Abstract:
A document navigation system that facilitates efficient identification and display of a document by using navigation parameters is described. Using navigation parameters, users can easily scroll through documents from a single document window. Moreover, size information provides additional information regarding the association of stored documents with the currently displayed document. The method includes providing a document window for displaying all or a portion of one or more of the documents. The method provides a control item comprising a plurality of selectable time-based navigation parameters. Input commands setting the navigation parameters to define time-based document selection criteria are received. A closest-fit document having identification parameters that most closely correspond to the document selection criteria is identified. The method displays all or a portion of the closest-fit document in the document window.

Description:
PRIOR U.S. APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This Specification is based on U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/323,555 filed on Sep. 20, 2001. The inventors claim the benefit of Title 35, Section 119 of the U.S. Code based on said provisional application. 
     
    
     
       COPYRIGHT NOTICE  
         [0002]    A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office Patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.  
         TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to the field of document management and searching systems. In particular, it relates to a document navigation system that facilitates efficient identification and display of a document by using time-based navigation parameters.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    As processing capability increases and the cost of personal computers decreases, personal computer use continues to grow. Schools, homes, and business use computers for task previously done without them. As a result, creating effective document displays has become a greater concern. Software applications, such as Corel® WordPerfect® and Microsoft® Outlook®, typically display documents using “window-type” workspaces. Software applications often include features, such as tiling, that can arrange these workspaces within a single screen. Each of the workspaces can display a single document. Simultaneous use of several workspaces enables display of many documents.  
           [0005]    By displaying several windows within a single screen, a user can alternate between documents. Though functional, this display method creates several disadvantages by placing documents in unrelated workspaces. Often, a user opens a document by searching a document storage system. After identifying the document, the computer system displays this document in a document window. For a search of documents related to Jane Smith, the computer system could display Jane&#39;s biographical summary. Incorporating information from Jane&#39;s resume into this biographical sketch could warrant opening Jane&#39;s resume.  
           [0006]    The present display method does not efficiently identify and display the document most closely related to the currently displayed document. For example, the next relevant document resulting from the search of documents related to Jane could be Jane&#39;s resume. To display Jane&#39;s resume, a user typically must repeat the steps of the document opening process. Repeating previously executed steps can be time consuming and inefficient. In addition, switching between open document windows often necessitates navigating toolbars and pull down menus. This navigation consumes more time. Hence, an easier way to switch between documents within a single document window would create substantial benefits.  
           [0007]    Despite the development of document display systems, conventional solutions fail in providing a document management system that is not laden with considerable time losses due to inefficient searching and navigation between multiple document windows. Thus, a need still exists for an improved document navigation system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention meets the needs described above in a document navigation system that facilitates efficient identification and display of a document using navigation parameters. The invented system includes a navigation bar for identifying and displaying documents. The partially collapsible nature of this bar enables its use without creating a substantial obstruction within an associated computer screen. Implementation of the navigation bar using software enables its use with various types of digital devices, such as a personal digital assistant, pocket pc, game system, or a computer. Thus, electronic devices with limited storage capacities and devices with complicated electronics can utilize the document navigation system of the present invention.  
           [0009]    In addition to enabling use with various electronic devices, the present invention allows efficient navigation to a wide range of documents within a single document window. Instead of using a series of pull down menus to open a document, the present invention allows effective navigation using a sophisticated navigation bar. This navigation bar includes a host of radio buttons associated with navigation parameters such as day of the week, date, month, week, and year. When a user expands the navigation bar, each navigation parameter includes a pair of directional buttons. By selecting of the directional buttons, users can display documents stored on the digital device by scrolling from the currently displayed document to a stored document. For example, a user may scroll from a document created on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. to a document created on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. by selecting one of the directional buttons. Hence, users can quickly and easily navigate to a wide range of documents using a single document window.  
           [0010]    In addition to directional buttons, the navigation bar includes size indication that identify the number of documents associated with a particular search. A group size indicator identifies the number of documents that satisfy a user&#39;s search request. For example, a search for email messages referring to bananas may return twenty-five documents. Thus, a group size of twenty-five indicates the number of documents that satisfied the request for email messages referring to bananas. A number available (NAV) identifies the number of documents accessible from a particular navigation parameter. For example, a NAV size of ten indicates that only ten of the twenty-five documents were sent during 2001. A subgroup size of 5 indicates the number of documents available earlier or later in the current month. By reviewing the size indicators, a user can easily understand the size of the search results and the association of these results to the currently displayed documents.  
