Patent ID: 8232997

Claim:
A method in a computer system for identifying a portion of a parent timeline to display as a child timeline that is an expanded view of that portion of the parent timeline, the method comprising: displaying a parent timeline that includes indications of events; receiving an indication to overlay the parent timeline with an expanded timeline shape with one or more manipulatable handles; in response to receiving the indication, displaying the expanded timeline shape to overlay a portion of the parent timeline; receiving a manipulation of a handle; in response to receiving the manipulation of the handle, adjusting the length of the displayed expanded timeline shape; displaying a child timeline that is an expansion of the portion of the parent timeline overlaid by the expanded timeline shape, the child timeline including indications of events not displayed on the parent timeline, the child timeline and the parent timeline being displayed simultaneously; receiving an indication to overlay the child timeline with a second expanded timeline shape with one or more manipulatable handles; in response to receiving the indication, displaying the second expanded timeline shape to overlay a portion of the child timeline; receiving a manipulation of a handle of the second expanded timeline shape; in response to receiving the manipulation of the handle of the second expanded timeline shape, adjusting the length of the displayed second expanded timeline shape; and displaying a grandchild timeline that is an expansion of the portion of the child timeline overlaid by the second expanded timeline shape.