US 8,806,371 B2Granted

Interface navigation tools

AssigneeApple Inc.

InventorsJohn O. Louch, Timothy Wayne Bumgarner, Eric Steven Peyton, Christopher Hynes

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Abstract

Navigation tools for an interface (e.g., a graphical user interface) are disclosed. In one aspect, a first stack item (e.g., a first directory) that includes one or more stack elements (e.g., subdirectories) is presented in the interface. User input selecting one of the one or more stack elements causes a scaled version of the first stack item (e.g., a smaller visual representation of the directory) and a second stack item (e.g., a selected subdirectory) that corresponds to the selected stack element to be presented in the interface. Selecting the scaled version of the first stack item causes the first stack item to be presented (e.g., a larger visual representation of the directory) in the interface.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

presenting a visual representation of a directory level of a file directory hierarchy in an interface, the visual representation of the directory level including a first element representing a first subdirectory level of the file directory hierarchy and a second element representing a second subdirectory level of the file directory hierarchy, where the first and second subdirectory levels are at the same level in the file directory hierarchy;
and
in response to selection of the first element and then the second element:
displaying visual representations of the first and second subdirectory levels together with a scaled version of the visual representation of the directory level, where the visual representations of the first and second subdirectory levels are displayed at a different size and at a different depth than the visual representation of the directory level, and at least one of the visual representations of the first and second subdirectories is partially overlapping the visual representation of the directory level to visually indicate that the first and second subdirectories are below the directory level in the file directory hierarchy, and the visual representations of the first and second subdirectory levels are displayed at the same size and the same depth to visually indicate that the first and second subdirectory levels are at the same level in the file directory hierarchy,
where the method is performed by one or more hardware processors.

2 more elements

A apparatus comprising:

one or more processors;
memory coupled to the one or more processors and configured to store instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
presenting a visual representation of a directory level of a file directory hierarchy in an interface, the visual representation of the directory level including a first element representing a first subdirectory level of the file directory hierarchy and a second element representing a second subdirectory level of the file directory hierarchy, where the first and second subdirectory levels are at the same level in the file directory hierarchy;
and
in response to selection of the first element and then the second element:
displaying visual representations of the first and second subdirectory levels together with a scaled version of the visual representation of the directory level, where the visual representations of the first and second subdirectory levels are displayed at a different size and at a different depth than the visual representation of the directory level, and at least one of the visual representations of the first and second subdirectories is partially overlapping the visual representation of the directory level to visually indicate that the first and second subdirectories are below the directory level in the file directory hierarchy, and the visual representations of the first and second subdirectory levels are displayed at the same size and the same depth to visually indicate that the first and second subdirectory levels are at the same level in the file directory hierarchy.

3 more elements

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions, which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

presenting a visual representation of a directory level of a file directory hierarchy in an interface, the visual representation of the directory level including a first element representing a first subdirectory level of the file directory hierarchy and a second element representing a second subdirectory level of the file directory hierarchy, where the first and second subdirectory levels are at the same level in the file directory hierarchy;
and
in response to selection of the first element and then the second element:
displaying visual representations of the first and second subdirectory levels together with a scaled version of the visual representation of the directory level, where the visual representations of the first and second subdirectory levels are displayed at a different size and at a different depth than the visual representation of the directory level, and at least one of the visual representations of the first and second subdirectories is partially overlapping the visual representation of the directory level to visually indicate that the first and second subdirectories are below the directory level in the file directory hierarchy, and the visual representations of the first and second subdirectory levels are displayed at the same size and the same depth to visually indicate that the first and second subdirectory levels are at the same level in the file directory hierarchy.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.