User interface management through branch isolation

Abstract

Systems and methods for presenting (e.g., displaying) a hierarchical structure are presented. The hierarchical structure includes multiple elements and defines hierarchical relationships between the elements. The hierarchical structure may be embodied within an electronic document such as a Web document, an interactive application program, or a map divided into sections. Each element has a “presentation property” which may be a value or a function. One of the elements has “focus” (e.g., as created, by default, etc.). A “branch isolation” method includes forming a tree-like model of the hierarchical structure having multiple nodes and at least one branch. Each node represents one of the elements. One node is a root node and occupies a highest level in the hierarchical structure. A given branch connects a first node in a first level to a second node in a level directly below the first level. Each branch represents a hierarchical relationship between connected nodes. A “focus node” represents the element receiving focus. A “path” in the model from the root node to the focus node is determined. The presentation property of the element represented by the root node is selectively presented. The presentation property of each element represented by a node, other than the root node, along the path from the root node to the focus node is also presented. The presentation property of each element represented by a node in a subtree is also presented, wherein the focus node is a root node of the subtree.