Method for controlling the display of information on a display area

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9555708-B2
Application number	US-201113285813-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2011
Priority date	Apr 30, 2009
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

In a method for controlling the display of information on a display area, the information is structured hierarchically in objects, in which an object and a path, which leads to the object in the hierarchical structure, are displayed. The path is divided into individual path elements, the path elements belonging to different hierarchy levels of the path leading to the object, and the path elements being selectable buttons, and the information display jumping to the hierarchy level of the selected path element when a path element is selected.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling display of information on a display surface, the information being structured hierarchically in objects, comprising:
displaying an object and a path that leads to the object in the hierarchical structure;
dividing the path into individual path elements, the path elements belonging to different hierarchy levels of the path leading to the object, and the path elements being selectable buttons; and
when a path element is selected, changing the information display to the hierarchy level of the selected path element;
wherein graphic symbols are respectively displayed in the path elements for visualizing the hierarchy level of the path element.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising after the selection of an object, displaying at least one subset of the objects of a next lower hierarchy level associated with the selected object, and adding a path element to the displayed path, which is associated with the hierarchy level of the selected object.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a number of displayed path elements, which are displayed with the displayed object, depends on a number of steps, via which one arrived at the object.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein individual path elements are displayed side-by-side on a bar.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a number of displayed path elements depends on a depth of the hierarchy level of the displayed object.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein individual path elements are displayed side-by-side on a bar.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising following a selection of a path element, displaying at least a subset of the objects at the hierarchy level, which are associated with the selected path element.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a subset with objects of an xth hierarchy level;
subsequently, selecting a first object of the xth hierarchy level;
subsequently, displaying at least one subset of objects of a next lower, (x+1)th hierarchy level, the displayed objects being associated with the selected first object and adding an nth path element to the displayed path, which is associated with the xth hierarchy level; and
if the nth path element is selected, displaying the subset with objects of the xth hierarchy level, the first, previously selected object being displayed as marked.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein individual path elements are displayed side-by-side on a bar.

Assignees

• Hauschild Frank
• Kuhn Mathias
• Dehmann Rainer
• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Hauschild Frank
• Kuhn Mathias
• Dehmann Rainer

Classifications

• G06F3/0482 Primary

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

• B60K35/28

  characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver · CPC title

• B60K35/85

  Arrangements for transferring vehicle- or driver-related data · CPC title

• B60K35/81

  for controlling displays · CPC title

• B60K35/22

  Display screens · CPC title