           [0011]    Generally described, the invention is a method for identifying and displaying documents within a computer-based document management system, each document having a defined set of identification parameters. The method includes providing a document window for displaying all or a portion of one or more of the documents. The method provides a control item that includes a plurality of selectable time-based navigation parameters. Input commands setting the navigation parameters to define time-based document selection criteria are received. A closest-fit document having identification parameters that most closely correspond to the document selection criteria is identified. The method displays all or a portion of the closest-fit document in the document window.  
           [0012]    In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the document navigation system avoids the drawbacks of prior systems. The specific techniques and structures employed by the invention to improve over the drawbacks of the prior systems and accomplish the advantages described above will become apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention and the appended drawings and claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a document navigation system used with a computer.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2A is a functional block diagram of the navigation bar of FIG. 1 illustrating navigational parameters that allow user selection of a particular document.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram of an expanded navigation bar that results from selecting the earlier/later button of FIG. 2A.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2C is a functional block diagram of an expanded navigation bar illustrating the identification parameters displayed after selecting the navigation indicator of FIG. 2B.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3A is a functional block diagram of the expanded navigation bar illustrating sub-navigation indicators.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3B is a function block diagram of an expanded navigation bar illustrating selection of the sub-navigation indicator of FIG. 3A.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3C is a functional block diagram of an expanded navigation bar illustrating the properties of a subsequent email message.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4A is a functional block diagram of an expanded navigation bar illustrating the results of a document type and document subject search.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 4B is a functional block diagram of an expanded navigation bar illustrating the result of selecting the navigation indicator.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 5A is a table illustrating the relationship of various navigation parameters as a navigation indicator varies one navigation parameter.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 5B is a table illustrating the relationship of various navigation parameters as scrolling to the next available document varies a navigation indicator.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5C is a table illustrating the relationship of various navigation parameters as a sub-navigation indicator varies a navigation indicator.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a routine that controls the document navigation system.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a subroutine of the routine of FIG. 6 that determines the selected document group.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a subroutine of the routine of FIG. 6 that receives a navigation command and changes the navigation display.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a subroutine for the routine of FIG. 8 that modifies the navigation display for a time navigation parameter.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a subroutine for the routine of FIG. 8 that modifies the navigation display for the day of the week navigation parameter.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating a subroutine for the routine of FIG. 9 that modifies the navigation display for the date navigation parameter.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating a subroutine for the routine of FIG. 9 that modifies the navigation display for the month navigation parameter.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating a subroutine for the routine of FIG. 9 that modifies the navigation display for the week navigation parameter.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating a subroutine for the routine of FIG. 9 that modifies the navigation display for the year navigation parameter. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0034]    The present invention may be embodied in a document navigation system that interfaces between a display and a digital device. The digital devices could include a personal computer, personal digital assistant, digital pager, digital cellular phone, or some other suitable device. Often these digital devices either include some type of display such as a liquid crystal display, monitor, digital camcorder, or some other suitable device. Alternatively, the display could be separate from the digital device such as a television, video projector, or some other suitable device.  
         [0035]    When the display includes a screen, a document window displays documents stored on the digital device. The documents could be electronic mail (email) messages, digitized voice messages, word processing documents, spreadsheet documents, or some other type of document. Typically, the digital device includes some type of document storage device such as a document database, floppy disk, compact disc, or some other suitable storage device. This document storage device maintains the integrity of the stored documents. Moreover, each stored document can include identification parameters that enable identification and subsequent retrieval of the document.  
         [0036]    Within the document window, a navigation bar including a number of control items, manages the retrieval from the document storage location and display of documents within the document window. The navigation bar includes various buttons for document searching using a host of time-based parameters such as earlier/later, time, day of the week, date, month, week, or year. In addition, the navigation bar can include parameters such as author, creation date, previous recipients, document size, or some other suitable parameter. For each of these buttons, the navigation bar can include an earlier and a later button that scrolls the particular navigation parameter. For example, selecting earlier button can scroll the year parameter to the previous year.  
         [0037]    The navigation bar also includes buttons that specify the search criteria of the digital device. For example, the navigation bar could include a subject button. Selection of this button could specify that computer only searches for documents relating to a particular subject. In addition, the navigation could include a type button that limits searching to documents of a particular type. Alternatively, other search criteria could include searching by author, recipient, size or some other suitable criteria. In another alternative embodiment, the navigation bar can include multiple windows for specifying the search criteria.  
         [0038]    In addition, the navigation bar can include sub-navigation indicators that enable scrolling from the currently displayed document to the next closest document. For example, the sub-navigation indicators can enable scrolling to the next email message that refers to bananas. The sub-navigation indicators could be arrows, a movable bar within a window, or some other suitable device. In addition, these indicators can be used in conjunction with a host of input devices such as a touch sensitive screen, keyboard, mouse, or voice-activated device.  
