US6359635B1
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Methods, articles and apparatus for visibly representing information and for providing an input interface
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1999-02-03
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Granted: 2002-03-19
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Expires: 2019-02-03
Abstract
Abstract Display and/or input regions to represent a plurality of tree-related elements include a region to represent a root element, at least two concave regions to represent at least two non-root, internal elements, and at least two regions to represent at least two leaf elements. In a particular embodiment, a first concave region is radially adjacent both a second concave region and a third concave region, the second concave region is angularly adjacent the third concave region, and a radial width of the second concave region differs from a radial width of the third concave region.
Inventors
- 👤 Cary D. Perttunen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0482; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/904; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04807; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04847; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/04883
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A method comprising: outputting at least one signal to display and to make user-selectable a first concave region to visibly represent a first element, a second concave region to visibly represent a second element, and a third concave region to visibly represent a third element; wherein the second concave region and the third concave region are radially adjacent the first concave region; wherein the second concave region is angularly adjacent the third concave region; and wherein a radial width of the second concave region differs from a radial width of the third concave region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
94 words
A method comprising: outputting at least one signal to display and to make user-selectable a first concave region to visibly represent a first element, a second concave region to visibly represent a second element, and a third concave region to visibly represent a third element; wherein the second concave region and the third concave region are radially adjacent the first concave region; wherein the second concave region is angularly adjacent the third concave region; and wherein a radial width of the second concave region differs from a radial width of the third concave region.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first concave region is approximately shaped as a first annulus sector, the second concave region is approximately shaped as a second annulus sector, and the third concave region is approximately shaped as a third annulus sector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first concave region has an angular width greater than or equal to a sum of an angular width of the second concave region and an angular width of the third concave region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the second concave region has an angular width substantially equal to an angular width of the third concave region.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first concave region, the second concave region, and the third concave region have substantially the same area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first element comprises a computer directory and at least one of the second element and the third element comprises a computer file in the computer directory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first element comprises an information category and at least one of the second element and the third element comprises an information source in the information category.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first element comprises a first purchasable item, the second element comprises a second purchasable item, and the third element comprises a third purchasable item.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first element comprises a first computer-readable item, the second element comprises a second computer-readable item, and the third element comprises a third computer-readable item.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first element comprises a first computer address, the second element comprises a second computer address, and the third element comprises a third computer address.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first element comprises a first patent claim, the second element comprises a second patent claim which depends from the first patent claim, and the third element comprises a third patent claim which depends from the first patent claim.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the first element comprises a first message, the second element comprises a second message which is a reply to the first message, and the third element comprises a third message which is a reply to the first message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: outputting at least one signal to display a user-viewable advertisement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the user-viewable advertisement and at least one of the first concave region, the second concave region and the third concave region are simultaneously user-viewable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one signal is further to display and to make user-selectable a fourth concave region to visibly represent a fourth element, wherein the fourth concave region is radially adjacent the third concave region and is angularly adjacent the second concave region.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
97 words
A method comprising: outputting at least one signal to provide a first user-selectable concave region associated with a first element, a second user-selectable concave region associated with a second element, and a third user-selectable concave region associated with a third element; wherein the second user-selectable concave region and the third user-selectable concave region are radially adjacent the first user-selectable concave region; wherein the second user-selectable concave region is angularly adjacent the third user-selectable concave region; and wherein a radial width of the second user-selectable concave region differs from a radial width of the third user-selectable concave region.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
97 words
A method comprising: outputting at least one signal to provide a first user-selectable concave region associated with a first element, a second user-selectable concave region associated with a second element, and a third user-selectable concave region associated with a third element; wherein the second user-selectable concave region and the third user-selectable concave region are radially adjacent the first user-selectable concave region; wherein the second user-selectable concave region is angularly adjacent the third user-selectable concave region; and wherein a radial width of the second user-selectable concave region differs from a radial width of the third user-selectable concave region.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the first user-selectable concave region is approximately shaped as a first annulus sector, the second user-selectable concave region is approximately shaped as a second annulus sector, and the third user-selectable concave region is approximately shaped as a third annulus sector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the first user-selectable concave region has an angular width greater than or equal to a sum of an angular width of the second user-selectable concave region and an angular width of the third user-selectable concave region.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the second user-selectable concave region has an angular width substantially equal to an angular width of the third user-selectable concave region.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the first user-selectable concave region, the second user-selectable concave region, and the third user-selectable concave region have substantially the same area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the first element comprises a computer directory and at least one of the second element and the third element comprises a computer file in the computer directory.