System and method for presenting information organized by hierarchical levels

[0001] This invention relates in general to the field of computer user interfaces, and more particularly to a system and method for presenting information organized by hierarchical levels through a computer user interface.

[0002] Modern computer systems are able to store, locate and present vast amounts of information to users in a short period of time. This ability to handle large quantities of information is both an advantage and a problem to computer users. The advantage is that computer systems save time and money by allowing businesses to track, update and use important information in a timely and efficient manner. The disadvantage is that users are easily overwhelmed by large and complex data structures, resulting in diminished productivity. In short, computer systems often have more information available for users than users are able to intelligently decipher through the user interface displayed by a computer system.

[0003] One example of a data structure that easily overwhelms users is a listing of automobile parts. Automobile parts are typically organized by a hierarchy of non-homogeneous classifiers to aid users in locating desired parts. For instance, a user seeking to locate and identify radios available from an inventory of auto parts might drill down through a hierarchical tree organization starting from a root node and traversing through descendant nodes that identify available parts by manufacturer and part type to reach a list of parts indexed by part attributes. Computer system user interfaces typically display such lists as trees, tree grids, or flat lists.

[0004] One difficulty with conventional displays of information organized by hierarchy levels is that users easily lose their presence of the state of the information displayed by a user interface. For instance, an example of a tree user interface is the display of a computer file directory by WINDOWS EXPLORER. A user expands the directory by clicking on plus signs and is able to view the entire directory by scrolling with a scroll bar to see portions of the directory unavailable for viewing due to the size of the directory compared with the size of the display. With large tree structures, users often lose their presence of the state of the information displayed as the root and path followed to the information of interest are hidden from view when the user scrolls down to view the information.

[0005] For instance, FIG. 1 depicts a display of information organized in a tree structure. A root node is the top-level of the tree structure and is the parent node of the lower level nodes of the tree structure. The tree structure organizes descendants of the root node by hierarchy levels. Nodes A, B, C and D are child nodes at a first level of the root node, and siblings of each other. Following the path from the root node to its child node B leads to nodes 1, 2 and 3, which are children nodes of B and grandchild descendants at the second level from the root node. The root node and node B are known as ancestor nodes of nodes 1, 2 and 3, with the root node and node B also referred to respectively as the grandparent and parent nodes of nodes 1, 2 and 3.

[0006] As is depicted by FIG. 1, when a tree structure is expanded so that children nodes are displayed, the amount of information displayed can quickly extend beyond the visible area of a computer display screen area. If a user scrolls through the screen to view information, this often removes substantial portions of the tree structure from the display of the user. Similarly, if the user collapses the tree structure, the children of the collapsed nodes are not available for view unless the node is expanded. Thus, for instance, if a user expands node C of FIG. 1, then node D extends beyond the view of a single screen and the user is not able to view the root node and node D in a single screen. If a user collapses node C, then node D becomes visible in a single screen.

[0007] Other types of conventional user interfaces are also ineffective at maintaining user awareness of the state of the hierarchical levels displayed. For instance, browser-based solutions allow a user to load pages associated with sub-nodes of a root directory but typically provide little information of the state presented to the user. Another example of a user interface is the folder list of MICROSOFT OUTLOOK 2000 which uses shortcut bars to activate options depicted as graphical icons. Clicking on a shortcut bar causes the window to shift to display options associated with the activated shortcut bar. However, the extent of the information available is limited since the shortcut bars only reposition, limiting the number of shortcut bars that may be presented in the display area.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present invention, a system and method include the capability to present information having a hierarchical organization in a manner that maintains a user's context of the state of the information presented. Information having hierarchy levels, such as a root node and sub-nodes that branch from the root node, is presented so that navigation bars related to the path of nodes from the root node to a desired sub-node are displayed while other sub-nodes are hidden from the user. Navigation of hierarchy levels with a strong presentation of state information is accomplished by activating navigation bars for a desired hierarchy level. The presentation of the state information is strong because the traversed path from the root node to the descendant node associated with the displayed information is shown directly without distraction by other nodes.