         [0039]    Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a document navigation system  100  used with a computer  105 . The computer  105  uses a monitor  110  as a display. Within the monitor  110 , a screen  115  includes a document window  120  with a scrollbar  125  and a navigation bar  130 . The scrollbar  125  enables viewing of a document  135  when the length of this document exceeds the screen area. With the navigation bar  130 , a user can request that the document  135  is displayed in the document window  120 .  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2A is a functional block diagram of the navigation bar  130  illustrating navigational parameters that allow user selection of a particular document. The navigation bar  130  can include an earlier/later button  200 , a time button  205 , a day of the week button  210 , a date button  215 , a month button  220 , a week button  225 , and a year button  227 . The navigation bar  130  reflects the identification parameters of the document  135  displayed in the document window  120 . For example, this document could be an email message sent at 9:35 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2000 during the 32 nd  week of the year.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram of an expanded navigation bar  230  that results from selecting the earlier/later button  200 . Selection of the earlier/later button  200  produces the navigation bar  230  by enlarging the navigation bar  130  and adding earlier buttons  235  and later buttons  236  for each of the navigation parameters. These buttons are described with reference to FIG. 2C. To collapse the expanded time navigation bar  230 , a user can select the return to now button  238 . Selecting this button returns the navigation bar  230  to the size of the navigation bar  130  and uses less space in the screen  115 . In addition, the expanded navigation bar also includes type window  240 , subject window  245 , group size window  250 , navigation size window  252 , and a sub-navigation size window  254 . These windows are described in more detail in subsequent figures.  
         [0042]    Using either the earlier button  235  or the later button  226 , the day of the week can be incremented to Friday or decremented to Thursday. These buttons indicate the navigation direction for each of the navigation parameters. Thus, they can be termed navigation direction indicators. FIG. 2C is a functional block diagram of an expanded navigation bar  260  illustrating the identification parameters displayed after selecting the navigation indicator  236 . For example, the navigation bar  230  can display an email message sent at 9:35 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2001 during the 32 nd  week. After selecting the navigation indicator or later button  236 , the document window  120  displays an email message sent at 10:15 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 11, 2000 during the 32 nd  week of the year. Using the navigation indicators, a user can vary navigation parameters and display a closest-fit document in the document window  120  that whose identification parameters correspond closely to the previously displayed document.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 3A is a functional block diagram of the expanded time navigation bar  230  illustrating sub-navigation indicators. Using either the type window  240  or subject window  245 , users can specify search criteria. The shading in the type window  240  indicates that the computer  105  will search for documents of the same document type as the currently displayed document. For example, the document  135  displayed in the document window  120  and described by the values in the navigation bar  130  could correspond to an email message sent at 9:35 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2000 during the 32 nd  week of the year. By selecting the type box, subsequent searches return only email messages because that is the document type of the currently displayed message.  
         [0044]    Using size windows, the computer  105  can display the number of documents that satisfy the search query. As mentioned above, the computer  105  stores data in a data management system, such as a database. The group size window  250  indicates the number of documents within the data management system that satisfy the specified designated type criteria. Using the previous example, the number  420  in the group size window  250  indicates that there are  420  email messages in the data management system.  
         [0045]    In addition, the navigation size window  252  indicates the number of documents available for the particular navigation parameter being assessed. For the example illustrated in FIG. 3A, the user selected the day of the week parameter by positioning cursor  300  on the later button  236 . Thus, the number  56  in the navigation size window  252  indicates that only fifty-six of the 452 email messages are accessible using the day of the week navigation parameter. A user can access the remaining email messages using some of the other navigation parameters such as the month, week, year, time, or date.  
         [0046]    Similarly, the sub-navigation size window  254  indicates the number of documents available within the data management system of the computer  105  accessible from the present value of the navigation parameter. Using the same example, the present value of the day of the week is Thursday. Thus, the number  6  in the sub-navigation size window  254  indicates that the computer&#39;s data management system includes six email messages received on Thursday. Together, the size windows specify the relation of the currently displayed document to other documents in the data management system.  
         [0047]    Sub-navigation indicators  305 ,  306  indicate the position of the currently displayed document relative to all the documents in the sub-navigation size. As mentioned above, the sub-navigation size window  254  indicates that six email messages were received on Thursday. Because the values in the time navigation bar  230  represent the identification parameters for a displayed document  135 , the values illustrated in FIG. 3A represent one of the six email messages received on Thursday. Hence, selecting the sub-navigation indicator  305  scrolls back to email messages received before the currently displayed messages. Likewise, selection the sub-navigation indicator  306  scrolls to email messages received after the currently displayed message. Though shown with the day of the week parameter, each of the navigation parameters have sub-navigation indicators.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 3B is a functional block diagram of an expanded time navigation bar  300  illustrating selection of the sub-navigation indicator  306 . By selecting this sub-navigation indicator, a user can view an email message received after the currently displayed message. FIG. 3C is a functional block diagram of an expanded navigation bar  310  illustrating the properties of a subsequent email message. For example, the time navigation parameter in the navigation bar  310  indicates that the message was received at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, which is later than the message associated with the time navigation bar  300 . In addition, the numbers on the sub-navigation indicators  305 ,  306  changed as the navigation parameters changed. As the time changes from 9:35 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the sub-navigation indicator  305  changes from −2 to −3. Similarly, sub-navigation indicator  306  changes from +3 to +2. This change confirms that the document displayed in the document window  120  corresponds to an email message sent at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2000 during the 32 nd  nd week of the year. Using the sub-navigation indicators, user can remain aware of the relation of the currently displayed documents to similar documents.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 4A is a functional block diagram of an expanded time navigation bar  400  illustrating the results of a document type and document subject search. The time navigation bar  400  includes a type search window  402  and a subject search window  404 . By selecting these windows, a user can specify that the retrieved documents have the same document type and subject as the document currently displayed in the document window  120 . These documents can be referred to as closest-fit documents. For example, specifying the type and subject can result in retrieving only email messages with banana as a subject.  
         [0050]    In addition, the navigation indicators and sub-navigation indicators can also be used in type-subject searches. Initially, the computer  105  completes a type-subject search that produces 60 documents in the group size window, 52 documents in the number available (NAV) window, and 5 documents in the subgroup size window. Using the cursor  510 , a user can select the navigation indicator  415 . FIG. 4B is a functional block diagram of an expanded time navigation bar  420  illustrating the result of selecting the navigation indicator  415 . Selecting this navigation indicator changes the month from August to September, which can affect remaining navigation parameters. For example, the document displayed by the time navigation bar  420  could be an email message about bananas received on Saturday, Sep. 9, 2000 during the 36 th  week of the year. The search that retrieved this document indicates that there are 60 documents in the group window, 52 documents in the number available window, and 7 documents in the subgroup window. This indicates that seven email messages referred to bananas during September 2000. Consequently, a user can navigate the data management system more effectively.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 5A is a table  500  illustrating the relationship of various navigation parameters as a navigation indicator varies one navigation parameter. For example, a user can select either an earlier button or a later button. As indicated in the table legend, a blank box indicates a parameter is not affected. The presence of XXX in a box indicates that the parameter is affected, while the presence of OOO in the box indicates that a parameter may be affected. Varying the time navigation parameter only affects the time navigation parameter. In contrast, incrementing the day of the week parameter affects date. The month may be affected, while time, day, and year are not affected. Incrementing the date affects the day of the week and may affect the week. However, the time, month, and year are not affected. Incrementing the month varies date and week, but not the time, day, and year. Varying the week changes the date but may not change the month. The time, day of the week, and year are not affected. Incrementing the year only changes the year and the date. Hence, the relationships depicted in the table  500  govern the values displayed in the time navigation bar.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 5B is a table  510  illustrating the relationship of various navigation parameters as scrolling to the next available document varies a navigation indicator. The navigation parameter is scrolled to the next available document. Scrolling to the next available document for the time navigation parameter does not affect any other navigation parameter. For the day of the week parameter, the date and day of the week are affected, while the time and month may be affected. However, varying the day of the week does not vary the week or the year navigation parameter. For the date parameter, fhe time, day of the week, and week may be affected. The month and the year are not affected. As the month is scrolled, the week is affected and the time, day of the week, and date may be affected. The year is not affected. As the week parameter is scrolled, the year is not affected and the remaining parameters may be affected. As the year parameter is scrolled, all navigation parameters may be affected.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 5C is a table  515  illustrating the relationship of various navigation parameters, as one navigation parameter is scrolled to the next available document using a sub-navigation direction indicator. For example, a user can select an up arrow or a down arrow. As the time parameter is scrolled, the remaining navigation parameters do not change. The day of the week and date parameter behave similarly. For the month parameter, the year and month are not affected while the remaining parameters may be affected. As the week parameter is scrolled, the week and year are not affected and the remaining parameters may be affected. For the year parameter, the year is not affected and all remaining parameters may be affected. Together tables  510 - 515  define the relationship among the navigation parameters. The functions of these tables are described with reference to subsequent flow diagrams.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a routine  600  that controls the document navigation system  100 . In step  610 , the routine  600  begins. Step  610  is followed by step  620 , in which the routine  600  expands the time navigation bar. Often a user request prompts expansion of the time navigation bar. For example, a user can select the earlier/later button  200  described with reference to FIG. 2A. Step  620  is followed by subroutine  630 , in which the routine  600  determines the selected document group. This subroutine is described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 7. Step  630  is followed by subroutine  640 , in which the routine  600  receives a navigation command and changes the navigational display. This subroutine is described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 8.  
