Abstract:
A cascading data display system for use in message or discussion forums hosted and maintained via computer-aided media, comprising a discussion board including one or more columns and one or more rows in each column; a posting component adapted to post user-initiated messages in the row or rows of each column of the discussion board; and an arranging component adapted to arrange the user-initiated messages into each column based on the status of the messages. A cascading data display method includes providing a discussion board hosted and maintained via computer-aided media comprising one or more columns and a plurality of rows; posting user-initiated messages in the column or columns and rows of the discussion board; and arranging the user-initiated messages into the one or more columns based on a status of the messages.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/477,920, filed on Apr. 21, 2011 and entitled “Cascading Data Display Method”, and U.S. provisional application No. 61/579,152, filed on Dec. 22, 2011 and entitled “A Method For Displaying Data In a Cascading, Column-Based Format”, each of which provisional applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate to computer software and computer operational methods. More particularly, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate to methods of displaying data in computer-aided discussion or message board forum that allows a user to post data and/or respond to posted data in a hierarchical format utilizing one or more columns that provide the user with access to both the selected data and the appropriate context for understanding the genesis and various generations of responses to the data. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Currently, various systems exist that allow users to interact over the internet through discussion or message boards. One such method of hosting and moderating computer-aided message and discussion forums allows a user to view and respond to a data post in a single column, linear display format where only one column is used to show posts in some sort of order, like chronologically, or by a ranking system. Responses to data posts may be inserted at the end of the thread of all posts, or may be inserted directly under the post being responded to. In this type of a format, hierarchical data is typically provided in the left margin to show which posts are responses and which other posts are responses to responses. As the thread grows in its number of posts, whether response posts are added to the end of the thread or under their respective parent-post, the thread as a whole becomes unwieldy, the sub-conversation becomes difficult to follow, and the context of the sub-conversation becomes hard to understand. These types of threads also challenge the user to stay focused on the broad theme of the thread because of potential distractions due to irrelevant posts and the amount of time required to keep track of all post-reply relationships. 
         [0004]    Other systems of providing and supporting computer-aided message or discussion boards provide for a detailed and complex threaded format or a cumbersome semi-threaded format. These typical online discussion forums or bulletin boards utilize either a fully threaded format whereby responses to a post appear directly below and typically set off to the right of an original post or a semi-threaded format where all replies are grouped under a general topic and sorted according to the time posted. While these formats can be useful for viewing and responding to certain information, the limitations of each format are obvious when considering multiple post/reply branches where users are responding to replies deep within other replies to an original post. 
         [0005]    To respond to the obvious problems that arise when threads fill up with original posts and reply posts, these internet discussion boards have adopted techniques to keep the user more aware of how each posts relates to the overall hierarchy of relationships between individual posts. Common techniques include the use of indented lines in the margins of the thread to show the parent-post of each post or the adoption of a control device within the post itself that is able to give hierarchical or contextual information relevant to the individual post. Many recent discussion boards also utilize “plus boxes” in the margin to provide the user the ability to minimize a subsection of posts and potentially remove distracting sub conversations that the user may not want to view. 
         [0006]    The system and method described herein provides users with the ability to navigate among various data posts without the traditional “tree” type viewing hierarchy that can be distracting and unhelpful for complicated multi-generation data posts by utilizing one or more columns to display both the original post and various replies selected by the user in one or more columns while allowing the user to select certain posts as the active post and change the arrangement of the posts to show the full hierarchy of responses. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    A cascading data display system for use in message or discussion forums hosted and maintained via computer-aided media, said system comprising a discussion board component including one or more columns and one or more rows in each column; a posting component adapted to post user-initiated messages in the row or rows of each column of the discussion board component; and an arranging component adapted to arrange the user-initiated messages into each column based on the status of the user-initiated messages as an original message, a responsive message or an active message selected by a user. 