[0009] More specifically, in one embodiment, a computer system control supports presentation of information organized by hierarchy levels through a user interface with a stacking box metaphor. A root node navigation bar displays a root node label associated with the level of the hierarchy from which the sub-nodes descend. Activation of the root node navigation bar displays sub-node navigation bars stacked below the root node navigation bar so that a sub-node navigation bar for each sub-node of the next level of the hierarchy is displayed with an appropriate label. Activation of a sub-node navigation bar results in display of the root node navigation bar, the activated sub-node navigation bar and one of either the information associated with the activated sub-node navigation bar or additional sub-node navigation bars having the next hierarchy level relative to the activated sub-node navigation bar. Activation of the sub-node navigation bar results in hiding of unrelated sub-node navigation bars, such as siblings that are at the same level of the hierarchy as the activated sub-node navigation bar. In one embodiment, the computer system prefilters the data nodes to reduce unrelated sub-nodes before the information is passed to the control for presentation by the user interface.

[0010] In one embodiment, when a user drills down through the hierarchy to a sub-node that contains information, the information is displayed below the stack of the root node and relevant sub-nodes, such as in a related window. The stack of navigation bars from the root node to the sub-node having the lowest selected hierarchy level presents an uncluttered view of the state of the displayed information with the navigation bar labels showing the path to the displayed information without the siblings of sub-nodes of the path. In one embodiment, each navigation bar presents a non-homogeneous classifier of the displayed information and index tabs further classify the information based on homogeneous attributes. Upon activation of a sub-node having information with homogeneous attributes, index tabs associated with one or more attributes are presented so that activation of an index tab presents information associated with the attribute of the activated tab and hides information not associated with the attribute of the activated tab.

[0011] The user interface's use of a stacked box metaphor provides a strong presentation of state information, reducing the difficulty that often otherwise arises when a user attempts to place in context a portion of displayed information relative to un-displayed information. A user is able to view information associated with a level of the hierarchy organization with the current location in the hierarchy continuously displayed as a stack at the top of the user interface and other nonrelevant state information hidden to reduce confusion. The strong presentation of state information provides a significant advantage over conventional tree displays since, in conventional tree displays, scrolling down to the information desired often removes the full context or a substantial context of state information from the tree user interface. In contrast, in one embodiment, the stacked box metaphor maintains presentation of state information for displayed data, even while a user scrolls through the data.

[0012] The index tabs associated with information displayed below a stacked box metaphor allows presentation of a strong separation of non-homogeneous hierarchy classifiers from indexed homogeneous attributes of the information. The user interface separates hierarchy levels and information indexing by presenting hierarchy levels with navigation bars and presenting indexes with tabs to represent indices according to, for example, one or more attributes. This advantageously avoids user confusion which may result when classifiers and indexes are represented in the same manner, such as nodes of a tree.

[0013] The stacked box metaphor reduces the need for scrolling through information, thus improving the scanability of the user interface by, for instance, presenting only state information relevant to the data being viewed. A user who has drilled through sub-nodes to a desired hierarchy level to view information associated with that level has only relevant nodes of the hierarchy levels displayed, such as the nodes of the traversed path, while irrelevant nodes are hidden, such as the sibling nodes of the selected node and the sibling nodes of the ancestors of the selected node. Thus any necessary scrolling is at the level of information, simplifying the presentation of the information and its state. Further, a user may easily navigate to different levels of the hierarchy while maintaining strong state information by activating a root or sub-node navigation bar of the traversed path to display that level of the hierarchy and related relevant levels while hiding levels irrelevant to the selected information.

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in the figures, like numerals being used to refer to like and corresponding parts of the various drawings. Many embodiments of the present invention have application to a wide range of industries including the following: computer hardware and software manufacturing and sales, professional services, financial services, automotive sales and manufacturing, telecommunications sales and manufacturing, medical and pharmaceutical sales and, manufacturing and construction industries.

