List-based interactivity features as part of modifying list data and structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9430458-B2
Application number	US-201113288111-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2011
Priority date	Nov 3, 2011
Publication date	Aug 30, 2016
Grant date	Aug 30, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments are provided that include interactive electronic list features and functionality, but are not so limited. In an embodiment, a method is configured to enable users to directly manipulate list content and/or structure in context. A system of an embodiment includes at least one client and a server system to manage aspects of electronic lists, including providing visualization features that correspond with pre-selection, post-selection, and/or editing states or inputs. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of editing electronic list content within a collaboration system, the method comprising:
using an electronic list including a number of list items having associated data types;
using a pre-selection input to animate rows of the electronic list including highlighting a row of the electronic list associated with a position of an input cursor as the user navigates the electronic list;
using a post-selection and pre-edit input to animate cells of a selected row including highlighting a cell of the selected row associated with a position of the input cursor as the user navigates the selected row;
using an edit state to switch cell content of a selected cell to an editable state including distinguishing a column portion and a row portion associated with the selected cell to identify the edit state; and
in response to editing the selected cell, presenting an editing indicator in a selected row portion.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving an editing input associated with the selected cell of the selected row, including highlighting cell content currently in focus, distinguishing a column header portion, and distinguishing a vertical cell portion of a leftmost cell of the selected row.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a first type of highlighting to depict an editable state of the selected cell to indicate a single selection gesture.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dragging a selected column to reorder list columns.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising moving the selected column in a target destination and graphically moving a column at the target destination towards an original location of the selected column as part of a dragging visualization.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising presenting content currently in focus with a cell highlight along with distinguishing associated column header portions and a portion of a leftmost cell of the selected row.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing the electronic list using a dedicated server including maintaining electronic list updates using the dedicated server.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using a collaboration system to manage aspects of the electronic list based in part on user edit operations.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a column insertion action as part of providing electronic list interactivity.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying a progress indicator graphic in a cell of the selected row to indicate a long running operation.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a user interface (UI) configured in part to display visual feedback during one or more of a pre-selection operation, a post-selection operation, and an editing operation.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the electronic list using a device display.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using color and border highlighting to provide list interactivity visualizations including editable content feedback.

14. A system for collaborative editing of electronic list content, the system comprising:
a server device comprising a processor and including a number of electronic lists, each electronic list including a number of list items; and
a client device comprising a processor and communicatively coupled to the server and including an interactive interface configured to display aspects of an electronic list, the client including encoded programming code that operates to:
use a hover operation in conjunction with the electronic list in part to provide highlighting of list rows as part of a pre-selection operation;
use a hover operation in conjunction with a selected row of the electronic list in part to provide highlighting of cells of the selected row as part of a post-selection and a pre-edit operation;
use a selection action associated with a selected cell to enable direct editing of cell content and provide visual feedback indicators as part of an editing operation; and
in response to editing the selected cell, present an editing indicator in a selected row portion.

15. The system of claim 14 , the client further configured to use user input to edit the cell content of an editable cell.

16. The system of claim 14 , the server configured in part to update aspects of the electronic list based on client communications.

17. A system for collaborative editing of electronic list content, the system comprising:
a processor;
a user interface, the user interface comprising:
a display portion to display aspects of an electronic list, including a number of rows, columns, and cells; and

a list interaction component to manage user interactions with aspects of the electronic list, the list interaction component configured to:
use hover inputs relative to portions of the electronic list to provide one or more visualizations that include a first hover input to animate a row of the electronic list and a second hover input to animate a cell of a selected row of the electronic list;
use a selection input to provide an edit state visualization of a selected cell and enable user edits of cell content absent additional constraints; and
in response to editing the selected cell, present an editing indicator in a selected row portion.

18. The system of claim 17 , the list interaction component further configured to present a piece of content that is currently in focus with a highlight of the associated cell as well as distinguishing an associated column header and a portion of a leftmost cell of the selected row.

19. The system of claim 17 , further configured to access electronic pages from a networked server system and use the list interaction component to enable streamlined editing actions absent requiring a user to open a settings page, template, or other additional mechanism.

Assignees

• Rhee Yong Woo
• Little Ii Charles Reeves
• Railton James Bentley
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Rhee Yong Woo
• Little Ii Charles Reeves
• Railton James Bentley

Classifications

• G06F40/177 Primary

  of tables; using ruled lines · CPC title

• G06F17/245 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic