Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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POSITION BASED MULTI-DIMENSIONAL LOCATING SYSTEM AND METHOD
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[01] This invention relates generally to computer systems and more
specifically to a
method, a system and an interface that facilitates localization and
organization of user-
selectable elements. More precisely, the present invention relates to a method
for
managing arrays of user-selectable elements in association with a geographical
or a
celestial position; separating user-selectable elements in portions of time;
and displaying
advertising.
1
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1
2 2. Description of the Related Art
3 [04] With the always increasing amount of information one has to
deal with on a
4 daily basis it becomes harder to manage the information on an item by
item basis. An
alternative information management system adapted to organize large amount of
6 information would be beneficial to the user.
7 [05] United States Patent Application Publication No.: US
2007/0214169 Al,
8 published on September 13, 2007 discloses a Multi-dimensional locating
system and
9 method (title). The patent application discloses ways for managing and
displaying vectors
of documents and other computer-readable files. A vector of documents that
groups a
11 plurality of documents along a predetermined order, inter alia, is
taught.
12 [06] United States Patent Application Publication No.: US
2007/0271508 Al,
13 published on November 22, 2007 discloses a Multi-dimensional locating
system and
14 method (title). A plurality of vectors of documents and other computer-
readable files
sharing a common timeline is disclosed.
16 [07] With the possibility of displaying vectors of documents and
other information
17 elements it is desirable to associate arrays of user-selectable elements
and/or user-
18 selectable elements with a position/location.
19 [08] It is also desirable to separate documents and other
information elements on
an information element vector in accordance with the past, the present and the
future.
21 [09] It is desirable to display advertising in relation with the
selected attribute(s)
22 associated with an information element vector to more precisely direct
the advertising or
23 the message to a receptive audience.
24
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
26 [10] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention
in order to provide
27 a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is
not an extensive
2
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1 overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical
elements of the invention
2 or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to
present some concepts of
3 .. the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed
description that is
4 presented later.
[11] This invention generally refers to user-selectable elements that
include
6 computer-readable files like documents and multimedia assets. User-
selectable elements
7 can alternatively be referred to menu icons or thumbnails that are
associated to an
8 attribute, a category or a tag and arranged as explained below. In order
to lighten the
9 reading of the present specification, the term "document" is generally
used without
intending to limit the scope of the present patent application only to
documents. unless
11 positively specified, but rather to include, inter alia, the above-
mentioned user-selectable
12 elements.
13 [12] Therefore, an aspect of the present invention provides an
array of documents
14 related to a position/location.
[13] An aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of arrays of
documents
16 related to a position/location, each array being adapted to group
documents having a
17 commonality therebetween.
18 [14] An additional aspect of the present invention provides an
array of documents
19 related to a position, each array being adapted to group documents
having a commonality,
the commonality being graphically represented and associated with the array of
21 documents to which it relates, the graphical representation being
adapted to be selectable.
22 [15] An object of the present invention provides a means to draw a
relation between
23 an array of documents and a geographical map and/or a celestial map.
24 [16] One aspect of the present invention provides a graphical link
between an array
of documents and a position/location on a map.
26 [17] One other aspect of the present invention provides a
graphical link between a
27 document on an array of documents and a position on a map.
3
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1 [18] Another aspect of the present invention provides a query
determining the
2 documents to be displayed on an array of documents, the query being
adapted to change
3 in consideration of the altitude of a map.
4 [19] One other aspect of the present invention provides a choice
of attributes that is
associated with an altitude from which a map is visualized.
6 [20] An aspect of the present invention provides a plurality of
attributes, the plurality
7 of attributes having respective associations with an altitude, the
altitude being material into
8 the determination of the attributes that are available to a user to
select.
9 [21] Another aspect of the present invention provides a choice of
documents
displayed on an array of documents that are selected, at least in part, on an
azimuth.
11 [22] One aspect of the present invention provides a choice of
documents displayed
12 on an array of documents that are selected, at least in part, on a
declination.
13 [23] An aspect of the present invention provides a dynamic link
between an array of
14 documents and a position on a map, a movement of the subject position on
the map
influencing which documents are displayed on the array of documents.
16 [24] Another aspect of the present invention provides one or more
tangible
17 machine-readable media having machine-executable instructions encoded
thereon which,
18 when executed by a data processing system, cause the data processing
system to
19 perform a method comprising: receiving instructions providing data about
a position; and
displaying an array of user-selectable elements, the array of user-selectable
elements
21 being adapted to group user-selectable elements related to the position.
22 [25] An aspect of the present invention provides an arrangement of
documents in
23 accordance with a timeline defining the past, the present and the
future.
24 [26] One other aspect of the present invention provides an
arrangement of
documents on an array of documents along a timeline defining the past, the
present and
26 the future.
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1 [27] Another aspect of the present invention provides independent
scrolling
2 capability for each of a past, present and future portion of an array of
documents.
3 [28] An aspect of the present invention provides an array of
documents defining a
4 first portion displaying documents related to the past, a second portion
displaying
documents, and or computer programs, related to the present and a third
portion
6 displaying documents or scheduled elements related to the future.
7 [29] One other aspect of the present invention provides an array
of documents that
8 displays documents related to the past on a first linear distribution,
documents related to
9 the present on a second linear distribution and documents related to the
future on a third
linear distribution. The linear distributions being displayable adjacent to
each other.
11 [30] One aspect of the present invention provides a means to
magnify a document
12 from an array of documents.
13 [31] Another aspect of the present invention provides a single
means for scrolling
14 through documents disposed on an array of documents among other arrays
of documents.
The desired array of document being adapted to be selected prior to being
actively
16 scrolled through.
17 [32] One other additional aspect of the present invention provides
one or more
18 tangible machine-readable media having encoded machine-executable
instructions
19 adapted to provide a method for displaying arrays of user-selectable
elements, the method
comprising: displaying an array of user-selectable elements, the array of user-
selectable
21 elements defining a past portion, a present portion and a future
portion.
22 [33] An aspect of the present invention provides a tool for
managing information that
23 is adapted to display documents in a fashion that allows a user to draw
links
24 therebetween.
[34] One aspect of the present invention provides a mechanism to display
26 advertising in association with an array of documents based on
attributes used to
27 determine which documents are displayed on the array of documents.
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1 [35] Another aspect of the present invention provides advertising in
association with
2 an array of documents based on the selection of commonality that is
material in the
3 selection of the documents on the array.
4 [36] An aspect of the present invention provides a mechanism that
displays
advertising at predetermined intervals therebetween on an array of documents.
6 [37] One other aspect of the present invention provides an advertiser
to determine
7 attributes and associate the determined attributes with advertisings and
correlate the
8 determined attribute with the selection of attribute(s) made by a user to
display the
9 associated advertising(s).
[38] Another aspect of the present invention provides one or more tangible
11 machine-readable media having encoded machine-executable instructions
adapted to
12 provide a method for displaying arrays of user-selectable elements
comprising: associating
13 an advertising with an attribute; receiving instructions about the
selection of the attribute;
14 displaying an array of user-selectable elements, the array of user-
selectable elements
grouping user-selectable element having the attribute in common; and
displaying the
16 advertising.
17 [39] These and other advantages and features of the present
invention will become
18 apparent from the following description and the attached drawings.
19
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
21 [40] Figure 1 is a schematic view of a computer network;
22 [41] Figure 2 is another alternate schematic view of a computer
network;
23 [42] Figure 3 is a schematic view of a computer system;
24 [43] Figure 4 is a schematic view of geographical coordinates;
[44] Figure 5 is a schematic view of coordinates with the azimuth and the
26 declination;
6
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1 [45] Figure 6 is a flow chart illustrating various steps adapted
to retrieve documents
2 related to a geographical position and displays the retrieved documents
on an array of
3 documents;
4 [46] Figure 7 is an alternate flow chart illustrating various
steps adapted to retrieve
documents related to a geographical position and displays the retrieved
documents on an
6 array of documents;
7 [47] Figure 8 is an alternate flow chart illustrating various
steps adapted to retrieve
8 documents related to a geographical position and displays the retrieved
documents on an
9 array of documents;
[48] Figure 9 is an alternate flow chart illustrating various steps adapted
to retrieve
11 documents related to a geographical position and displays the retrieved
documents on an
12 array of documents;
13 [49] Figure 10 is an alternate flow chart illustrating various
steps adapted to retrieve
14 documents related to a geographical position and displays the retrieved
documents on an
array of documents;
16 [50] Figure 11 is an alternate flow chart illustrating various
steps adapted to retrieve
17 documents related to a geographical position and displays the retrieved
documents on an
18 array of documents;
19 [51] Figure 12 is an alternate flow chart illustrating various
steps adapted to retrieve
documents related to a geographical position and displays the retrieved
documents on an
21 array of documents;
22 [52] Figure 13 is an alternate flow chart illustrating various
steps adapted to retrieve
23 documents related to a geographical position and displays the retrieved
documents on an
24 array of documents;
[53] Figure 14 is an alternate flow chart illustrating various steps
adapted to retrieve
26 documents related to a geographical position and displays the retrieved
documents on an
27 array of documents;
7
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1 [54] Figure 15 is an alternate flow chart illustrating various steps
adapted to retrieve
2 documents related to a geographical position and displays the retrieved
documents on an
3 array of documents;
4 [55] Figure 16 illustrates an array of documents in association with a
celestial map;
[56] Figure 17 is a graph of the relation between the altitude and the
precision of
6 attributes;
7 [57] Figure 18 is an illustrative table of the relation between the
altitude and the
8 precision of attributes;
9 [58] Figure 19 is an alternate illustrative table of the relation
between the altitude
and the precision of attributes;
11 [59] Figure 20 is an illustrative geographical map of Baie-Saint-
Paul, Quebec,
12 Canada;
13 [60] Figure 21 illustrates an array of documents and its related
documents
14 graphically associated with the geographical map of Figure 20;
[61] Figure 22 is an illustration of two intersecting arrays of documents
falling from
16 the selection of attribute "E";
17 [62] Figure 23 illustrates two intersecting arrays of documents
and a related
18 document graphically associated with the geographical map of Figure 20;
19 [63] Figure 24 illustrates an alternate array of documents and a
related document
graphically associated with the geographical map of Figure 20;
21 [64] Figure 25 illustrates the alternate array of documents of
Figure 24 where each
22 row of the array can be individually scrolled or navigated;
23 [65] Figure 26 illustrates an array of documents including a past
portion, a present
24 portion and a future portion, each portion associated with their
respective navigation
means;
8
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1 [66] Figure 27 alternatively illustrates an array of documents
including a past
2 portion, a present portion and a future portion, each portion being
associated with their
3 respective navigation means;
4 [67] Figure 28 also alternatively illustrates an array of
documents including a past
portion, a present portion and a future portion, each portion being associated
with their
6 respective navigation means;
7 [68] Figure 29 illustrates a series of arrays of documents
including a past portion, a
8 present portion and a future portion, each portion being associated with
their respective
9 navigation means;
[69] Figure 30 illustrates a series of arrays of documents including a past
portion, a
11 present portion and a future portion, associated with a single set of
navigation means;
12 [70] Figure 31 illustrates an array of documents with bi-
dimensional navigation
13 means;
14 [71] Figure 32 illustrates two intersecting arrays of documents
with bi-dimensional
navigation means;
16 [72] Figure 33 illustrates an array of documents separating the
past portion, the
17 present portion and the future portion on distinct rows and further
magnifying selected
18 documents;
19 [73] Figure 34 is a schematic illustration of three arrays of
documents juxtaposed
one to the other;
21 [74] Figure 35 is a schematic illustration of the three arrays of
Figure 34 using a
22 different distribution;
23 [75] Figure 36 is a schematic illustration of an array of
documents;
24 [76] Figure 37 is a schematic illustration of two arrays of
documents;
[77] Figure 38 is a schematic illustration of an array of documents;
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1 [78] Figure 39 is a schematic illustration of three arrays of
documents;
2 [79] Figure 40 is a schematic illustration of two intersecting
arrays of documents;
3 [80] Figure 41 is a schematic illustration of two intersecting
arrays of documents;
4 [81] Figure 42 is a flow chart of advertising associated with
attributes and displayed
when the attribute is selected in conjunction with an array of documents;
6 [82] Figure 43 is an alternate flow chart of advertising
associated with attributes and
7 displayed when the attribute is selected in conjunction with an array of
documents;
8 [83] Figure 44 is an illustrative array of documents displaying an
advertising;
9 [84] Figure 45 is an alternate illustrative array of documents
displaying an
advertising; and
11 [85] Figure 46 is an alternate illustrative array of documents
displaying advertising.
12
13 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE INVENTION
14 [86] The present invention is now described with reference to the
drawings, wherein
like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the
following
16 description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are
set forth in order to
17 provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be
evident, however,
18 that the present invention may be practiced without these specific
details. In other
19 instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram
form in order to
facilitate describing the present invention.
21 [87] The features provided in this specification mainly relates to
basic principles for
22 managing arrays of documents in relation with geographical position
and/or celestial
23 position; separating user-selectable elements in portions of time; and
displaying
24 .. advertising. This specification also covers computer software and
machine-readable
code/instructions adapted to manage an array of documents with a related
geographical
26 position; adapted to separate user-selectable elements in portions of
time; and also
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1 adapted to display advertising. These code/instructions are preferably
stored on a
2 machine-readable medium to be read and acted upon to with a computer or a
machine
3 having the appropriate code/instructions reading capability.
4
[88] Exemplary Network
6 [89] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network 10 in which a system
and method,
7 consistent with the present invention, may be implemented. The network 10
may include
8 multiple client devices 12 connected to multiple servers 14, 16, 18 via a
network 20. The
9 network 20 may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network
(WAN), a
telephone network, such as the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), an
intranet,
11 the Internet, Wi-Fi, WiMAX or a combination of networks. Two client
devices 12 and three
12 servers 14, 16, 18 have been illustrated as connected to network 20 for
simplicity. In
13 practice, there may be more or less client devices and servers. Also, in
some instances, a
14 client device may perform the functions of a server and a server may
perform the functions
of a client device.