[0019] Computer systems are important tools for storing, editing and maintaining detailed information in a wide range of industries. However, even the most capable computer system is of limited practical use if the information it contains is not readily accessible to end users in an efficient and user-friendly manner. As the quantity and complexity of data structures increases, the need for easily understood user interfaces that have a high capability to provide a frame of reference for the context of displayed information grows accordingly. In particular, with complex data ordered by hierarchy levels, a user interface is needed that presents strong state information so that users readily understand and navigate levels of the hierarchy with reduced effort and time.

[0020] An example of an application that involves complex hierarchy levels and large quantities of data is the editing and maintenance of automobile part codes. Automobile part codes are generally arranged by classifiers, such as part type, part family, and subfamily, and then further organized at classified levels by one or more indexed attributes, such as alphabetically by name or numerically by part number. Users select and edit auto part codes by finding the code information at the appropriate level of the hierarchy.

[0021] Some embodiments of the present invention allow users to quickly navigate both hierarchy levels and index attributes to find and manipulate auto part codes. The user interface depicts a stacking box metaphor that allows users to navigate relevant portions of the hierarchy while maintaining strong state information and also uses address book style tabs to allow users to quickly traverse indexed attributes. Strong state information is maintained by hiding from the user levels of the hierarchy that are not relevant to the user's navigation, such as siblings of sub-nodes on the path between the root node and the activated sub-node having the lowest hierarchy level. Although auto parts provide one example of information typically organized by hierarchy levels, the user interface is readily adapted to present any data that is organized by hierarchy levels and to index data where sub-levels in the hierarchy have a nominally valued attribute available to build an index between sublevels. Further, a user may change the state of the hierarchy level by activating a sub-node to view the state of information associated at the hierarchy level of the activated sub-node, thus reducing the complexity of navigation through the hierarchy levels of the tree.

[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, one embodiment is illustrated by a computer system 10 communicating with a display 12 that displays a user interface 14. A user interacts with computer system 10 through conventional I/O devices, such as mouse 3 and keyboard 4, to select instructions for operation by a CPU 5 in cooperation with local memory, such as RAM 6. A network interface 7 enables communication with other computer systems and storage devices through conventional networks, such as the Internet, a LAN and a WAN. A local storage media 8 stores computer program instructions to operate the user interface and includes such storage devices as hard disks, CD-ROM drives, magneto-optical drives and peripheral memory devices. For instance, computer system 10 is a conventional personal computer with a 32-bit microprocessor CPU 5 that loads instructions from a remote media, such as a CD or network site, onto storage media 8 and runs the instructions with the aid of RAM 6. Computer system 10 described above is for purposes of example only and may be implemented in any type of computer system or programming or processing environment.

[0023] Computer system 10 includes a user interface control 16, which controls the display of user interface 14, and a filter 18 that provides data to user interface control 16 for display by user interface 14. Computer system 10 supports user interface control 16 on any number of platforms, such as Windows, Java or an Internet browser, and with any number of GUI layers, such as Win32, JavaSwing, DHTML. User interface control 16 presents user interface 14 based on event and GUI libraries for the selected platform. Filter 18 prefilters data to limit the levels of the hierarchy provided to user interface control 16, thus trimming the data before providing it to user interface control 16.

[0024] Database 20 stores data by a hierarchy of non-homogeneous classifiers. For instance, a root level classifier of auto parts is displayed as the root node of a data tree. The next lowest level subclassifier is the manufacturer of auto parts, depicted in the tree of database 20 as a “Delphi,” sub-node, a “Visteon” sub-node and a “Bosch” sub-node. Each manufacturer sub-node has part type subclassifier hierarchy levels in descending order of hierarchy levels depicted as sub-nodes from the respective manufacturer's sub-node. For instance, the Delphi sub-node has radio and AC sub-nodes at the next lower hierarchy level, and the radio sub-node has CD and tape sub-nodes at its next lower hierarchy level. From the lowest hierarchy level for a path from the root level, such as CD players, part information is indexed. Thus, to find part information for a CD player model 1, a user drills down through the auto parts, Delphi, radios and CD classifier hierarchy levels. The data is thus organized by a model suitable to the use of the data and the nature of the data so that users are able to find information in a logical manner. User interface control 16 applies the data model, data nature, structure of the hierarchy and indexable attributes to generate user interface 14 for display of desired information selected by the navigation of a user.