         [0008]    A cascading data display method, said method comprising providing a discussion board hosted and maintained via computer-aided media comprising one or more columns and a plurality of rows; posting user-initiated messages in the column or columns and rows of the discussion board; and arranging the user-initiated messages into the one or more columns based on a status of the user-initiated messages as an original message, a responsive message or an active message that is selected by a user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an illustrative single-column embodiment of the cascading data display system; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an illustrative double-column embodiment of the cascading data display system; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of an illustrative multi-column embodiment of the cascading data display system; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4-8  are schematic block diagrams illustrating an exemplary posting sequence in a single-column format according to implementation of the illustrative embodiment of the cascading data display system illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 9-16  are schematic block diagrams illustrating an exemplary posting sequence in a double-column format according to implementation of the illustrative embodiment of the cascading data display system illustrated in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 17  is an exemplary screen shot which illustrates an exemplary posting sequence in a multi-column format according to an illustrative embodiment of the cascading data display system illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 18  is a flow diagram of an illustrative single-column embodiment of the cascading data display method; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 19  is a flow diagram of an illustrative double-column embodiment of the cascading data display method. 
           [0018]      FIG. 20  is a flow diagram of an illustrative multi-column embodiment of the cascading data display method. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some examples of the embodiments of the inventions are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0020]    The various illustrative embodiments of this invention are presented herein and involve computer-aided discussion forums or message boards that are connected through a network of computers where information (whether text, video, audio or other communication medium), hereinafter message or post, is posted and responses to the messages are allowed. Referring initially to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the cascading data display system, hereinafter system, is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . In some embodiments, the system  100  may include a discussion board  102  wherein a posting component  104  displays responsive messages  114 ,  116  of users directly beneath an original message  112  in a single column  110 . The original message  112  and the responsive messages  114 ,  116  are arranged via an arranging component  106  in the column  110  based on each message&#39;s status as an original post, an active post or a responsive post. In some embodiments, a sorting component  108  may sort the messages in ascending or descending order in the column  110  based on a default algorithm or the user&#39;s selection. 
         [0021]    Referring next to  FIG. 2  of the drawings, in some embodiments, the system  200  may include an discussion board  202  having two adjacent columns  210  for users to post messages via a posting component  204 . An arranging component  206  arranges the posts based on each post&#39;s status as an original post  212 , an active post  212  or a responsive post  214 - 218 . In some embodiments, a sorting component  208  may sort the various posts in ascending or descending order within each column  210  based on a default algorithm or a user-selected preference. 
         [0022]    Referring next to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, in some embodiments the system  300  may include a discussion board  302  that uses two or more adjacent columns  310  in which users post messages via a posting component  304 . The system  300  further includes an arranging component  306  which arranges the posts based on each post&#39;s status as an original post  312 , an active post  314 ,  318 , and  324  or a responsive post  314  and  316  responding to  312 ,  318 ,  320 ,  322  responding to  314 ,  324  responding to  318 , and  326  and  328  responding to  324 . Further, the sorting component  308  may sort the various posts within each column  310  in ascending or descending order based on a default algorithm or a user-selected preference. Each of these embodiments allows the user to identify the relationship of a post to other posts by viewing the overall hierarchy of multiple generations of posts contained in either the single column, the dual columns or in successive columns. 
         [0023]    To further demonstrate the application of the systems and methods for posting information in a discussion forum, each embodiment is illustrative and discussed fully herein. An exemplary posting scenario in implementation of the system  100  of  FIG. 1  is illustrated in  FIGS. 4-8 .  FIG. 4  shows an original data post (Post #1) with two response posts (Post #2 and Post #3) to the discussion board  102 . The first post (Post #1) is originally loaded at the top of the column and all responsive posts (Post #2 and Post #3) are arranged directly below Post#1. These responses may be sorted via the sorting component  108  ( FIG. 1 ) in descending or ascending order based on a default sorting algorithm or a user-selected preference (such as time posted, rating, alphabetical, etc.). As shown in  FIG. 5 , if a user selects and activates a responsive post (Post #3), the selected active post is appended directly below the original post (Post #1) and all responsive posts to Post #3 (Posts #4, #5, #6, and #10) are displayed directly below Post #1 and Post #3. The user can continue to select, activate and/or respond to the various responsive posts, and each selected post will append directly below the post to which it is responding as demonstrated in  FIG. 6 , where the user selects Post #6 and the responsive posts (Posts #8, #9, and #12) appear directly below Post #6.  FIG. 7  illustrates a scenario in which the user selects Post #8 and the only responsive post (Post#11) appears directly below Post #8. Finally, in the event that a user desires to respond to a particular activated post (Post #8), the response will be appended below the other responses to the activated post as shown in  FIG. 8 , where the user posts a response to Post #8 and the response appears as Post #13. 
         [0024]    An exemplary posting scenario in implementation of the system  200  of  FIG. 2  is illustrated in  FIGS. 9-16 . In this embodiment, the first post (Post #1) of an online conversation is originally loaded in the right column as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . If Post #1 is selected and deemed the active post, Post #1 moves to the left column and the right column is populated with all responsive posts to Post #1, indicated as Post #2, Post #3, and Post #4 in  FIG. 10 . These responses may be sorted by the sorting component  208  ( FIG. 2 ) and displayed in descending or ascending order based on the default algorithm or a user-selected preference (such as time posted, rating, alphabetical, etc.). Next, when a post is selected and activated from the list of responsive posts in the right column, the selected post, shown as Post #3 in  FIG. 11 , moves to the left column below the Post #1 and becomes the active post, and all responsive posts to Post #3 are displayed in the right column (shown as Post #5, Post #6, Post #7, Post #8, and Post #9 in  FIG. 11 ). The user can continue to select, activate and/or respond to the various responsive posts in the right column, and each selected post is arranged by the arranging component  206  ( FIG. 2 ) to the left column as depicted in  FIG. 12 , where the user selects and activates Post #8, which moves to the left column and the responsive posts to Post #8, Post #10 and Post #11 are arranged into the right column.  FIG. 13  illustrates a scenario where the user selects and activates Post #10 and Post #10 moves to the left column. The responsive posts to Post #10 are Post #12, Post #13 and Post #14, which are arranged into the right column. If the user desires to view or respond to a post higher up in the chain of responses, the user simply can select and activate the post in the left column as shown in  FIG. 14 , where the user selects Post #3 and the right column is arranged to show all responses to Post #3 (which in this case is Posts #5-9).  FIG. 15  illustrates a scenario where the user selects Post #7 and Post #7 is moved from the right column to the left column under the post to which it is responsive (Post #3). The responsive post to Post #7 (Post #15) is loaded into the right column. Finally, in the event that a user responds to a particular activated post, the response will be appended in the right column to show that it was a response to the active post, as demonstrated in  FIG. 16 , where the user posts a response via the posting component  204  ( FIG. 2 ) to Post #7 and the arranging component  206  ( FIG. 2 ) arranges the post as Post #16 in the right column. The scope of this disclosure also includes a discussion board  210  ( FIG. 2 ) where the natural progression of the language which is used in the posts actually reads from right to left (such as Chinese) and original or active posts are therefore arranged into the right column and responses are then arranged to the left column. 
         [0025]      FIG. 17  describes a third embodiment of the invention whereby the discussion board  302  ( FIG. 3 ) contains multiple columns  310  ( FIG. 3 ) to which data can be posted.  FIG. 17  includes an original data post  1700  posted by the posting component  304  ( FIG. 3 ) in the far left column and four responses to data post  1700 , which are data posts  1702 ,  1704 ,  1706  and  1708 . These responses are arranged by the arranging component  306  ( FIG. 3 ) into the column adjacent to the first column on the far left to display to the user that each post is a response to the top post in the adjacent column. These responsive posts may then be sorted by the sorting component  308  ( FIG. 3 ) in accordance with the default sorting algorithm or a user-selected order. Likewise, Posts  1710 ,  1712 , and  1714  are responsive posts to the top post of the adjacent column, Post  1702  and are posted through the posting component  304  ( FIG. 3 ) to the adjacent column and sorted by the sorting component  308  ( FIG. 3 ). Thus, under this embodiment, each responsive post is arranged into a column adjacent to the post to which it is responding. If the user selects a particular post as an active post, that post will be arranged by the arranging component  306  ( FIG. 3 ) to the top of its respective column and all posts responding to the active post will then be arranged in the columns adjacent to the active post. 
         [0026]    The method detailed in this disclosure is demonstrated in the flow diagrams listed as  FIGS. 18 ,  19  and  20 . 