         [0055]    Step  640 , is followed by step  650 , in which the routine  600  identifies the selected document or displays the state. Generally, the state corresponds to the values of the navigation parameters for a particular document, or identification parameters used in searching. Step  650  is followed by step  660  in which the routine  600  displays the selected document or selected state. Typically, the document is displayed in the document window  120 . Step  660  is followed by step  670  in which the routine  600  changes the navigation bar background color. For example, the color red can represent past values and the color green can represent future values. Using color designations can enable easier association of information.  
         [0056]    Step  670  is followed by step  680  in which the routine  600  determines if a return to now command was received. As a user selects the return to now button  238  shown in FIG. 2B, the document navigation system issues a return to now command. If the return to now command was not received, the routine  600  returns to step  630  and determines the selected document group. Otherwise, step  680  is followed by step  690  in which the routine  600  collapses the navigation bar. Step  690  is followed by step  695  in which the routine  600  ends. After receiving a user command, the routine  600  can return to step  610 .  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating the subroutine  630  for determining the selected document group. The routine  630  begins from step  620  shown on FIG. 6. In step  710 , the routine  630  decides if any “search by” selectors are set. Search by selectors include search by document type and search by document subject criteria. If no selectors are set, step  710  is followed by step  720  in which the routine  630  sets the document group to all. This setting enables scrolling through all of the documents in the data management system. Step  720  is followed by the continue step  730  in which the routine  630  returns to step  640  on FIG. 6.  
         [0058]    If search by selectors are set, the “YES” branch is followed from step  710  to step  740 . In step  740 , the routine  630  decides if a document type selector is set. For example, the subroutine  630  determines if a user requested only email messages. If a document selector is not set, the “NO” branch is followed from step  740  to step  750 . In step  750 , the routine  630  sets the document group to selected document subject. For example, the routine  630  will search for documents on bananas. Step  750  is followed by step  755 , in which the routine  630  determines and displays the document group size. Step  755  is followed by the CONTINUE step  757 , in which the routine  630  returns to step  640  on FIG. 6.  
         [0059]    If a document type selector is set, the “YES” branch is followed from step  740  to step  760 . In step  760 , the routine  630  decides if the document subject selector is set. If the document subject selector is not set, the “NO” branch is followed from step  760  to step  770 . In step  770 , the routine  630  sets the document group to the selected document type. Step  770  is followed by step  755  in which the routine  630  determines and displays the document group size. If the document subject selector is set, the “YES” branch is followed from step  760  to step  780 . In step  780 , the routine  630  sets the document to the selected document type and subject. Hence, the documents are searched for both a designated document type and subject. Step  780  is followed by step  755 , in which the routine  630  determines and displays the document group size.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating the subroutine  640  of receiving a navigation command and changing the navigation display. The routine  640  begins from step  630  shown on FIG. 6. In step  810 , the routine  640  decides if a user positioned the mouse over the time parameter. If the mouse is positioned over the time parameter, the “YES” branch is followed from step  810  to subroutine  814 . In subroutine  814 , the routine  740  modifies the navigation display for the time parameter. Step  814  is followed by the CONTINUE step  815 , in which the routine  640  returns to step  650  shown on FIG. 6.  
         [0061]    If the mouse is not positioned over the time parameter, the “NO” branch is followed from step  810  to step  820 . In step  820 , the routine  640  decides if a user positioned the mouse over the day of week parameter. If the mouse is positioned over the day of week parameter, the “YES” branch is followed from step  820  to subroutine  824 . In subroutine  824 , the routine  640  modifies the navigation display for the day of the week parameter. Step  824  is followed by the CONTINUE step  815 .  
         [0062]    If the mouse is not positioned over the week parameter, the “NO” branch is followed from step  820  to step  830 . In step  830 , the routine  640  decides if a user positioned the mouse over the date parameter. If the mouse is positioned over the date parameter, the “YES” branch is followed from step  830  to subroutine  834 . In subroutine  834 , the routine  640  modifies the navigation display for the date parameter. Step  834  is followed by the CONTINUE step  815 .  
         [0063]    If the mouse is not positioned over the date parameter, the “NO” branch is followed from step  830  to step  840 . In step  840 , the routine  640  decides if a user positioned the mouse over the month parameter. If the mouse is positioned over the date parameter, the “YES” branch is followed from step  840  to subroutine  844 . In subroutine  844 , the routine  640  modifies the navigation display for the month parameter. Step  844  is followed by the CONTINUE step  815 .  
         [0064]    If the mouse is not positioned over the month parameter, the “NO” branch is followed from step  840  to step  850 . In step  850 , the routine  640  decides if a user positioned the mouse over the week parameter. If the mouse is positioned over the week parameter, the “YES” branch is followed from step  850  to subroutine  854 . In subroutine  854 , the routine  640  modifies the navigation display for the week parameter. Step  854  is followed by the CONTINUE step  815 .  
         [0065]    If the mouse is not positioned over the week parameter, the “NO” branch is followed from step  850  to step  860 . In step  860 , the routine  640  decides if a user positioned the mouse over the year parameter. If the mouse is positioned over the year parameter, the “YES” branch is followed from step  860  to subroutine  864 . In subroutine  864 , the routine  640  modifies the navigation display for the year parameter. Step  854  is followed by the CONTINUE step  815 .  
         [0066]    [0066]FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating the subroutine  814  of modifying the navigation display for the time navigation parameter. Routine  814  begins from step  810  of FIG. 8. In step  910 , the routine  814  decides if the document group includes all the documents in the data management system. If the document group is all, the “YES” branch is followed from step  910  to step  918 . In step  918 , the routine  814  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. For example, the routine  814  decides if a user selected an earlier button. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  918  to the CONTINUE step  920 . In step  920 , the routine  814  returns to step  650  shown on FIG. 6. If the navigation direction indicator is selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  918  to step  926 . In step  926 , the routine  814  increments the time using the scroll convention indicated in the table  500  on FIG. 5A. Step  926  is followed by the CONTINUE step  920 .  
         [0067]    If the document group does not include all the documents, the “NO” branch is followed from step  910  to step  934 . In step  934 , the subroutine  934  determines and displays the navigation size. The navigation size corresponds to the number of documents available in the current day. Step  934  is followed by step  942 , in which the routine  814  determines and displays the sub-navigation direction indicators and the sub-navigation size. The sub-navigation size refers to the number of documents available earlier and later in the current day.  
         [0068]    Step  942  is followed by step  950 , in which the routine  814  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  950  to step  953 . In step  953 , the routine  814  decides if a user selected the sub-navigation indicator. For example, the routine  814  determines if a user selected the up arrow. If the sub-navigation indicator is not selected the “NO” branch is followed from step  953  to the CONTINUE step  920 . If the sub-navigation direction indicator was selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  953  to step  954 . In step  954 , the routine  814  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  515  shown in FIG. 5C. This scrolls to the next available document in the day. Step  954  is followed by the CONTINUE step  920 .  
         [0069]    If the navigation direction indicator was not selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  950  to step  958 . In step  958 , the routine  814  decides if the navigation size is greater than 1. If the navigation size is greater than one, the “YES” branch is followed from step  958  to step  966 . In step  966 , the routine  814  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  510  shown in FIG. 5B. Step  966  is followed by the CONTINUE step  920 . If the navigation size is not greater than 1, the “NO” branch is followed from step  958  to step  990 . In step  990 , the routine  814  displays a message indicating that there is no other documents available using the selected parameter. Step  990  is followed by the CONTINUE step  920 .  
         [0070]    [0070]FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating the subroutine  824  of modifying the navigation display for the day of the week parameter. Routine  824  begins from step  820  of FIG. 8. In step  1010 , the routine  824  decides if the document group includes all the documents in the data management system. If the document group is all, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1010  to step  1018 . In step  1018 , the routine  824  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. For example, the routine  824  decides if a user selected an earlier button. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1018  to the CONTINUE step  1020 . In step  1020 , the routine  824  returns to step  650  shown on FIG. 6. If the navigation direction indicator is selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1018  to step  1026 . In step  1026 , the routine  824  increments the time using the scroll convention indicated in the table  500  on FIG. 5A. Step  1026  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1020 .  
         [0071]    If the document group does not include all the documents, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1010  to step  1034 . In step  1034 , the subroutine  1034  determines and displays the navigation size. The navigation size corresponds to the number of documents available in the current day of the week. Step  1034  is followed by step  1042 , in which the routine  824  determines and displays the sub-navigation direction indicators and the sub-navigation size. The sub-navigation size refers to the number of documents available earlier and later in the current day of the week.  
         [0072]    Step  1042  is followed by step  1050 , in which the routine  824  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1050  to step  1053 . In step  1053 , the routine  824  decides if a user selected the sub-navigation indicator. For example, the routine  824  determines if a user selected the up arrow. If the sub-navigation indicator is not selected the “NO” branch is followed from step  1053  to the CONTINUE step  1020 . If the sub-navigation direction indicator was selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1053  to step  1054 . In step  1054 , the routine  824  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  515  shown in FIG. 5C. This scrolls to the next available document in the day of week. Step  1054  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1020 .  
