User interface presentation of information in reconfigured or overlapping containers

摘要

A graphical user interface provides a display of multiple items of information in a manner such that the user can comprehend the relationship of various items to one another over a wide span. To achieve this result, at least some information containers are allocated a reduced amount of area in which to be viewed by the user. At least one container continues to be displayed in full view, however. In one embodiment, the containers are displayed in an overlapping arrangement. In a column view, for instance, the column containing the object that was last clicked upon, and the column showing the contents of the selected object, can be displayed in full view. The other columns may be only partially visible, due to the overlapping arrangement. However, the user is presented with enough information to comprehend the relationship of objects at different levels. When the user moves a cursor over a container with a reduced viewing area, the display changes to show that container in full view.

主权项

1. A method for displaying information in a graphic user interface of a computer system, said method comprising:
causing the computer system to display a plurality of containers of information, wherein:
a first container of the plurality of containers of information is a content container and displayed in full view,a second container of the plurality of containers of information is a focus container and displayed in full view, andthe remaining containers of information are displayed in a first overlapping arrangement such that a plurality of the remaining containers of information are only partially visible due to the first overlapping arrangement; causing the computer to detect an event that selects a third container from the remaining containers of information; and causing the computer system to reposition the containers of information, excluding said content container, based on said detection, wherein said repositioning includes moving and displacing one or more of the unselected containers of information such that the third container of information is displayed in full view and the unselected containers of information, including said second container are displayed in a second overlapping arrangement such that a plurality of the unselected containers of information are only partially visible due to the second overlapping arrangement and the content container remains visible in full view, and wherein said third container of information becomes the focus container in response to the event.