Concentric hierarchical list browser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9342217-B2
Application number	US-201313968859-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2013
Priority date	Sep 23, 2011
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

The present disclosure involves computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for browsing hierarchically structured data using a concentric hierarchical list browser. A computer-implemented method includes displaying, using at least one hardware processor, a first-level circular user interface object with at least one first-level user interface object representing a first-level data object. Responsive to receiving an indication of a selection of the at least one first-level user interface object, decreasing the diameter of the first-level circular interface object, and displaying in a second-level circular user interface object at least one second-level user interface object representing a second-level data object associated with the first-level data object, wherein the second-level circular user interface object has an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and wherein the inner circular edge of the second-level circular user interface object is attached to the outer circular edge of the first-level circular user interface object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for browsing hierarchically structured data, comprising:
displaying on a display a first-level circular user interface object with at least one first-level selector object, wherein the first-level circular user interface object is a first graphical user interface object with a first circular form, wherein the at least one first-level data object represents a first level of the hierarchically structured data, wherein the first-level circular user interface object has an outer circular edge with a first diameter, wherein the first diameter is equal to an initial diameter; and
responsive to receiving a first selection of one of the at least one first-level selector object and by operation of a computer:
rotating the first-level circular user interface object to orient the at least one first-level selector object to stop at a predefined orientation used to align all selected selector objects on the same circular angle;
indicating the first selection on the display in response to receiving the selection;
decreasing the first diameter in response to receiving the selection; and
displaying a second-level circular user interface object with at least one second-level selector object in response to the first selection, wherein the second-level circular user interface object is a second graphical user interface object with a second circular form, wherein the second-level circular user interface is operable for receiving a second selection of one of the at least one-second level selector objects, wherein the at least one second-level data object represents a second-level branch of a second level of the hierarchically structured data, wherein the first branch is determined by the first selection, wherein the second-level circular user interface object has an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and wherein the inner circular edge of the second-level circular user interface object is attached to the outer circular edge of the first-level circular user interface object.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the outer circular edge of the second-level circular user interface has a diameter less than or equal to the initial diameter.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
responsive to receiving a second selection of one of the at least one second-level selector object:
rotating the second-level circular user interface object to orient the at least one second-level selector object to stop at the predefined orientation;
indicating the second selection on the display in response to the second selection;
decreasing the diameter of the first-level circular user interface object and the second-level circular user interface object in response to the second selection; and
displaying a third-level circular user interface object with least one third-level selector object in response to the second selection, each representing a third-level data object associated with the second selection, wherein the third-level circular user interface object is a third graphical user interface object with a third circular form, wherein the third-level circular user interface is operable for receiving a third selection of one of the at least one third-level selector object, wherein the at least one third-level data object represents a third-level branch of a third level of the hierarchically structured data, wherein the third-level branch is determined by the second selection, wherein the third-level circular user interface object has an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and wherein the inner circular edge of the third-level circular user interface object is attached to the outer circular edge of the second-level circular user interface object.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the outer circular edge of the third-level circular user interface has a diameter less than or equal to the initial diameter.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the hierarchically structured data has a tree like structure with m-levels, wherein m is greater than or equal to 2, wherein the method further comprises:
responsive to receiving a nth selection of one of the at least one n-level selector object, wherein n is less than m:
rotating the n-level circular user interface object to orient the at least one n-level selector object to stop at the predefined orientation;
indicating the nth selection on the display in response to receiving the nth selection;
decreasing a nth outer diameter of an n-level circular interface object in response to receiving the nth-selection; and
displaying an n+1-level circular user interface object with at least one n+1-level selector object in response to the nth selection, wherein the n+1-level circular user interface object is a n+1 graphical user interface object with a n+1 circular form, wherein the n+1-level circular user interface is operable for receiving a n+1 selection of one of the at least one n+1- level selector objects, wherein the at least one n+1-level data object represents a n+1-level branch of an n+1 level of the hierarchically structured data, wherein the n+1 branch is determined by the nth selection, wherein the n+1-level circular user interface object has an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and wherein the inner circular edge of the n+1-level circular user interface object is attached to the outer circular edge of the n-level circular user interface object.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a fourth selection of one of the at least one second-level user interface objects:
indicating the fourth selection on the display in response to the selection, and
displaying on the display a rectangular user interface object at least partially outside of the outer circular edge in response to the fourth selection.

7. The computer-implemented method claim 1 ; wherein resizing of the first-level circular user interface object is performed by at least one of selecting, clicking, multi-clicking, dragging, multi-touch, pinching, an algorithm, or voice control.

8. The computer-implemented method claim 1 , further comprising displaying, in the first-level circular user interface object, a navigation user interface object.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the navigation user interface object performs an undo function when selected.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the hierarchically structured data represents internal machine states.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one first-level selector objects is displayed as a portion of the first-level circular user interface object.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one first-level selector object represents data selected from the hierarchically structured data.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising: displaying on the display a first-level icon within the boundary of the outer circular edge during receiving the selection of the at least one first-level selector object.

14. A computer-accessible, non-transitory, storage medium encoded with computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more data processing apparatus to:
display on a display a first-level circular user interface object with at least one first-level selector object, wherein the first-level circular user interface object is a first graphical user interface object with a first circular display form, wherein the at least one first-level data object represents a fir

Assignees

• Geithner Ralf Wolfgang
• Sap Se

Inventors

• Geithner Ralf Wolfgang

Classifications

• G06F3/0482 Primary

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• G06F3/0488

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title