Patent ID: 7010744
Filing Date: 2006-03-07
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. In an electronic device, said electronic device interfaced with a display, a method of navigating a hierarchical diagram, said hierarchical diagram including levels and associated sub-levels, said method, comprising the steps of: displaying a first view of said hierarchical diagram to a user of said electronic device on said display, said first view representing a level of said hierarchical diagram, said level including a graphical reference to one of said sub-levels associated with the level represented by said first view; traversing said first view of said hierarchical diagram with a user-operated pointing device interfaced with said electronic device, said pointing device inserting a cursor in said first view, said cursor moving in a synchronized manner with user-initiated movements of said pointing device; in response to a user manipulating said pointing device so that said cursor in said first view enters an active region located within said graphical reference to a sub-level, said active region comprising a portion of said graphical reference, automatically triggering replacement of said first view with a second view in said display, said first view being replaced in said display by said second view representing said sub-level upon said cursor reaching said active region, said cursor appearing in said second view; providing a wormhole around said active region, said wormhole being a visual aid displayed in said display which indicates the location of said active region; and altering the size of said wormhole based upon the proximity of said cursor, said wormhole growing larger as said cursor travels nearer said wormhole, said wormhole growing smaller as said cursor travels away from said wormhole.