16 [90] The client devices 12 may include devices, such as
mainframes,
17 minicomputers, personal computers, laptops, personal digital assistants,
telephones, or
18 the like, capable of connecting to the network 20. The client devices 12
may transmit data
19 over the network 20 or receive data from the network 20 via a wired,
wireless, or optical
connection.
21 [91] The servers 14, 16, 18 may include one or more types of
computer systems,
22 such as a mainframe, minicomputer, or personal computer, capable of
connecting to the
23 network 20 to enable servers 14, 16, 18 to communicate with the client
devices 12. In
24 alternative implementations, the servers 14, 16, 18 may include
mechanisms for directly
connecting to one or more client devices 12. The servers 14, 16, 18 may
transmit data
26 over network 14 or receive data from the network 20 via a wired,
wireless, or optical
27 connection.
11
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1 [92] In an implementation consistent with the present invention,
the server 14 may
2 include a search engine 22 usable by the client devices 12. The servers
14 may store
3 documents, such as web pages, accessible by the client devices 12.
4 [93] With reference to Figure 2, a network 20 includes the content
cloud 30, a
content database 32, content devices 34-38, and devices 40-48. The network
mediator 22
6 enables the network devices 32-38 to communicate with each other without
pre-
7 configuring each device.
8 [94] The content cloud 30 represent a content source such as the
Internet, where
9 content exists at various locations across the globe. The content
includes multimedia
content such as audio and video. The mediator 22 allows the content cloud to
provide
11 content to devices 40-48.
12 [95] The content database 32 is a storage device that maintains
content. The
13 content database 32 may be a stand-alone device on an external
communication network.
14 The mediator 22 communicates with the content database 32 to access and
retrieve
content.
16 [96] The content devices 34-38 include intelligent devices, such
as, for example,
17 personal computers, laptops, cell phones and personal digital
assistants. The content
18 devices 32-38 are capable or storing content information.
19 [97] The devices 40-48 are intelligent devices that receive
content from a content
source 30-38. However, the devices 30-38 can also operate as servers to
distribute
21 content to other client devices.
22
23 [98] Exemplary Client Architecture
24 [99] Figure 3 and the following discussion provide a brief,
general description of an
exemplary apparatus in which at least some aspects of the present invention
may be
26 implemented. The present invention will be described in the general
context of computer-
27 executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a
personal
28 computer. However, the methods of the present invention may be effected
by other
12
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1 apparatus. Program modules may include routines, programs, objects,
components, data
2 structures, applets, WEB 2.0 type of evolved networked centered
applications, etc. that
3 perform a task(s) or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover,
those skilled in
4 the art will appreciate that at least some aspects of the present
invention may be practiced
with other configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor
systems,
6 microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, network
computers,
7 minicomputers, set top boxes, mainframe computers, gaming console and the
like. At least
8 some aspects of the present invention may also be practiced in
distributed computing
9 environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices
linked through a
communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program
modules may
11 be located in local and/or remote memory storage devices.
12 [100] With reference to Figure 3, an exemplary apparatus 100 for
implementing at
13 least some aspects of the present invention includes a general purpose
computing device
14 in the form of a conventional personal computer 120. The personal
computer 120 may
include a processing unit 121, a system memory 122, and a system bus 123 that
couples
16 various system components, including the system memory 122, to the
processing unit 121.
17 The system bus 123 may be any of several types of bus structures
including a memory
18 bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of
a variety of bus
19 architectures. The system memory may include read only memory (ROM) 124
and/or
random access memory (RAM) 125. A basic input/output system 126 (BIOS),
containing
21 basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within
the personal
22 computer 120, such as during start-up, may be stored in ROM 124. The
personal
23 computer 120 may also include a hard disk drive 127 for reading from and
writing to a hard
24 disk, (not shown), a magnetic disk drive 128 for reading from or writing
to a (e.g.,
removable) magnetic disk 129, and an optical disk drive 130 for reading from
or writing to
26 a removable (magneto) optical disk 131 such as a compact disk or other
(magneto) optical
27 media. The hard disk drive 127, magnetic disk drive 128, and (magneto)
optical disk drive
28 130 may be coupled with the system bus 123 by a hard disk drive
interface 132, a
29 magnetic disk drive interface 133, and a (magneto) optical drive
interface 134,
respectively. The drives and their associated storage media provide
nonvolatile (or
31 persistent) storage of machine readable instructions, data structures,
program modules
32 and other data for the personal computer 120. Although the exemplary
environment
13
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1 described herein employs a hard disk, a removable magnetic disk 129 and a
removable
2 optical disk 131, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other
types of storage media,
3 such as magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks,
Bernoulli cartridges,
4 random access memories (RAMs), read only memories (ROM), and the like,
may be used
instead of, or in addition to, the storage devices introduced above.
6 [101] A number of program modules may be stored on the hard disk
127, magnetic
7 disk 129, (magneto) optical disk 131, ROM 124 or RAM 125, such as an
operating system
8 135 (for example, Windows NT® 4.0, sold by Microsoft Corporation of
Redmond,
9 Wash.), one or more application programs 136, other program modules 137
(such as
"Alice", which is a research system developed by the User Interface Group at
Carnegie
11 Mellon University available at www.Alice.org, OpenGL from Silicon
Graphics Inc. of
12 Mountain View Calif., or Direct 3D from Microsoft Corp. of Bellevue
Wash.), and/or
13 program data 138 for example.
14 [102] A user may enter commands and information into the personal
computer 120
through input devices, such as a keyboard 140, a camera 141 and pointing
device 142 for
16 example. Other input devices (not shown) such as a microphone, joystick,
game pad,
17 satellite dish, scanner, a touch sensitive screen, accelerometers
adapted to sense
18 movements of the user or movements of a device, or the like may also be
included. These
19 and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 121
through a serial
port interface 146 coupled to the system bus. However, input devices may be
connected
21 by other interfaces, such as a parallel port, a game port, blue tooth
connection or a
22 universal serial bus (USB). For example, since the bandwidth of the
camera 141 may be
23 too great for the serial port, the video camera 141 may be coupled with
the system bus
24 123 via a video capture card (not shown). The video monitor 147 or other
type of display
device may also be connected to the system bus 123 via an interface, such as a
video
26 adapter 148 for example. The video adapter 148 may include a graphics
accelerator. One
27 or more speaker 162 may be connected to the system bus 123 via a sound
card 161 (e.g.,
28 a wave table synthesizer such as product number AWE64 Gold Card from
Creative Labs
29 of Milpitas, Calif.). In addition to the monitor 147 and speaker(s) 162,
the personal
computer 120 may include other peripheral output devices (not shown), such as
a printer
31 for example. As an alternative or an addition to the video monitor 147,
a stereo video
14
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1 output device, such as a head mounted display or LCD shutter glasses for
example, could
2 be used.
3 [103] The personal computer 120 may operate in a networked
environment which
4 defines logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a
remote computer
149. The remote computer 149 may be another personal computer, a server, a
router, a
6 network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and may include
many or all of
7 the elements described above relative to the personal computer 120,
although only a
8 memory storage device has been illustrated in Figure 1. The logical
connections depicted
9 in Figure 2 include a local area network (LAN) 14 and a wide area network
(WAN) 152, an
intra net and the Internet.