         [0027]    Referring next to  FIG. 18  of the drawings, an illustrative single-column embodiment of the cascading data display method  1800  is illustrated. In block  1802 , a discussion board with a single column is provided. In block  1804 , an original user-initiated message is posted to the discussion board and arranged in the top row of the column on the discussion board. In block  1806 , all subsequent user-initiated messages that are responsive to the original post are posted or arranged directly below the original or first user-initiated message. In block  1808 , a responsive user-initiated message may be sorted in ascending or descending order based on a default sorting algorithm or a user-selected preference. In block  1810 , a responsive user-initiated message may be selected and activated. In block  1812 , an activated responsive user-initiated message may be posted in the column directly beneath the responsive user-initiated message activated in block  1808 . In block  1814 , user-initiated messages which are responsive to the responsive user-initiated message activated in block  1810  are posted in the column directly beneath the activated responsive user-initiated message. In block  1816 , the responsive messages to the active message may be sorted in ascending or descending order in the column in accordance with a default sorting algorithm or a user-selected order such as time, popularity, rank, or feedback. If the user selects and activates a responsive post to the first active post, the steps of  1810  through  1816  are repeated and the second active post is arranged or posted below the first active post and all responsive posts to the second active post are then posted or arranged directly below the second active post and sorted in accordance with the default sorting algorithm or a user-selected order. 
         [0028]    Referring next to  FIG. 19  of the drawings, an illustrative double-column embodiment of the cascading data display method  1900  is illustrated. In block  1902 , a discussion board with a first (left-hand) column and an adjacent second (right-hand) column is provided. In block  1904 , an original user-initiated message is posted to the discussion board and arranged at the top of the right column. In block  1906 , the original or first user-initiated message may be selected as the active post and in block  1908 , the post is arranged at the top of the left column. In block  1910 , all responsive posts to that active original post are posted or arranged in the right column and may be sorted as shown by block  1912  in accordance with a default sorting algorithm or a user-selected order such as time, popularity, rank, or feedback. In block  1914 , the user may select and activate a responsive user-initiated message in the right column as an active post. In block  1916 , the responsive user-initiated message is moved from the right column to the left column. In block  1918 , all responsive posts to that new active responsive message are posted or arranged in the right column and may be sorted as shown by block  1920  in accordance with a default sorting algorithm or a user-selected order such as time, popularity, rank, or feedback. If the user selects and activates a responsive post from the second column to the first active responsive post, the steps detailed in block  1914  through  1920  are repeated and the second active responsive post is arranged or posted in the first column below the first active post and all responsive posts to the second active responsive post are then posted or arranged in the second column and may be sorted in accordance with the default sorting algorithm or a user-selected order. 
         [0029]    Referring next to  FIG. 20  of the drawings, an illustrative multi-column embodiment of the cascading data display method  2000  is illustrated. In block  2002 , a discussion board with multiple columns is provided. In block  2004 , an original user-initiated message is posted to the discussion board and arranged at the top of the first column. In block  2006 , the user can select and activate the original post, and in block  2008 , all responsive posts to that active original post will be posted or arranged in the second column. In block  2010 , all responsive posts may be sorted in accordance with a default sorting algorithm or a user-selected order such as time, popularity, rank, or feedback. In block  2012 , the user may select and activate a responsive post (first active responsive post) from the second column, and in block  2014 , the first active responsive post will be arranged at the top of the second column. In block  2016 , all responsive posts to the first active responsive post will be posted or arranged into a column adjacent to the second column, and in block  2018 , the responsive posts may be sorted in accordance with a default sorting algorithm or a user-selected order such as time, popularity, rank, or feedback  2012 . If the user continues posting responses to the active post or selecting new active posts, the steps detailed in blocks  2012  through  2018  will be repeated and that new active post will be arranged at the top of its respective column and all responsive posts to that active post will be arranged in the column adjacent to the column containing the active post and may be sorted in accordance with a default sorting algorithm or a user-selected order such as time, popularity, rank, or feedback. 
         [0030]    While the written description of the invention provided above enables one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use what is considered currently to be the best mode of the invention, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiments, systems, methods, and examples contained herein. Thus, the invention should not be limited by the above-described embodiments, systems, methods and examples provided; rather, the invention encompasses all embodiments, systems, and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.