[0025] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, three examples of user interfaces 14 are depicted for displaying the information of database 20. An initial user interface 22 displays a root node level classifier navigation bar 24 with the label “auto parts.” Sub-node manufacturer labels 26 are stacked below the root node label to visually indicate the next lower hierarchy level from the selected root hierarchy level that the user may navigate. A single click on a node or sub-node label displays details on the selected node within the hierarchy. A double click on a sub-node initiates navigation of the next hierarchy level from that sub-node. For instance, a double click on the Delphi label of user interface 22 results in display of user interface 28.

[0026] In user interface 28, a Delphi sub-node navigation bar 30 is displayed upon activation of the Delphi label sub-node 26 of user interface 22. Upon activation of the Delphi sub-node label 26, a sub-node navigation bar 30 with the Delphi label is presented in user interface 28 along with sub-node labels 32 for sub-nodes of the next lower hierarchy level from the activated hierarchy level, such as radios and AC. User interface 28 hides sub-nodes that are not relevant to a search for information under the Delphi node of the tree, i.e., the siblings of the activated Delphi node. Thus, the Visteon and Bosch labels are not depicted by user interface 28. However, an activation icon 34 is presented in the root node navigation bar 24 so that a user navigating upwards in the tree from the Delphi sub-node 30 may activate icon 34 to return to user interface 22 and display the sub-nodes 26 from the auto parts root node 24.

[0027] User interface 36 depicts the display that results from drilling down through the Delphi, radios and CD sub-nodes 30 to show model information for CDs. As illustrated by user interface 36, only the levels of the hierarchy that aid an understanding of the state are displayed, i.e., the manufacturers other than Delphi, the parts other than radios, and the parts other than CDs hidden from view so that the traversed path from the root node to the CD node is apparent without displaying the sibilings of the nodes between the root node and the activated CD node. Each navigation bar has an activation icon 34 so that a user may navigate to any level of the hierarchy by activating the icon 34 associated with the navigation bar of the level of the hierarchy of interest. Upon activation of an icon 34, user interface 14 displays the nodes of the traversed path from the root node to the node associated with the activated icon, hides the siblings of the displayed nodes, and displays either the sub-nodes that are children of the activated node or the information associated with the activated node.

[0028] At the bottom of the navigation bar stack, information associated with the lowest level sub-node, in this example the CD sub-node, is displayed according to index tabs 38. For example, the CD information is indexed according to the number of CD disks handled by each model. User interface 36 illustrates that models 1 and 2 are indexed to have 3 CDs and that a user may activate a 1 CD index tab or a 5 CD index tab to display models having those attributes. The indexed homogeneous items respectively represent a heterogeneous section of parts sliced across the attribute of the number of CD disks handled by the CD player.

[0029] A scroll bar 40 allows a user to scroll through the list of CD models if the list of models extends beyond the viewing space. During scrolling to view models, the user maintains a strong presence of state information since the navigation bars continue to display the levels of the hierarchy being navigated while hiding the display of nodes not relevant to the traversed path. This limited scrolling preserves strong scanability with the index tabs presented in order along the scroll bar to aid a user in finding a desired bucket of information once at the appropriate sub-node level of the hierarchy.

[0030] The presentation of user interfaces by the user interface control 16 may be implemented in a number of ways, including the use of DMHL objects with extensible mark up language (XML) island trees that allow preloading of data to limit screen refreshes in a web based environment. Alternatively, page loads or other conventional techniques may be used. The user interface may take advantage of different types of tree structures for a given data set to optimize presentation of data for desired applications. The selected data structure may take advantage of a separation of non-homogeneous classifiers for hierarchy levels and homogeneous indexing for information to represent information in an understandable fashion.

[0031] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.