11 [104] When used in a LAN, the personal computer 120 may be
connected to the LAN
12 14 through a network interface adapter (or "NIC") 153. When used in a
WAN, such as the
13 Internet, the personal computer 120 may include a modem 154 or other
means for
14 establishing communications over the wide area network 152 (e.g. Wi-Fi,
WinMax). The
modem 154, which may be internal or external, may be connected to the system
bus 123
16 via the serial port interface 146. In a networked environment, at least
some of the program
17 modules depicted relative to the personal computer 120 may be stored in
the remote
18 memory storage device. The network connections shown are exemplary and
other means
19 of establishing a communications link between the computers may be used.
21 [105] The Interface
22 [106] An interface program providing an interface for managing
documents is
23 installed on a machine e.g. a computer system. The interface can be
programmed using
24 various programming languages e.g. C++, Java or other suitable
programming languages.
Programming of these languages is well known in the art and is adapted to be
readable to
26 provide executable instructions to the hardware system. The interface
might run through
27 the operating system and the hardware of the computer system or,
alternatively, through a
28 network based system. The interface is adapted to manage documents,
computer files,
29 pictures, multimedia content, applications (i.e. computer programs),
menu elements and
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1 other user-selectable elements in a comprehensive fashion. From now on,
and throughout
2 this patent application, we refer to the term "documents" to lighten the
text although no
3 rights are declined in respect to other types of content unless otherwise
specified.
4 [107] Documents are stored on a machine readable medium and can be
retrieved
when needed by the interface program. The documents are disposed in an array
layout
6 providing a visually comprehensive display arrangement of the documents.
The array can,
7 illustratively, among other possibilities, be based on a selection of
attribute(s), tag(s),
8 category(ies), a chronological order, a statistical order or an order
representing an
9 increasing file size. Combinations of the above-listed possible choices
are possible if
desired to reduce the number of documents on the array. The array thus helps
the viewer
11 to infer additional meaning from the distribution of the documents.
12 [108] An array is adapted to accommodate a single type of
documents, more than
13 one type of documents or a mix of documents, computer files, multimedia
content and
14 user-selectable menu elements. Documents might overlap to squeeze more
documents on
the space available on a display. Magnification of selected documents on an
array can be
16 made to increase the level of details of the selected documents.
17 [109] Using an array of documents helps to meaningfully and
intuitively display a
18 group of documents. An array of documents can be embodied as being a
substantially
19 linear distribution of documents adapted to dispose each document to be
displayed on a
line or on a curved line. The display of the array of documents might be made
in
21 accordance with a predetermined order (e.g. chronologically), or not. A
linear distribution
22 of documents can sort documents on a timeline. Another illustrative
embodiment is a
23 group of juxtaposed linear distribution of documents grouped together to
form an array
24 referring to a matrix of documents. A circular array of documents is
also considered to be
within the scope of the present disclosure.
26 [110] The display of documents on an array of documents allows to
contextually
27 manage documents as a flow or an ongoing suite of documents instead of
dealing with
28 each document independently. By getting away from the managing each
document
29 independently it becomes possible to efficiently deal with a
significantly higher number of
documents and still keep the documents in a structured order.
16
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1 [111] Each array of documents groups documents in accordance with,
for example, a
2 selected tag, a category, keywords, or an attribute that is commonly
shared among the
3 documents of the array of documents. The term attribute will consistently
be used
4 throughout the instant specification to lighten the reading of the text
and will include the
other commonality described therein unless otherwise specified. The selection
of one or
6 more attributes determines which documents will be displayed on the array
of documents.
7 If no specific attribute is selected, then, the array of documents
displays all documents.
8 That is, all documents on the same array of documents are associated with
the selected
9 set of attributes. In addition a timeline can be used to determine the
order of the suite of
documents on the array of documents. In the case of a matrix of documents,
then, one
11 axis of the matrix can represent a timeline while the other axis
represents another criterion
12 like, for example, the type of computer files each document relates to.
13 [112] The attributes of a document can be selected to create
another array of
14 documents. The attribute of a document from the newly created array of
documents can
be selected to create an additional array of documents and so on so forth. The
user can
16 "navigate" along the arrays of documents in accordance with their
metadata, or
17 categorization, to visualize the documents. Navigation tools are
provided with the interface
18 to allow navigation through various arrays of documents, when a
plurality of arrays is
19 enabled, and through the documents of a single array of documents.
[113] When only a portion of the array is visible, a play of zoom, pan and
navigation
21 along the array allows a viewer to change the document(s) that is(are)
displayed on the
22 display. A small display area could display only one document from the
array of
23 documents while the remaining documents from the array of documents are
not displayed
24 but remain nonetheless at their "virtual" position on the array and
ready to be displayed if
the array is scrolled to show other documents. In other words, if we consider
a mobile
26 platform like a mobile phone having a small display, the small display
area might allow to
27 efficiently display only one document at the time. However, the
displayed document being
28 part of an array of documents, the other documents on the array of
documents remain
29 displayable in accordance with their respective position on the array of
documents when
the array is scrolled/navigated.
31
17
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1 [114] Global Positioning
2 [115] A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the
earth to be
3 specified, using mainly a spherical coordinate system. As illustrated on
Figures 4 and 5,
4 there are three coordinates: latitude 200, longitude 210 and geodesic
height (or altitude
220). Latitude 200 (abbreviation: Lat. or ((p) pronounced phi ) is the angle
from a point on
6 the earth's surface and the equatorial plane, measured from the centre of
the sphere.
7 Lines joining points of the same latitude 200 are called parallels, and
they trace concentric
8 circles on the surface of the earth, parallel to the equator. The north
pole 90 N; the south
9 pole 90 S. The 0 parallel of latitude is designated the equator. The
equator is the
fundamental plane of all geographic coordinate systems. The equator divides
the globe
11 into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
12 [116] Longitude 210 (abbreviation: Long. or (A) pronounced lambda)
is the angle east
13 or west of north¨south line between the two geographical poles, which
passes through an
14 arbitrary point. Lines joining points of the same longitude are called
meridians. All
meridians are halves of great circles, and are not parallel. They converge at
the north and
16 south poles.
17 [117] The line passing through the (former) Royal Observatory,
Greenwich (near
18 London in the UK) has been chosen as the international zero-longitude
reference line, the
19 Prime Meridian. Places to east are in the eastern hemisphere, and places
to the west in
the western hemisphere. The antipodal meridian of Greenwich is both 180 W and
180 E.
21 The choice of Greenwich is arbitrary, and in other cultures and times in
history other
22 locations have been used as the prime meridian.
23 [118] By combining these two angles, the horizontal position of
any location on Earth
24 can be specified. For example, Baie-Saint-Paul (in the province of
Quebec, Canada), a
well know place for painters and artists, also known for being the cradle of
Cirque du
26 SoleilTM that was formerly known as "Les echassiers de Baie-Saint-Paul",
has a latitude of
27 47 26'22.33" North, and a longitude of 70 29'32.00" West. So, a vector
drawn from the
28 center of the earth to a point 47 26'22.33" North of the equator and 70
29'32.00" of
29 Greenwich will pass through Baie-Saint-Paul. The coordinates provided
above are more
precise than required and could be less precise and still provide proper
positioning.
