The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 12, 2013
Filed:
May. 18, 2010
Emmanuel J. Athans, Lake Forest Park, WA (US);
Daniel Dole, Seattle, WA (US);
Jeffrey Thomas Chrisope, Kirkland, WA (US);
Tarek Madkour, Sammamish, WA (US);
Stephen Giff, Bellevue, WA (US);
Jeannette Anne Gatlin, Seattle, WA (US);
Scott E. Seiber, Medina, WA (US);
Jeffrey Stylos, Bellevue, WA (US);
James Kristian Johansen, Renton, WA (US);
Emmanuel J. Athans, Lake Forest Park, WA (US);
Daniel Dole, Seattle, WA (US);
Jeffrey Thomas Chrisope, Kirkland, WA (US);
Tarek Madkour, Sammamish, WA (US);
Stephen Giff, Bellevue, WA (US);
Jeannette Anne Gatlin, Seattle, WA (US);
Scott E. Seiber, Medina, WA (US);
Jeffrey Stylos, Bellevue, WA (US);
James Kristian Johansen, Renton, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
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.