Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

James Kristian Johansen

Daniel R Dole

Tarek Madkour

Emmanuel John Athans

Scott E Seiber

Jeffrey Thomas Chrisope

Jeffrey Stylos

Stephen Giff

Jeannette Anne Gatlin

Hierarchical structures are visualized and navigated using an orbital model. Sibling nodes are orbitally displayed in a generally circular arrangement along an orbital path. Choosing one of the orbitally displayed nodes opens it, moving down in the hierarchy. Nodes which were not chosen are undisplayed, and child node(s) of the chosen node are orbitally displayed. Node movements may be animated. A history displays recently chosen nodes. Choosing a parent node of the orbiting nodes undisplays the child nodes, and the parent node and its siblings are orbitally displayed, thereby moving up in the hierarchy. A user may select nodes from different parts of the hierarchy by moving them into a selection tray. Selected nodes can then be subjected to a specified batch operation. Controls are available for sorting nodes and/or for altering node appearance in the display.

Orbital representation of hierarchical navigation

Growing community of inventors

Renton, WA, United States of America

James Kristian Johansen