18
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1 [119] Azimuth 230 is a mathematical concept defined as the angle,
usually measured
2 in degrees ( ), between a reference plane 232 and a point. This concept
is used in many
3 practical applications including navigation, astronomy, mapping, mining
and artillery. The
4 word azimuth is derived from the Arabic 'as-sumCir which means the ways,
referring to the
ways or directions a person faces. In navigation, the reference plane is
typically true north
6 and is considered 00 azimuth. Moving clockwise 234, a point due east
would have an
7 azimuth of 90 , south 180 , and west 270 . Some navigation systems use
south as the
8 reference plane. However, any direction can serve as the plane of
reference, as long as it
9 is clearly defined for everyone using that system.
[120] If instead of measuring from and along the horizon the angles are
measured
11 from and along the celestial equator, the angles are called declination
240 and right
12 ascension (hour angle).
13 [121] In the horizontal coordinate system, used in celestial
navigation and satellite
14 dish installation, azimuth 230 is one of the two coordinates. The other
is altitude,
sometimes called elevation above the horizon.
16 [122] In three-dimensional polar coordinate systems, including
cylindrical coordinates
17 and spherical coordinates, the azimuth 230 of a point is the angle
between the positive x-
18 axis and the projection of the vector onto the xy-plane (the component
of the vector in the
19 xy-plane). In cylindrical coordinates, theta 8 is almost universally
used to represent the
azimuth 230 in mathematical applications, whereas physical applications may
denote the
21 azimuth 230 using the symbol phi, (p. Although there are several
conventions in spherical
22 coordinates, the azimuth 230 is usually denoted by either theta, 8 or
phi, (p.
23
24 [123] Arrays Associated with a Position
[124] What follows is a series of exemplary flow charts illustrating
various possible
26 suites of actions that are embodied in the present invention. These flow
charts are neither
27 exhaustive nor limitative of the possible variations provided by the
present invention. A
28 skilled person in the art of information management, in consideration of
the present
29 specification and in light of other related priority documents, might
see other alternate
19
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1 suites of actions, other possible variations, like changing the order of
the steps that are not
2 described in the shape of flow charts, remain nonetheless within the
scope of the present
3 invention.
4 [125] The process shown on Figure 6 is a very basic illustrative
process. Other
variations will be presented in Figures 7 through Figures 15.
6 [126] Turning now to Figure 6 illustrating an exemplary flow chart
of the display of an
7 array of documents based on a geographical position. It is understood
that each document
8 has previously been associated with a geographical position. The sequence
starts 250
9 with the selection of an attribute 252. Then, a map is displayed 254 and
a position on the
map is selected 256. The selected position 256 and the selected attribute 252
are used to
11 determine which documents will be displayed on the array of documents.
Finally the array
12 of documents is displayed 258 and the sequence ends 260. In the flow
chart displayed on
13 Figure 6 the selection of the attribute 252 has been placed before the
display of a map 254
14 and the selection of the geographical position on the map 256 and could
have been
inverted without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Alternatively, the
16 display of a map 254 and the selection of the geographical position on
the map 256 could
17 have been made before the selection of the attribute 252. These are
examples; other ways
18 to order documents on an array of documents will surely become apparent
to a skilled
19 reader and still remain within the reach of the present invention.
[127] Referring now to Figure 7 that illustrates an alternate sequence that
begins 262
21 with the selection of an attribute 264 and is followed by the
determination of the ordering
22 along which documents will be disposed on the array of documents 266.
The ordering can
23 be in accordance with a chronological order, from the most recently used
to the less
24 recently used document, or disposed in alphabetical order. Still on
Figure 7, a map is
displayed 268 and a position is selected on the map 270 either by, inter alia,
clicking
26 directly on the map, selecting a specific location from a list of
location or entering a
27 geographical coordinate. An array of documents having an association
with the selected
28 geographical position and the selected attribute is displayed 272.
Navigation can be
29 enabled along the suite of documents displayed on the array of documents
274 before the
sequence ends 276.
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1 [128] Figure 8 illustrates an alternate sequence starting 278 with
the selection of an
2 attribute 280 followed by either the display of a map 282 and the
selection of a
3 geographical position on the map 284, or, the selection of the
geographical position 286
4 and the display of a map with the selected geographical position 288. An
array of
documents including documents having an association with the selected
geographical
6 position and the selected attribute is displayed 290. Once the array is
displayed the
7 geographical position is changed 292 for a different geographical
location and the array
8 that is displayed is updated in accordance with the change that was made
294. The array
9 will update the documents displayed thereon in accordance with the new
geographical
position. And finally the sequence ends 296.
11 [129] The array is updatable in accordance to a change in a
parameter used in the
12 query that determines which document should be displayed on the array.
The update of
13 the array can be instantaneous and the new version of the array just
replaces the previous
14 version. Alternatively the update of the array can be progressive by
using animations
showing which documents remain on the array and showing new documents
accessing
16 their respective positions on the array such that a viewer could
appreciate the changes.
17 [130] Another alternate sequence is illustrated on Figure 9 and
starts 298 with the
18 selection of an attribute 300 and the display of a map 302 from which a
geographical
19 position can be selected 304 or identified in relation therewith. An
array of documents
having an association with the selected geographical position and the selected
attribute is
21 displayed 306. Subsequently, the selected attribute is changed 308 and
the array is
22 updated in accordance with the newly selected attribute 310 to make sure
the array
23 presents an accurate group of documents, all associated with the right
attribute and the
24 selected geographical position, before the sequence ends.
[131] Turning now to Figure 10 where is illustrated an alternate sequence
beginning
26 314 with the selection of one or a combination of attributes 316
followed by the display of a
27 map 318 and the selection of a position on the map 320. Based on the
selected attribute(s)
28 and the selected position on the map, a group of document is displayed
in the shape of an
29 array of documents 322. This time a change in the selected geographical
position on the
map is performed 324 and subsequently the array of documents is updated in
accordance
31 with the change in the selected geographical position so that the
documents associated
21
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1 with the array of documents are all relevant to the newly selected
geographical position
2 and the selected attribute 326 before the sequence ends 328.
3 [132] On Figure 11 is displayed an alternate sequence starting 330
with the selection
4 of one or a combination of attribute(s) 332 and the display of a map 334
and the selection
of a geographical position on the map 334 and the selection of an altitude 338
from which
6 the map is viewed (or the adjustment of the height from which the map is
seen to set a
7 desired level of details on the map). Once the altitude is set 338, the
precision of the
8 attribute is determined in accordance with the altitude selected 340. In
other words the
9 altitude has an influence on the attributes. If the altitude is high the
available attributes will,
for example, be rather general to correspond with the level of details
provided by the set
11 altitude as opposed to precise attributes rendered available when the
altitude is low and
12 more details for the map are available to a viewer. In this situation
the attribute has already
13 been selected and the level of details of the selected attribute is
determined by the
14 altitude, and the sequence ends 344.
[133] Another exemplary sequence is illustrated on Figure 12 and starts 346
with the
16 display of a map 348 and the selection of a position on the map 350. An
altitude from
17 which the map is viewed is set 352. The attribute is selected 356 after
the altitude has
18 been taken into account to determine which attributes 354 are rendered
available to a
19 user. The selection of attributes is decided, at least in part, on the
basis of the altitude. The
array of documents having an association with the selected geographical
position and the
21 selected attribute is displayed 358 before the sequence ends 360. In
this sequence the
22 attributes that can be selected by a user have been determined by the
altitude prior to the
23 selection of the attributes.
24 [134] One additional sequence is illustrated on Figure 13 and
starts 362 with the
selection of an attribute 364, the display of a map 366 and the selection of a
geographical
26 position on the map 368. An array is displayed showing documents having
an association
27 with the selected geographical position. The selected attribute and an
azimuth 370
28 establishes the angle on the map by which the documents displayed on the
array will be
29 selected. For instance a direction ( as indicated on a compass bearing,
or azimuth) will
have a significant impact on the point of view from which pictures are taken
thus filtering all
31 the pictures taken from/of a geographical position and keeping only the
pictures taken with
22
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1 the right azimuth (angle). The azimuth can be changed 372 and the
documents displayed
2 on the array are updated in accordance with the new parameters 374 before
the sequence
3 ends 376.
4 [135] Figure 14 illustrates a sequence that starts 378 with the
selection of an attribute
380, the display of a map 382 and the selection of a position on the map 384.
An array is
6 displayed showing documents related to the selected map position and the
selected
7 attribute 386. Additionally, graphical links between the array of
documents and a
8 geographical position to which the array is associated to is drawn to
emphasis the link
9 between the array and the position 388 on the map before the sequence
ends 390. The
link between the array and the map is even more useful when there is a
plurality of array
11 simultaneously displayed. The link emphasises which array is associated
with which
12 position on the map.
13 [136] Figure 15 illustrates an alternate sequence that starts 392
with the selection of
14 an attribute 394, the display of a map 396 and the selection of a
position on the map 398.
An array is displayed displaying documents related to the selected position
and attribute
16 400. Additionally, graphical links between documents and geographical
position(s) to
17 which the documents are associated to is drawn to emphasis the link
between the
18 documents and the position 402 before the sequence ends 404. The link
between an array
19 and its related map position/location is even more useful when there is
a plurality of array
simultaneously displayed.
21 [137] The foregoing illustrative flow charts of Figures 6 through
Figure 15 are
22 generally disclosing sequences using a geographical position to retrieve
documents that
23 are associated with the selected position/location. In contrast, the
array or the documents
24 displayed on an array can be used to retrieve geographical locations. In
the latter case,
once an array of documents is enabled, a series of links can be generated to
show the
26 association between a document (or the array itself) and a geographical
position on the
27 map. A separate set of flow charts illustrating the latter case has been
omitted to reduce
28 the number of figures but is nonetheless considered, when taken in
conjunction with other
29 elements disclosed herein, to remain within the realm of the present
invention.
23
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1 [138] The links between the array and/or the documents can be
displayed in
2 accordance with time. Let's use an example to illustrate the relation
between documents,
3 time and positions. A person in a bus has sent many e-mails and SMS one
after the other
4 on her/his way home. The sequence, in time and in geographical position,
can be
illustrated by an array including all e-mails and SMS from the person. Links
between each
6 document and their related geographical positions can be drawn in
sequence to show
7 where each document is originating from (or has been sent from).
8 [139] The same principles are applicable to a map of the sky 410
as illustrated on
9 Figure 16. In this case, all geographical positions referred to in this
specification would be
replaced by celestial positions 412. The appropriate set of coordinates would
be used (e.g.
11 RA: 00h26m35s; Dec: +17 : 09 : 45; Alt: 02: 27 : 35; Az: 13 : 57: 33).
The map of the sky
12 410 illustrates a portion of the sky 414. Each document 416 on the array
of documents 418
13 are displayed bellow the map 410 but could be superposed to the map 410.
Each
14 document 416 is linked with the actual celestial position it relates to
using a link 420. The
array 418 is provided with arrows 422 on each side of the array 418 to scroll
additional
16 documents that are outside the display zone between the arrows 422.
17 [140] Planet March can be selected on a map of the sky and the
attribute "water" can
18 be selected from the available list of attributes. An array of documents
is thus produced
19 displaying documents related to water on March. The attribute might
illustratively be
narrowed by selecting "NASA" and "Report" and "PDF" to get only the reports
from the
21 NASA in PDF format on the array.
22 [141] Referring now to Figure 17 through Figure 19. Figures 17 and
18 show the type
23 of relationship the altitude 436 can have with the precision of the
attribute. Similarly, Figure
24 19 illustrates, inter alia, a table 430 including a list of attributes
432 classified in columns
under their related attribute family 434. In the example of Figure 19, the
family of attribute
26 relates to a series of attributes about geography e.g. continents;
countries; provinces;
27 cities; highways and finally, the more detailed attribute "streets". The
family of attribute 434
28 is associated with an altitude 436. All the attributes are not always
available to be selected
29 in accordance with the altitude. Depending on the actual altitude from
which the map is
viewed, only a number of attribute is available. If the altitude is high, the
map will be shown
31 from far and only general information will be viewed from the map. The
attribute will be
24
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1 available in accordance with the level of altitude and will not offer
attributes that are more
2 precise than the actual level of altitude. If would be pointless to offer
to select the attribute
3 "street" if the entire planet Earth is displayed and the level of details
does not provide any
4 information about "street".
[142] The attributes can be offered to the user in accordance with the
level of altitude
6 provided by the map but other attributes might also be accessible if the
user precisely
7 knows what is desired. The "by default" displayed attributes can be
determined in
8 accordance with the level of zoom but selection of other attributes
remains possible. All
9 attributes are not necessarily available in relation with a position on a
map if there is no
document associated with the attribute for the subject location on the map.
Although a
11 wider choice of attributes not necessarily already associated with the
position is available
12 when associating attributes with a document.
13 [143] Figure 20 is a conventional map 440 provided by a map
provider through the
14 internet. The city of Baie-Saint-Paul is pinpointed 442 next to the St-
Laurence river 444.
The geographical position and the altitude are also provided with the map.
16 [144] On Figure 21, an array of documents 450 is illustrated next
to a smaller image
17 of the conventional map 440 of Baie-Saint-Paul on Figure 21. The array
of documents 450
18 disposes documents 452 along a chronological timeline 454. The array of
documents 450
19 is connected to the map 440 with an array link 456 positioning the array
450 on the map
440. Otherwise, each document 458 has its own related document link 460
drawing a link
21 between the document 458 and its related position on the map 440.
22 [145] Dynamic Position Association
23 [146] Still referring to Figure 21 the position on the map can
move and provides a
24 dynamic array of documents. Lets take an example to illustrate the
concept. You are
moving in a car in Baie-Saint-Paul looking for a restaurant. You set the
position of the
26 moving car as the reference position for the array and select
"restaurant" as attribute to
27 determine which documents, in the present example documents are likely
to be internet
28 pages, will be displayed on the array of document. At the same time the
car moves the
29 next available restaurant appears on the array such that the array of
documents
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1 dynamically displays the internet pages (or the menu if the attribute
"restaurant" and
2 "menu" are selected) of restaurants on the trajectory of the moving car.
A heads-up delay
3 can be selected to display the information on the array, lets say one
kilometer, before the
4 car reaches the position of the restaurant. If the car changes direction,
then, the
documents on the array are adjusted consequently; the latest displayed can
remain on the
6 array while the queued of restaurants to come next will be modified in
accordance with the
7 new trajectory. The same principle is applicable from a desktop computer
by dragging or
8 pinpointing various positions on the map and obtaining a dynamically
updated array of
9 documents.
[147] Figure 22 shows a first array of documents 462 where every document
is
11 illustrated with a set of attributes 464 (represented by capital
letters) respectively
12 associated therewith. The intersecting document 466 has the attribute
"E" associated
13 therewith. A selection of the attribute "E" from document 466 is used in
the displaying of a
14 second intersecting array of documents 468. It can be appreciated that
all documents part
of array 468 have the attribute "E" in common (as indicated on a dark
background). The
16 intersecting array 468 also shows versions 470 of a document disposed in
an exemplary
17 array using a chronological order 472. Each array of documents 462, 468
can be
18 navigated along.
19 [148] The documents of Figure 22 have their respective associated
attributes
graphically associated therewith. Each attribute is selectable by a user to
build a query for
21 determining which documents will be part of the other array used to
present the results
22 from the query. The attributes could also be shown in a table or a menu
disposed next to,
23 in the neighbourhood of, on in graphical connection with their related
documents and be
24 presented in a fashion adapted to be acted upon by a user.
[149] Focussing on Figure 23 it is possible to appreciate a first array of
documents
26 490 where documents are disposed in accordance with an ordering
represented by arrow
27 492. One document 494 from the first array of documents 490 is an
intersecting location
28 for a second intersecting array of documents 496 where documents are
disposed in
29 accordance with an ordering represented by arrow 498. The intersecting
document 494 is
the only document from which is drawn a link 500 to an associated geographical
position
31 502 illustrated on a map 504 of suburban Baie-Saint-Paul.
26
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1 [150] Turning now to Figure 24 illustrating the same map 504 of
suburban Baie-Saint-
2 Paul with a plurality of arrays of documents 510, 512, 514 disposed along
an ordering
3 represented by arrow 492. Each one of the arrays of documents 510, 512,
514 are
4 grouping documents 516 in accordance with a specific query. The query
might be based,
inter alia, upon a selection of an attribute, a combination of attributes or
in respect with a
6 geographical position. Each array 510, 512, 514, and/or each documents
contained in the
7 arrays 510, 512, 514 could be linked to the map 504 if so is the desire
of the viewer. Some
8 or all links could be seen simultaneously. Conversely, only the link 518
associated with a
9 selected document 520 could be displayed to prevent displaying too many
links at the
same time and thus prevent confusion.
11 [151] Figure 25 is quite similar to Figure 24 but it illustrates
that each array of
12 documents 510, 512, 514 can be longitudinally displaced independently
from one another
13 with their associated navigation arrows 530.
14
[152] Array of Documents with Past-Present-Future
16 [153] Referring to Fig. 26, an array of documents 550 includes a
series of documents
17 516 before the present separation mark 554, on the past portion 552 of
the array 550.
18 Additional documents on the array of documents, not displayed, are
identified by
19 continuing arrows 556, 558, disposed on both sides of the displayed
documents 552. A
selection of a past navigation arrows 560, 562, will displace the displayed
documents in
21 the direction of the selected navigation arrow 560, 562 so that other
documents 516
22 become visible.
23 [154] Five documents 516 or applications 572 are displayed on the
present portion
24 556 of the array 550. The present navigation arrows 568, 570 are not in
a selectable state
because there is no other document 516, or application 572, that are not
already displayed
26 on the present portion 556 of the array of documents. The future portion
576 of the array
27 550, separated by the future separation mark 574, displays three
documents 516, or
28 agenda items 580, having an occurrence in the future. Additional
documents 516 or
29 agenda items 580 are available as indicated by continuing arrows 556,
558. Future
27
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1 navigation arrows 582, 584 are available to move along documents and
agenda items on
2 the future portion of the array 550.
3 [155] Turning to Figure 27, the present separation mark 554 and
the future
4 separation mark 574 are moveable to define the space allowed for each
portion (i.e. past,
present, future) of the array 550. The present portion 566 is now wide enough
to
6 accommodate eight documents 516 and/or running applications 572. The
width of the past
7 portion 552 and the future portion 576 has been modified accordingly
since the width of
8 the exemplary display (in this case the sheet) remains the same. It can
also be noted that
9 the most recent documents 516 from the past portion 552 are displayed
since the
continuing arrow 558 has disappeared and only continuing arrow 556 remains to
navigate
11 the other remaining documents. Accordingly, past navigation arrow 560 is
active while
12 arrow 562 is not active. The continuing arrows 556 and 558 could also be
utilized for
13 navigating the array and navigation arrows 560, 562 could be eliminated.
14 [156] Referring to Figure 28, the number of documents 516 and/or
applications 572 in
the present portion 556 has increased and there is not enough room to display
all the
16 documents. Continuing arrows 556, 558 are now displayed thus indicating
there is more
17 information available on each side of the present portion 556.
Meanwhile, the present
18 navigation arrows 568, 570 are active thus ready to move the information
along the
19 present portion 556 of the array 550.
[157] Figures 26 through 29 illustrate the display of only one array 550 at
the time.
21 Figure 29 illustrates a case where the distinct arrays 550.1, 550.2 and
550.3 are
22 juxtaposed to each other on the same display. It can be appreciated that
the present
23 separation mark 554 and the future separation mark 574 are combined
across many
24 arrays.
[158] A set of three juxtaposed arrays of documents in Figure 30 shares a
single set
26 of navigation arrows 600, 602, 604. One array 606 is selected and
appears in darker lines
27 612 to visually distinguish the selected array 606 from the other non-
selected arrays 608,
28 610. Navigation arrows 600, 602, 604 will affect the selected array 606
to navigate through
29 the documents disposed on array 606. The other documents on non-selected
arrays 602,
604 are not moving with the navigation arrows 600, 602, 604.
28
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1 [159] Switching now to Figure 31 that illustrates an array of
documents 620 that
2 displays a plurality of documents 622 accompanied by navigation arrows
624, 626, 628
3 that are adapted to navigate on more than one axis. Array 620 offers
documents displayed
4 on a single axis 630. Conversely, array 640 displays a plurality of
documents 632 along
the first axis 630 and along a non-parallel axis 650. In the present
situation, documents
6 disposed along axis 650 are intersecting the documents disposed along
axis 630 at
7 document 624. As explained earlier in the description the intersecting
document 624 has a
8 commonality with the documents displayed along axis 650. When documents
are
9 displayed on more than one axis 630, 650 the navigation arrows 624, 626,
628 are
enabled in many directions in accordance with the axes 630, 650.
