Multi-layer User Interface for Hierarchical Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing graphical user interfaces require users to traverse back up a hierarchy to access different branches of information, making it inconvenient to navigate across various topics or subjects within a hierarchical structure.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layer user interface system that allows users to traverse a hierarchy without returning to a previous level, using visual cues like breadcrumbs and user path history, and enabling horizontal or vertical navigation within layers to access different topics or subjects directly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a hierarchical structure is used to organize content, then content organization and accessibility are improved, but navigation complexity increases when users need to access different branches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension to the traditional hierarchical navigation by implementing a multi-layer UI where each layer represents a different level of the hierarchy. Users can navigate horizontally across layers at the same hierarchical level without needing to traverse back up and down the hierarchy, effectively adding a lateral navigation dimension to the vertical hierarchical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the hierarchical content into multiple independent UI layers, where each layer corresponds to a specific level of the hierarchy. This segmentation allows users to access content at different hierarchical levels through separate layers rather than navigating through a single unified hierarchy, reducing the need to backtrack.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional hierarchical navigation is used, then content hierarchy is maintained, but user time to access different topics increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces visual cues such as breadcrumbs and path history as intermediary elements that guide users through the hierarchical structure. These intermediaries provide contextual information about the user's location and previous navigation steps, enabling faster re-orientation and reducing navigation time without altering the underlying hierarchy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements path history functionality that records and displays the user's navigation path in advance. This preliminary action of documenting the navigation path allows users to quickly return to previous locations or understand their current position without having to re-traverse the hierarchy, thereby reducing navigation time.
3Reliability
If users must traverse back up the hierarchy to access different branches, then hierarchical integrity is maintained, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a lateral navigation dimension that allows users to move between different branches at the same hierarchical level without traversing up and down the hierarchy. This maintains hierarchical integrity while significantly improving the convenience of accessing different topics by providing direct horizontal navigation paths across layers.
Data Source
AI summary
Multi-layer user interfaces are provided. A user may traverse a hierarchy of information by accessing information in different branches of the hierarchy without having to traverse back up the current branch to access the new branch. A multi-layer user interface (UI) may comprise a set of UIs, each of which corresponds to a navigation layer and a level of the hierarchy. Each UI may comprise a set of UI controls that allow the user to traverse within a level or to a different level of the hierarchy. The UI controls may be configured such that a visual clue as a breadcrumb and user path history may also be provided.