility of arrays of user-selectable elements exceeding the maximum number of displayable arrays of user-selectable elements, the foremost displayed arrays of user-selectable elements being the first to enable invisibility and the latter displayed arrays of user-selectable elements within the maximum number of displayable arrays of user-selectable elements remain displayed.

10. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of visible arrays of user-selectable elements of claim 9, wherein enabling invisibility is adapted to progressively enable invisibility.

11. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of visible arrays of user-selectable elements of claims 9 and 10, wherein the maximum number of displayable arrays of user-selectable elements is a first maximum number of displayable arrays of user-selectable elements associated with a first zoom level and a second maximum number of displayable arrays of user-selectable elements is associated with a second zoom level.

12. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claims 3 to 11, wherein the second array of user-selectable elements is displayable non-parallel with the first array of user-selectable elements.

13. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claim 12, wherein a change in brightness is associatable with an intersection of the second array of user-selectable elements with the first array of user-selectable elements.

14. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claims 12 and 13, wherein the first array of user-selectable elements and the second array of user-selectable elements are adapted to intersect at an intersection, the method comprising:

defining a maximum number of displayable intersections;
sequentially displaying additional arrays of user-selectable elements enabling additional array intersections;

enabling invisibility of arrays of user-selectable elements exceeding the maximum number of displayable intersections, the foremost displayed arrays of user-selectable elements being adapted to be the first to enable invisibility and the latter displayed arrays of user-selectable elements material in the formation of the number of array intersections and within the maximum number of displayable intersections remain displayed.

15. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claim 14, wherein the maximum number of displayable intersections is a maximum number of displayable logical intersections and wherein the enablement of logical intersections defines a sequence of logical intersection enablement, the method further comprises enabling invisibility of arrays of user-selectable elements, the foremost displayed arrays of user-selectable elements being the first to enable invisibility until a number of displayed logical intersections is equal to the maximum number of logical intersections, the latter displayed arrays remain displayed.

16. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for discriminating arrays of user-selectable elements of claim 15, comprising:

receiving instructions to either view forward or rearward logical intersections along the sequence of logical intersections, displayed arrays enabling invisibility, when needed, and invisible arrays becoming visible, when needed, in accordance with the viewed logical intersection.

17. A machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing a method adapted to connect longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements, the method comprising:

displaying a first longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements;

displaying a second longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements intersecting the first longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements at an intersection;

selecting one of a locked intersection state and an unlocked intersection state, wherein the second longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements is not moveable in respect with the first longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements when the intersection is the locked state and wherein the second longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements is moveable in respect with the first longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements when the intersection is in the unlocked state.

18. The machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing the method for connecting longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements of claim 17, wherein the second longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements is adapted to group user-selectable elements having an attribute in common, the attribute being selected from attributes associated with user-selectable elements from the first longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements, the second longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements being adapted to intersect the first longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements at a user-selectable element associated with the selected attribute, the user-selectable elements associated with the selected attribute defining a logical intersection, the logical intersection being adapted to selectively lock and unlock the first longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements with the second longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements whereby a movement of one longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements respectively effects or not the other longitudinal alignment of user-selectable elements.

19. A machine-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions providing a method for displaying information related to a document, the method comprising:

displaying an array of documents grouping a group of documents;
receiving instructions regarding a desired portion of the display;
determining what is displayed on the desired portion of the display;

if a document is displayed on the desired portion, displaying a dialog related to the document;

if an array of documents is displayed on the desired portion, displaying a dialog related to the array; and selecting an information from the displayed dialog.

20. The machine-readable medium comprising machine readable instructions providing the method of claim 19, wherein the selected information is an attribute and further displaying an additional array of documents grouping, at least partially, documents having the selected attribute in common.