         [0073]    If the navigation direction indicator was not selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1050  to step  1058 . In step  1058 , the routine  824  decides if the navigation size is greater than 1. If the navigation size is greater than one, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1058  to step  1066 . In step  1066 , the routine  824  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  510  shown in FIG. 5B. Step  1066  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1020 . If the navigation size is not greater than 1, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1058  to step  1090 . In step  1090 , the routine  824  displays a message indicating that there is no other documents available using the selected parameter. Step  1090  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1020 .  
         [0074]    [0074]FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating the subroutine  834  of modifying the navigation display for the date navigation parameter. Routine  834  begins from step  830  of FIG. 8. In step  1110 , the routine  834  decides if the document group includes all the documents in the data management system. If the document group is all, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1110  to step  1118 . In step  1118 , the routine  834  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. For example, the routine  834  decides if a user selected an earlier button. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1118  to the CONTINUE step  1120 . In step  1120 , the routine  834  returns to step  650  shown on FIG. 6. If the navigation direction indicator is selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1118  to step  1126 . In step  1126 , the routine  834  increments the time using the scroll convention indicated in the table  500  on FIG. 5A. Step  1126  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1120 .  
         [0075]    If the document group does not include all the documents, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1110  to step  1134 . In step  1134 , the subroutine  1134  determines and displays the navigation size. The navigation size corresponds to the number of documents available in the current date. Step  1134  is followed by step  1142 , in which the routine  834  determines and displays the sub-navigation direction indicators and the sub-navigation size. The sub-navigation size refers to the number of documents available earlier and later in the current date.  
         [0076]    Step  1142  is followed by step  1150 , in which the routine  834  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1150  to step  1153 . In step  1153 , the routine  834  decides if a user selected the sub-navigation indicator. For example, the routine  834  determines if a user selected the up arrow. If the sub-navigation indicator is not selected the “NO” branch is followed from step  1153  to the CONTINUE step  1120 . If the sub-navigation direction indicator was selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1153  to step  1154 . In step  1154 , the routine  834  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  515  shown in FIG. 5C. This scrolls to the next available document in the date. Step  1154  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1120 .  
         [0077]    If the navigation direction indicator was not selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1150  to step  1158 . In step  1158 , the routine  834  decides if the navigation size is greater than 1. If the navigation size is greater than one, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1158  to step  1166 . In step  1166 , the routine  834  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  510  shown in FIG. 5B. Step  1166  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1120 . If the navigation size is not greater than 1, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1158  to step  1190 . In step  1190 , the routine  834  displays a message indicating that there is no other documents available using the selected parameter. Step  1190  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1120 .  
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating the subroutine  844  of modifying the navigation display for the month navigation parameter. Routine  844  begins from step  830  of FIG. 8. In step  1210 , the routine  844  decides if the document group includes all the documents in the data management system. If the document group is all, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1210  to step  1218 . In step  1218 , the routine  844  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. For example, the routine  844  decides if a user selected an earlier button. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1218  to the CONTINUE step  1220 . In step  1220 , the routine  844  returns to step  650  shown on FIG. 6. If the navigation direction indicator is selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1218  to step  1226 . In step  1226 , the routine  844  increments the time using the scroll convention indicated in the table  500  on FIG. 5A. Step  1226  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1220 .  
         [0079]    If the document group does not include all the documents, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1210  to step  1234 . In step  1234 , the subroutine  1234  determines and displays the navigation size. The navigation size corresponds to the number of documents available in the current month. Step  1234  is followed by step  1242 , in which the routine  844  determines and displays the sub-navigation direction indicators and the sub-navigation size. The sub-navigation size refers to the number of documents available earlier and later in the current month.  
         [0080]    Step  1242  is followed by step  1250 , in which the routine  844  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1250  to step  1253 . In step  1253 , the routine  844  decides if a user selected the sub-navigation indicator. For example, the routine  844  determines if a user selected the up arrow. If the sub-navigation indicator is not selected the “NO” branch is followed from step  1253  to the CONTINUE step  1220 . If the sub-navigation direction indicator was selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1253  to step  1254 . In step  1254 , the routine  844  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  515  shown in FIG. 5C. This scrolls to the next available document in the month. Step  1254  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1220 .  
         [0081]    If the navigation direction indicator was not selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1250  to step  1258 . In step  1258 , the routine  844  decides if the navigation size is greater than 1. If the navigation size is greater than one, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1258  to step  1266 . In step  1266 , the routine  844  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  510  shown in FIG. 5B. Step  1266  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1220 . If the navigation size is not greater than 1, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1258  to step  1290 . In step  1290 , the routine  844  displays a message indicating that there is no other documents available using the selected parameter. Step  1290  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1220 .  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating the subroutine  844  of modifying the navigation display for the week navigation parameter. Routine  844  begins from step  830  of FIG. 8. In step  1310 , the routine  844  decides if the document group includes all the documents in the data management system. If the document group is all, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1310  to step  1318 . In step  1318 , the routine  844  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. For example, the routine  844  decides if a user selected an earlier button. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1318  to the CONTINUE step  1320 . In step  1320 , the routine  844  returns to step  650  shown on FIG. 6. If the navigation direction indicator is selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1318  to step  1326 . In step  1326 , the routine  844  increments the time using the scroll convention indicated in the table  500  on FIG. 5A. Step  1326  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1320 .  
