Abstract:
An electronic device includes an input unit receiving operations of a users and generates input signals based on the operations of the user. A display unit displaying an interface with a content display area and an address display area under a current file path. The current file path presented by at least one folder icon, each of the at least one folder icon corresponding to a level of the hierarchy of the current file path. In addition, a processing unit updating the current file path according to the operations of the user to open a selected file or a selected folder or a selected link, and updating the content in the content display area accordingly. A navigation display method is also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and methods for displaying file paths and, particularly, to an electronic device and a navigation display method for displaying file paths capable of saving space of the address bar in a window. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    When users search for a desired file, the file paths are displayed on the address bar in an interface. If the path of the desired file is too long, it is difficult for the tediously long paths to be completely displayed on the address bar, especially for small electronic devices with a limited display space, such as electronic readers or mobile phones, which is inconvenient for users. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of an electronic device and display method of file paths thereof. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout multiple views. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of an interface, displaying a one-level file path on the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a schematic view of an interface displaying a two-level file path on the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of an interface, displaying a three-level file path on the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a schematic view of an interface, displaying a four-level file path on the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a navigation display method applied in the electronic device of  FIG. 1  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electronic device  100  includes a display unit  10 , a storage unit  20 , a processing unit  30 , and an input unit  40 . In the embodiment, the storage unit  20  stores text files, picture files, and audio files. The input unit  40  is configured to receive operations of the user and produce signals to signal the processing unit  30  according to the operations of the user. The display unit  10  is a touch display device and is configured to open a window in response to the operations of the user. The processing unit  30  is configured to change a file path according to file search operations and display a user interface under a current file path in the window. In the embodiment, the user interface comprises a content display area  11  and an address display area  12 . The address display area  12  is provided for displaying a plurality of folder icons associated with the corresponding folders and arranged in a sequence such that the folder icons cooperatively presenting a file path to a current hierarchical folder. The content display area  11  is provided for displaying contents contained in the hierarchical folder. In the embodiment, a folder icon or a combination of a number of folder icons presents the current file path shown in the address display area  12 . Each folder icon represents a level in the hierarchy of the current file path and is selectable and accessibleby the user. The contents are selected from the group consisting of files, webpages, folders, links, and any combination thereof. The processing unit  30  is further configured to the processing unit is configured to control the display unit  10  to change the folder icons to display an updated file path to a selected folder associated with a selected folder icon and display contents stored in the selected folder in the content display area  11 . In the embodiment, the processing unit  30  is configured to control the display unit  10  according to a mapping table, the mapping table records mapping relationship between the folder icons and the folders. The folder icons correspond to the icons of system files or system folders. The mapping table is stored in the storage unit  20 . 
         [0013]    In the embodiment, each folder icon and the relationship table are pre-stored in the storage unit  20 , the processing unit  30  reads and displays the folder icons in the address display area  12  according to the file path of current contents and the relevance of each folder icon and the file path. 
         [0014]    In detail, for example, if a user wants to search for a particular book “The Road to Serfdom”, suppose the particular book is stored under “Home Page/My Library/Book shelf/Finance”, the hierarchy of the file path of “The Road to Serfdom” comprises four levels that are “Home Page”, “My Library”, “Book shelf” and “Finance” from the top to the bottom. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , when the user searches for the particular book by operating the input unit  40  to enter the “Home Page”. The processing unit  30  acquires the “Home Page”, and controls it to display contents under the “Home Page” in the content display area  11 , by way of example, the content includes folders “My Library”, “My Gallery”, A 1 , A 2 , A 3 , . . . etc. The processing unit  30  also controls to display a folder icon corresponding to the “Home Page” in the address display area  12 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , when the user further forwards to the folder “My Library” in the content display area  11 , the processing unit  30  updates the content display area  11  to display corresponding contents under “Home Page/My Library”, by way of example, the corresponding contents includes “Book shelf”, B 1 , B 2 , B 3 , . . . etc. The processing unit  30  further updates the address display area  12  to display a folder icon corresponding to the “My Library” after the folder icon of the “Home Page”. 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , when the user further forwards to the folder “Book shelf” in the content display area  11 , the processing unit  30  updates the contents display area  11  to display contents under “Home Page/My Library/Book shelf”, by way of example, the contents includes “Finance”, C 1 , C 2 , C 3  . . . etc. The processing unit  30  further updates the address display area  12  to display a folder icon corresponding to the “Book shelf” after the folder icon of the “My Library”. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , when the user further forwards the file “Finance”, in the content display area  11 , the processing unit  30  updates the content display area  11  to display content under the “Home Page/My Library/Book shelf/Finance”, by way of example, the content includes “The Road to Serfdom” and other books. The processing unit  30  further updates the address display area  12  to display a folder icon of “Finance” after the folder icon of the “Book shelf”. 
         [0019]    In the present embodiment, the folder icons in the address display area  12  are selectable by the user who operates the input unit  40 . If the user selects a folder icon in the address display area  12  by operating the input unit  40 , the processing unit  30  updates the current file path to the level corresponding to the selected folder icon, and updates the content in both the address display area  12  and the content display area  11  accordingly. For example, if the user selects the folder icon corresponding to “My Library” in the address display area  12  of the user interface shown in either  FIG. 5  or  FIG. 4 . The current file path is changed to “Home Page/My Library”, and displays the folder icons corresponding to “Home Page” and “My Library” in the address display area  12 , and displays contents under the file path “Home Page/My Library” in the content display area  11  as shown in  FIG. 3 . If the user selects the folder icon “Bookshelf” in the address display area  12  of the user interface shown in  FIG. 5 . The current file path is changed to “Home Page/My Library/Bookshelf”, and displays the folder icons of “Home Page”, “My Library” and “Bookshelf” in the address display area  12 , and displays contents under the file path “Home Page/My Library/Bookshelf” in the content display area  11  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a navigation display method applied in the electronic device  100  is provided. 
         [0021]    In step S 601 , the processing unit  30  detects input signals by operating an input unit  40  to search a desired file. 
         [0022]    In step S 602 , the processing unit  30  displays displays an user interface under a current file path in a window according to the input signals, the user interface includes a content display area  11  and an address display area  12 . The address display area  12  is provided for displaying a plurality of folder icons associated with the corresponding folders and arranged in a sequence such that the folder icons cooperatively presenting a file path to a current hierarchical folder. The content display area  11  is provided for displaying contents contained in the hierarchical folder. The contents are selected from the group consisting of files, webpages, folders, links, and any combination thereof. 
         [0023]    In step S 603 , the processing unit  30  determines whether a folder icon in the address display area  12  is selected. 
         [0024]    If a folder icon is selected, in step S 604 , the processing unit  30  changes the folder icons in the address display area  12  to display an updated file path to a selected folder associated with the selected folder icon, and displays contents stored in the selected folder in the content display area  11 . Other wise, the procedure returns to the step S 601 . 
         [0025]    Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the exemplary embodiment thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.