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the first element comprises an information category and at least one of the second element and the third element comprises an information source in the information category.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the first element comprises a first purchasable item, the second element comprises a second purchasable item, and the third element comprises a third purchasable item.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the first element comprises a first computer-readable item, the second element comprises a second computer-readable item, and the third element comprises a third computer-readable item.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the first element comprises a first computer address, the second element comprises a second computer address, and the third element comprises a third computer address.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the first element comprises a first patent claim, the second element comprises a second patent claim which depends from the first patent claim, and the third element comprises a third patent claim which depends from the first patent claim.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the first element comprises a first message, the second element comprises a second message which is a reply to the first message, and the third element comprises a third message which is a reply to the first message.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising: outputting at least one signal to display a user-viewable advertisement.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the user-viewable advertisement is user-viewable when at least one of the first user-selectable concave region, the second user-selectable concave region and the third user-selectable concave region is user-selectable.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one signal is further to display a fourth user-selectable concave region associated with a fourth element, wherein the fourth user-selectable concave region is radially adjacent the third user-selectable concave region and is angularly adjacent the second user-selectable concave region.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
104 words
A method comprising: outputting at least one signal to display a first region to visibly represent a first computer address, a second region to visibly represent a second computer address, and a third region to visibly represent a third computer address, the first region approximately shaped as a first annulus sector, the second region approximately shaped as a second annulus sector, the third region approximately shaped as a third annulus sector, wherein the second region and the third region are radially adjacent the first region, and wherein the second region has a radial width which differs from a radial width of the third region.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
104 words
A method comprising: outputting at least one signal to display a first region to visibly represent a first computer address, a second region to visibly represent a second computer address, and a third region to visibly represent a third computer address, the first region approximately shaped as a first annulus sector, the second region approximately shaped as a second annulus sector, the third region approximately shaped as a third annulus sector, wherein the second region and the third region are radially adjacent the first region, and wherein the second region has a radial width which differs from a radial width of the third region.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the at least one signal is further to provide a fourth region to visibly represent a fourth computer address, the fourth region approximately shaped as a fourth annulus sector, the fourth region radially adjacent the third region.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the third region and the fourth region are angularly adjacent the second region.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 31 further comprising: outputting at least one signal to display a user-viewable advertisement.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 34 wherein the user-viewable advertisement and at least one of the first region, the second region, and the third region are simultaneously user-viewable.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the first region has an angular width greater than or equal to a sum of an angular width of the second region and an angular width of the third region.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the second region has an angular width substantially equal to an angular width of the third region.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 31 wherein the first region, the second region, and the third region have substantially the same area.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
111 words
A method comprising: outputting at least one signal to provide a first user-selectable region associated with a first computer address, a second user-selectable region associated with a second computer address, and a third user-selectable region associated with a third computer address, the first user-selectable region approximately shaped as a first annulus sector, the second user-selectable region approximately shaped as a second annulus sector, the third user-selectable region approximately shaped as a third annulus sector, wherein the second user-selectable region and the third user-selectable region are radially adjacent the first user-selectable region, and wherein a radial width of a second user-selectable region differs from a radial width of a third user-selectable region.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
111 words
A method comprising: outputting at least one signal to provide a first user-selectable region associated with a first computer address, a second user-selectable region associated with a second computer address, and a third user-selectable region associated with a third computer address, the first user-selectable region approximately shaped as a first annulus sector, the second user-selectable region approximately shaped as a second annulus sector, the third user-selectable region approximately shaped as a third annulus sector, wherein the second user-selectable region and the third user-selectable region are radially adjacent the first user-selectable region, and wherein a radial width of a second user-selectable region differs from a radial width of a third user-selectable region.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the at least one signal is further to provide a fourth user-selectable region associated with a fourth computer address, the fourth user-selectable region approximately shaped as a fourth annulus sector, the fourth user-selectable region radially adjacent the third user-selectable region.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the third user-selectable region and the fourth user-selectable region are angularly adjacent the second user-selectable region.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 39 further comprising: outputting at least one signal to display a user-viewable advertisement.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 42 wherein the user-viewable advertisement is user-viewable when at least one of the first user-selectable region, the second user-selectable region, and the third user-selectable region is user-selectable.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the first user-selectable region has an angular width greater than or equal to a sum of an angular width of the second user-selectable region and an angular width of the third user-selectable region.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the second user-selectable region has an angular width substantially equal to an angular width of the third user-selectable region.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 39 wherein the first user-selectable region, the second user-selectable region, and the third user-selectable region have substantially the same area.
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| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-18 | 2009-09-17 | 2010-03-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-18 | 2013-09-17 | 2014-03-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |