Abstract:
A consistent method of navigating across large data sets, particularly search results from search engines and play lists from media player devices is disclosed. Persistent navigation position markers provide the user with indication of current position in the data set. By using a click wheel which is provided on many mobile communication platforms, personal digital assistants and the like, simple operation is provided. Alternatively, a touch pad, touch screen and stylus, or thumb mouse may be used.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention is related to and claims priority from copending U.S. Provisional Application titled “User Interface for Accessing Lists”, Ser. No. 60/931,062, filed on May 21, 2007, and further which, in its entirety, is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a user interface for display and navigation of a multitude of text listings, particularly to viewing search results linked to web pages or web based media. 
         [0003]    As more data such as listings and search results are readily available on the Web, the manner in which they are presented for viewing limits the amount of data that may be consumed by a user at one time. As browsing listings such as text data and pictures have become increasingly popular, the display size has not adequately changed to keep pace. Specifically, search result items are generally presented as blocks of text in a single page format with multiple web pages or the like in which each page may contain text, images, and graphics annotations. Image media are embodied by file types such as JPEG, GIF, TIF, BMP, and the like although each search result item may include any type of graphic or text rendering. Each block of text or data element generally contains at least one hyperlink which enables user navigation to another web page containing additional data related to that data element. 
         [0004]    As portable devices become an increasingly popular vehicle for accessing data, the problem of display size becomes more exaggerated. Portable device browsers attempt to contend with the display size limitation by accessing web pages that are specifically designed for such devices. Although these abbreviated formats account for display size and resolution limitations, search results still extend far beyond the capability of the screen preventing viewing of any more than a very small portion of the available data. Furthermore, interface conventions demand that text data is formatted in smaller font size, thus decreasing legibility. Therefore page formats, user interface and navigation means become an increasingly significant part of the solution for improving the user experience. 
         [0005]    To break up data presentation into pieces, pages are defined in a number of ways. Typically they are a single view presented in a web browser that may contain links to navigate to other pages. One web page is delineated from another by a rendered change of view and new data presented when another page is selected, replacing the previous page. Within this single 2D format view, a larger page may be extended beyond the visible portion of the screen. For such larger pages, a scroll bar supports visual access to the remaining portions. Alternatively, pages may be delineated by regular breaks in color and formatting between rectangular regions presented, and providing controls to move from one page to the next, analogous to the pages of a book. 
         [0006]    Conventional navigation between pages is accomplished by a point and click method, selecting hyperlinks from one page to another. Navigation within a page is accomplished using a scroll bar. Each method differs from the other resulting in a non-contiguous method of navigating data elements from a data set. For example, when the first page is loaded and partially displayed, a user is required to scroll down the page to view all portions. Scrolling may require clicking on a browser&#39;s scroll bar and dragging it downward using a pointer device such as a mouse, a stylus, or a scroll wheel. Once at the bottom of the page, the user is next required to point and click on a link to request the next page from the corresponding hosting web server. Upon loading and rendering the next web page for display, the user repeats the aforementioned operations for that page. 
         [0007]    If a user chooses to click on a data element&#39;s hyperlink, then this method typically differs from the other two methods of navigating within the data set. Therefore, the user is required to vary between three methods to navigate across data elements and click through a data element (traverse a data element hyperlink). 
         [0008]    In another method of navigation, a keyboard or set of keys may be used to replace or augment the pointer operations. For example, PAGE DOWN or ARROW keys become the vehicle of navigation across search result items and their web pages. The ENTER key or the like replaces the select operation of a pointer device&#39;s left mouse button down event. However, this method also suffers from the same shortcomings. First, advancing through and returning to search result items requires the user to switch between two methods of advancing, scrolling and clicking. Second, both methods of navigation typically lack a means of persistently displaying an indication of the relative position of a current data element within the set of all data. 
         [0009]    In one embodiment of the prior art, the relative position of a data element within a data set is indicated on its web page by the relative position of the browser&#39;s scroll bar. The relative position of the Web page with respect to the entire set of web pages containing the data set is indicated by a page number within a range of page numbers. Typically, the page number only appears at the bottom and optionally at the top of each web page. Page numbers are typically hyperlinked to the corresponding page providing an alternative random selection method beyond a hyperlinked “NEXT PAGE” indicator. 
         [0010]    Therefore, the prior art fails to provide a method of consistently and continuously navigating across and through data elements and web pages without switching methods. Furthermore, the prior art fails to provide a persistent means of displaying the relative position of a data element within the entire set of data elements. The result is a cumbersome exchange between navigation methods without an ongoing representation of the user&#39;s relative or absolute position of a current element within a multitude of data elements. 
         [0011]    An alternative embodiment of prior art teaches a graphical method comprising a clock face arrangement of a set of buttons referred to herein as a dial. These buttons offer a randomly accessible method of selecting a single search result from a set of search results. The dial has numbered buttons around its circumference and a subject name at its center. As a user&#39;s mouse hovers over each button on the dial, a pop-up dialog summarizes that data related to that element. This pop-up dialog contains text and image data. When a user clicks on a button, another instantiation of a browser is launched, displaying the Web page corresponding to the button&#39;s hyperlink. It is worth noting that the dial does not turn i.e. the buttons remain stationary on the page. 
         [0012]    This method has several shortcomings. First, it fails to enable comprehensive access to all search results. Rather, the method pre-selects a small subset of search results. Second, this method consumes a high degree of display real estate by displaying a plurality of rotary dial interfaces for a single search, popping up search elements across the screen. Also, the method instantiates a new browser window for each data element that is clicked through. Third, the method requires a user to move his mouse over the clock face in an awkward fashion so that each element can be accessed. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment of the prior art, Groxis Inc. offers another type of navigation using a dial graphical user interface on their grokker.com web site. Groxis adds a hierarchical feature to their dial interface. For example, when a button on the dial is clicked on or selected, the user interface is re-rendered to represent an animation of traversing downward into either another dial of buttons or a dial of web pages. Therefore the dials are continuously changing as a user traverses links. Similar to that described above, the Groxis method displays a plurality of dials for each search according to subject matter. The Groxis method differs in that the data elements are summarized in traditional search result listing form in a side bar. However, clicking through on any on element also launches a new instantiation of a browser, disadvantageously consuming additional display space. 
         [0014]    The click wheel, which is used by some portable devices, is an alternative to conventional pointing devices such as the mouse or trackball. Whereas the mouse provides for the user a two-dimensional movement of a glyph on its display, the click wheel may be used to cyle through all selectable items on a screen. Typically, cycling is carried out in a round robin fashion. Selectable items are highlighted in turn. A highlighted item may be selected by depressing the click wheel. This is equivalent to the left mouse button down event which is the data item selection convention of the mouse. The click wheel therefore provides for the capability of one finger movements for traversal through a data set. However, these devices lack the graphical user interface to move and traverse through a large data set while providing persistent navigation position markers indicating a user&#39;s current position in a data set. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0015]    The present invention provides for a consistent method of navigating across large data sets, particularly search results from search engines and play lists from media player devices. Persistent navigation position markers provide the user with indication of current position in the search results. By using a click wheel which is provided on many mobile communication platforms today, simple (e.g., single finger) operation is provided. Alternatively, a touch pad, touch screen and stylus, or thumb mouse may be used. 
         [0016]    It is therefore an aspect of the current invention to provide an interface for accessing search results on a mobile Internet device. 
         [0017]    It is also an aspect of the current invention to provide an interface for accessing play lists on a mobile playback device. 
         [0018]    It is further an aspect of the current invention to provide a persistent display method of indicating the relative position of a data element within a plurality of data elements. 
         [0019]    It is another aspect of the current invention to provide a persistent display method of indicating the absolute position of a data element within a plurality of data elements. 
         [0020]    It is further an aspect of the current invention to provide a consistent method of traversing across and through a plurality of data elements using a click wheel. 
         [0021]    It is yet another aspect of the current invention to provide a mobile Internet device interface for search engines. 
         [0022]    It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide increased legibility and ease of use when browsing search results on a mobile Internet device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    In the drawings appended hereto like reference numerals denote like elements between the various drawings. While illustrative, the drawings are not drawn to scale. In the drawings: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is an embodiment of a user interface for accessing web search results on a mobile Internet device platform according to the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is an alternative embodiment of the graphical user interface for a search engine on a mobile Internet device platform according to the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a system diagram of the Web server and mobile Internet device system of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart detailing a server based implementation of the user interface of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart detailing a client based mobile Internet device implementation of the user interface of an embodiment according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of a user interface for a search engine on a mobile Internet device (MID)  100  platform is shown. The mobile Internet device may be a general purpose communication device with web capabilities such as a web enabled cell phone, a dedicated portable web browser device, or the like. Primary hardware interface elements of the MID  100  include a display  101 , click wheel  102 , and a keyboard  110 . The click wheel may also be embodied by a touch pad, touch screen stylus, thumb mouse, roller ball, or alternatively a virtual click wheel mounted to the side or to the top of the MID  100  (e.g., as part of a touch screen display). The virtual click wheel may be constructed with the same elements as a conventional touch pad, such as a piezo-electric device or resistive film element for determining position and pressure of a fingertip on its surface. Sliding a fingertip up and down along the touchpad surface emulates the behavior of rotating a click wheel. Tapping or depressing the touchpad emulates the behavior of depressing the click wheel. The virtual click wheel advantageously provides a non-mechanical and a low profile embodiment. 
         [0030]    The display  101  shows elements of the graphical user interface  103  or GUI. The GUI  103  may exist as a device specific web browser, a web page within a device&#39;s  100  web browser, or an embedded application with the capability to access databases on the Internet. For illustration, assume that the GUI  103  is a web page within the mobile Internet device&#39;s  100  browser. The web page is therefore received from a search web site as referenced by the site&#39;s corresponding URL. 
         [0031]    The GUI  103  includes a search box  104  into which a user types a search string using the keyboard  110 . To execute the search, the user then selects the search command button  112  by rotating the click wheel  102  until the button  112  is highlighted. The click wheel  102  is then depressed indicating selection. Upon selection, the mobile Internet device  100  sends a request to the search web site&#39;s server as may be indicated in the browser or similar application on which the GUI  103  resides. 
         [0032]    When the MID  100  receives search results data from the requested search web site server, it is displayed piecemeal on the device&#39;s display  101 . The first and subsequent data elements  108  are shown in  FIG. 1 . According to the present invention, the relative position marker  105  is comprised of a plurality of slices such as a cut pie. The selected slice  106  corresponding to the position of the current data element  108  is highlighted. As the user rotates the click wheel  102 , a different slice  106  is highlighted corresponding to a different position in the data set of search results  108 . Each search result data element  108  is displayed in turn as the click wheel  102  is rotated. Each data element  108  is typically comprised of text and has associated to it a hyperlink. The hyperlink is a URL that may request a web page, or media such as a song, picture or movie. In such instances, the data elements  108  may be a play list or a list of search results. 
         [0033]    One convention of advancing through a data set of search results requires the user to rotate the click wheel  102  in a clockwise fashion. Contiguous slices  106  in the relative position marker  105  are highlighted in turn, also in a clockwise fashion. Corresponding to each granular movement of the click wheel  102  is a stepwise advance to the next data element  108  and the next highlighted selected slice  106 . In this manner, the user has both a textual and visual reference to his place in the search results data set. 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an alternative embodiment  200  of the graphical user interface  203  on the mobile Internet device  100  is shown. Like elements include the search box  204  and the search command button  212 . The equivalent display elements of  FIG. 1 , the relative position marker  105 , the selected slice  106 , and data element  108  are replaced by the current data element  208 , previous data element  209 , and next data element  207 . These data elements ( 207 ,  208 , and  209 ) are advanced in unison with rotation of the click wheel  102 . With each stepwise advancement of the click wheel  102 , the next data element  209  is advanced into the position occupied by the current data element  208 . The current data element  208  is advanced into the position occupied by the previous data element  209 . The previous data element  207  is removed from the display  101  and a new data element (the data element in the search result data set following the next data element) advances into the position occupied by the next data element  207 . In this embodiment, the click wheel  102  may include a relative position indicator (e.g., a notch, a sticker) that indicates to the user the approximate position of the current data element  207  in the set of search results. 
         [0035]    Referring next to  FIG. 3 , a system diagram  300  of a web server  305  and mobile Internet device  330  is shown. The web server  305  is electrically connected  310  to a database which is searchable by request via Internet connection  340 . A mobile Internet device  330  which is also connected to the Internet  340  originates a search request from a user input to that device  330 . Data retrieval from the database  320  search request is delivered to the mobile Internet device  330  in the form of formatted web pages or the like so that search results data are readily displayed and navigated. 
         [0036]    Next,  FIG. 4  is a flow chart  400  detailing a server based implementation of the user interface preferred embodiment. The server program begins  401  by first detecting a search request from a mobile Internet device and as such, search results are formatted by the server and delivered to the mobile Internet device and displayed by the device such that the interface described hereinabove is realized. As search results extend well beyond the visible scope of the mobile Internet device display, the data are broken down and delivered in web pages as is well known in the art. 
         [0037]    According to user input, next page requests  415  and previous page requests  420  and new search requests  430  are received by the Web server and as a consequence, the server formats and delivers to the mobile Internet device another page. The position marker (e.g.,  105 ,  FIG. 1 ) may represent the number of data elements on a web page by matching the corresponding number of slices of the pie chart, though this is not a requirement. Assuming so for the sake of illustration, it is assumed here that a next page  415  or a previous page  420  will be requested with every complete rotation of selected slices on the position marker. If the current data element is selected  425  or clicked through for traversal, then the page or media data (e.g. audio file, video file, images) corresponding to its hyperlinked URL is requested by the mobile Internet device from the Web server. 
         [0038]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a flow chart  500  detailing a client-based implementation of the user interface of the preferred embodiment is shown. A software program that embodies the flow chart  500  is dependent on the method in which the client application is implemented. As detailed in the description for  FIG. 1 , the GUI  103  may exist as a web page within a device&#39;s  100  web browser, a device specific web browser, or an embedded application with the capability to access databases on the Internet. In the preferred embodiment, the software program may be implemented as a web page within a browser that parses, executes and displays HTML. Such web based interactive program support such as J2ME, JAVA, AJAX, ACTIVE X, FLASH or the like improves client interactive user response for STEPS  520  and  525  as detailed below. In this case, the MID  100  does not require a web page request from the Web server  305  to make display updates. Additionally, User Input Requests ( 535 ,  540 ,  545 ,  550 ,  555 , and  560 ) and all display changes (such as  520 ,  525 ) typically require web page requests to the Web server  305  without the additional of web based interactive programming support. 
         [0039]    In the case where the software program is implemented as a device-specific web browser or an embedded application, then the native platform programming language and support libraries are employed. As with the use of web-based interactive program support as described above, web page requests beyond Step  510  are mitigated and client interactive user response is superior to web page requests ( 510 ) and display refresh ( 520 ,  525 ). 
         [0040]    The client implementation  500  resides on the mobile Internet device ( 330 ,  100 ). At the start  501 , a user inputs a search string  505  to the client, which is a mobile Internet device and which in turn generates a request to a web server. A web page is received  510  in response and the page is parsed  515  such that the next data element ( 108 ) is displayed in step  520 . As described for  FIG. 1 , the corresponding selected slice ( 106 ) is highlighted at step  525 . Steps  520  and  525  result in visible display updates. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the position marker discussed herein ( 106  and alternatively  207 ,  208 ,  209 ), are simply examples of graphical implementation and in no way restricts the scope of the present invention. 
         [0041]    Next, in step  530  when a user request is input to the interface, the type of the request is determined. If the request relates to changing the selected data item to the next item  535  in the search results or the previous data item  540  in the search results, then program flow returns to step  515 , which parses the correct data element from the current web page. If the data item cannot be retrieved from the current web page, then the user input is first tested to determine if the data item is selected  545  or clicked through. In this case, program control terminates  565  as consequently the corresponding web page for the associated data element&#39;s link is loaded. 
         [0042]    If a data item is not selected  545 , then the user input request is tested to determine if the next page  550  in the search results or the previous page  555  contains the data element that is to be displayed next  520 . If both of these tests fail, then the user input request is tested to determine if it is a new search string  560 . If so, program control returns to  505  and the process is repeated for that new string. If not, then the program terminates  565 . It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that this program flow chart  500  is only one of many variations for receiving user input, receiving and parsing web pages, and parsing the data for display of each data element in response to the user&#39;s input. 
         [0043]    While a plurality of preferred exemplary embodiments have been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be understood that a vast number of variations exist, and these preferred exemplary embodiments are merely representative examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description provides those of ordinary skill in the art with a convenient guide for implementation of the invention, and contemplates that various changes in the functions and arrangements of the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention defined by the claims thereto.