         [0083]    If the document group does not include all the documents, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1310  to step  1334 . In step  1334 , the subroutine  1334  determines and displays the navigation size. The navigation size corresponds to the number of documents available in the current week. Step  1334  is followed by step  1342 , in which the routine  844  determines and displays the sub-navigation direction indicators and the sub-navigation size. The sub-navigation size refers to the number of documents available earlier and later in the current week.  
         [0084]    Step  1342  is followed by step  1350 , in which the routine  844  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1350  to step  1353 . In step  1353 , the routine  844  decides if a user selected the sub-navigation indicator. For example, the routine  844  determines if a user selected the up arrow. If the sub-navigation indicator is not selected the “NO” branch is followed from step  1353  to the CONTINUE step  1320 . If the sub-navigation direction indicator was selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1353  to step  1354 . In step  1354 , the routine  844  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  515  shown in FIG. 5C. This scrolls to the next available document in the week. Step  1354  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1320 .  
         [0085]    If the navigation direction indicator was not selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1350  to step  1358 . In step  1358 , the routine  844  decides if the navigation size is greater than 1. If the navigation size is greater than one, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1358  to step  1366 . In step  1366 , the routine  844  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  510  shown in FIG. 5B. Step  1366  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1320 . If the navigation size is not greater than 1, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1358  to step  1390 . In step  1390 , the routine  844  displays a message indicating that there is no other documents available using the selected parameter. Step  1390  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1320 .  
         [0086]    [0086]FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating the subroutine  854  of modifying the navigation display for the year navigation parameter. Routine  854  begins from step  830  of FIG. 8. In step  1410 , the routine  854  decides if the document group includes all the documents in the data management system. If the document group is all, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1410  to step  1418 . In step  1418 , the routine  854  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. For example, the routine  854  decides if a user selected an earlier button. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1418  to the CONTINUE step  1420 . In step  1420 , the routine  854  returns to step  650  shown on FIG. 6. If the navigation direction indicator is selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1418  to step  1426 . In step  1426 , the routine  854  increments the time using the scroll convention indicated in the table  500  on FIG. 5A. Step  1426  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1420 .  
         [0087]    If the document group does not include all the documents, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1410  to step  1434 . In step  1434 , the subroutine  1434  determines and displays the navigation size. The navigation size corresponds to the number of documents available in the current year. Step  1434  is followed by step  1442 , in which the routine  854  determines and displays the sub-navigation direction indicators and the sub-navigation size. The sub-navigation size refers to the number of documents available earlier and later in the current year.  
         [0088]    Step  1442  is followed by step  1450 , in which the routine  854  decides if the navigation direction indicator is selected. If the navigation direction indicator is not selected, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1450  to step  1453 . In step  1453 , the routine  854  decides if a user selected the sub-navigation indicator. For example, the routine  854  determines if a user selected the up arrow. If the sub-navigation indicator is not selected the “NO” branch is followed from step  1453  to the CONTINUE step  1420 . If the sub-navigation direction indicator was selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1453  to step  1454 . In step  1454 , the routine  854  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  515  shown in FIG. 5C. This scrolls to the next available document in the year. Step  1454  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1420 .  
         [0089]    If the navigation direction indicator was not selected, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1450  to step  1458 . In step  1458 , the routine  854  decides if the navigation size is greater than 1. If the navigation size is greater than one, the “YES” branch is followed from step  1458  to step  1466 . In step  1466 , the routine  854  modifies the navigation display using the scroll convention illustrated in the table  510  shown in FIG. 5B. Step  1466  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1420 . If the navigation size is not greater than 1, the “NO” branch is followed from step  1458  to step  1490 . In step  1490 , the routine  854  displays a message indicating that there is no other documents available using the selected parameter. Step  1490  is followed by the CONTINUE step  1420 .  
         [0090]    In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that present invention provides a document navigation system for effective identification and display of a document. Using navigation parameters such as time, day, date, month, week, and year, users can easily scroll through documents from the document window within a single document window. Moreover, size information such as group size, number available, and subgroup size provides addition information regarding the location of additional documents associated with the currently displayed document. It should be understood that the foregoing relates only to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and that numerous changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.