Patent ID: 7437686

Claim:
In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display to present a file hierarchy tree and a selection device, a method of graphical user interface presentation to implement filtering of the file hierarchy tree, the method consisting of: retrieving the file hierarchy tree for presentation on the display, the file hierarchy tree representative of a plurality of nodes, which are aligned in a plurality of lines; navigating the file hierarchy tree to identify nodes for selection in a sub-group of nodes, wherein the sub-group of nodes includes a plurality of disparate nodes; for each of the sub-group of nodes of the plurality of nodes: receiving a node selection signal indicative of the selection device pointing on a selected node from the file hierarchy tree; in response to the node selection signal, presenting the selected node with a highlight on the display; receiving a menu selection signal indicative of the selection device pointing at one of the sub-group of nodes; in response to the menu selection signal, displaying a menu on the display including an option to create a filter; receiving a filter creation selection signal indicative of the selection device pointing at the option to create the filter; in response to receiving the filter creation signal, displaying a popup dialog box on the display, the popup dialog box including an option to create a new filter and an option to edit an existing filter; receiving a dialog box selection signal indicative of the selection device pointing at a selection button on the dialog box; in response to the dialog box selection signal, displaying a filtered hierarchy tree on the display, the filtered hierarchy tree including the sub-group of nodes aligned in a single line, wherein in response to the dialog box selection signal, receiving a new filter name when a create a new filter selection signal is received with the dialog box selection signal, wherein in response to the dialog box selection signal, receiving an existing filter name, and the modified sub-group of nodes when an edit an existing filter selection signal is received with the dialog box selection signal, wherein the filtered hierarchy tree includes the sub-group of nodes that includes at least one of added nodes to the plurality of nodes and replacement nodes to at least one node of the plurality of nodes; receiving a switch selection signal indicative of the selection device electing to switch between the file hierarchy tree and the filtered hierarchy tree on the display; in response to the switch selection signal, switching between the file hierarchy tree and the filtered hierarchy tree on the display; and saving at least one of the new filter and the existing filter that has been edited.