11 [160] Figure 33 illustrates the past portion 680, the present
portion 682 and the future
12 portion 684 of an array of documents in accordance with the present
invention. As
13 opposed to what has been previously described, the different portions
680, 682, 684 are
14 disposed juxtaposed one to the other. The past portion 680 is the
selected portion as
illustrated with the darker color 686 and is therefore associated with the
navigation arrows
16 690. The past portion 680 is displaying the most recent documents as
indicated by the
17 missing continuing arrow on the right side 692 although other non-
displayed documents
18 remains to be seen from the left side as indicated by continuing arrow
694. The present
19 portion 682 displays all the documents/applications 698 as indicated by
the omission of
continuing arrows 700 on each side. The agenda is quite full though and the
future portion
21 684 is crowded with documents to review 702, people to contact 704, and
meetings 706.
22 The focus is presently put on July 21, 2008 (assuming today is before
July 21, 2008)
23 defined between two time separators 710. Again, the continuing arrows
712, 714 on each
24 side of the future portion 684 indicate that there are non-displayed
information of both
sides of the future portion 684.
26 [161] Still on Figure 33, on the past portion 680, one document
720 has been
27 selected and magnified in display area 722. Similarly, the present
portion 682 has a
28 selected application 726 magnified at display area 728 (notice the
landscape orientation of
29 the application 726 tailored to fit the size of a display). Finally,
meeting 706 from the future
portion 684 is magnified at display area 730.
31
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1 [162] Project Management
2 [163] Studies have shown that new ideas are actually build-ups of
other elements of
3 information linked together by the human brain. It is also through a
similar mechanism that
4 conclusions are reached in a police enquiry for instance. Data that is,
at a first glance,
irrelevant by itself may prove valuable when put in perspective with other
data.
6 [164] Fig. 34 shows three arrays of information, 740, 742 and 744
that could be from
7 three different sources or from a single source that has been sorted
through different sets
8 of attributes. dl, d2, d3 and d4 are days, separated by vertical dotted
lines. All three arrays
9 of documents are shown with no variation of spacing due to different
length of times
between documents. In that context documents 746, 748, 750 show no particular
sense.
11 Fig. 35 shows the same documents, with their arrays showing variations
in elapsed time
12 between documents. Furthermore, the three arrays are aligned to one
another by sharing
13 common vertical dotted lines, thus showing any given day's documents
next to the ones
14 from another array. In such a context, the same three documents 746,
748, 750 can more
easily be linked together and lead to a "conclusion": 752. This simplified
example shows
16 the usefulness of positioning multiple arrays of documents in a manner
to promote the
17 establishment of links. Here, the parallel has been made through a
common (intrinsic)
18 ordering (time) but other ones could be used.
19 [165] The influence of actions, events and contacts in knowledge
level increase is
significant. An important source of information acquisition (through contacts)
in the
21 workplace are meetings. Meeting summary (minutes) received after a given
meeting can
22 be considered as regular document for instance. On the other hand, a
meeting that still
23 hasn't been held cannot be considered as a document in its own right; it
is still in the
24 future, thus still "virtual" even though a convocation notice and an
agenda may have been
received for it. Fig. 36 shows a typical array of documents 754 spanning over
four days, d-
26 1, dO, d+1 and d+2, where dO is the present day. A convocation C 756 and
an agenda A
27 758 have been received on the previous day (d-1) for a meeting to be
held three days later
28 (d+2). Because it is in the future, the meeting itself appears as a
"ghost" document E 760 (
29 ideally showing different visual characteristics not illustrated on
Figure 36) displayed in the
future on day d+2. Because one usually wishes to prepare for a given meeting,
he or she
31 will assign tasks (or actions) to him or herself in preparation for the
event. Fig. 37 shows
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1 such a foreseen event E 764 as a "ghost" document with an array of
information 762. Two
2 tasks 766, 768 are linked to that event and appear as an automatically
generated second
3 array 763. One of the tasks 766, 768 may be completed 766 and shows
different visual
4 characteristics for a non-completed task 768. In a similar fashion, and
following a similar
logic, an event in the past may have different visual characteristics from one
that still has
6 to occur. Fig. 38 shows such a situation where three documents from an
array of
7 documents 770 are event representations, where document 771 is an event
from the day
8 before (d-1) and documents 772 and 773 are yet to happen events, due to
take place two
9 days later (d+2).
[166] Fig. 39 shows three arrays of documents 774, 775, 776 in parallel and
sharing
11 common day "borders" d. The first array 774 shows all event-related
documents:
12 convocations C 777, 780, 781, agenda A 778 and reference material R 779.
The second
13 array 775 shows all event-related tasks T where tasks 782, 783, 784 are
completed tasks
14 and tasks T 785, 786 are yet to be completed. This second array 775 is
actually a linear,
time based, representation of a "to do" list. The third array 776 shows, in a
fashion similar
16 to Fig. 37, all events E overtime, 787, 788, 789, 790, 791, and 792,
respectively. Position
17 of event 787 above horizontal line L indicates en event (or a meeting)
called for by the
18 user as opposed to events where the user has been invited (788, 789,
790, 791, and 792).
19 In a similar fashion, the second array 775 could also be horizontally
split and distinguish
self-assigned tasks from tasks requested by someone else. A "due date" could
also be
21 considered as a virtual future event.
22 [167] Dissimilar rules of sorting. To further increase the
likelihood of establishing
23 links, a user may chose to generate a second array where the sorting is
done through a
24 different attribute. Fig. 40 shows a typical 2 array of documents 793
displaying documents
where time T is the sorting attribute for both axes. In such case, the period
borders "b"
26 never crosses each other. Fig. 41 shows a 2 arrays of documents 795
where time T is the
27 sorting attribute for the main (horizontal) array while a statistical
value S is the sorting
28 attribute for the second array. For instance it may be the number of
common attributes
29 with the intersection element 794. In such cases it becomes possible for
period borders "b"
to cross each other.
31
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1 [168] Targeting Audiences and Displaying Advertising
2 [169] The disposition of documents on an array of documents
provides a cognitive
3 advantage because it disposes and displays documents in a meaningful way.
An array of
4 documents can group a plurality of documents together on the basis of a
commonality.
The commonality is represented in the present embodiment by an attribute.
Thus, the
6 array of documents meaningfully displays a group of documents having at
least the same
7 attribute in common. Because an attribute is selected to filter which
documents will be part
8 of an array of document it becomes possible to help to better target the
advertising to be
9 displayed along with the array of documents. A user who has selected an
attribute is more
likely to have an interest into advertising directed to this particular
attribute. Using the
11 selected characterization attributes is therefore desirable to focus
advertisings on a more
12 precise audience.
13 [170] For example, an advertiser chooses a set of characterization
attributes, related
14 to his/her product/service, that are more likely to be selected by users
that are potentially
good customers for the product/service to be sold. Each time a user selects an
attribute
16 the advertising(s) from the advertiser who have pre-selected this
attribute are displayed.
17 The advertisings are preferably displayed either among the documents
along the array
18 created in accordance with the to the selected attribute by the user or
at any other place
19 on a display. The user can click on the advertising and, for example, be
directed to the
website of the advertiser. The product could also be bought directly by
clicking on the
21 advertising.
22 [171] Advertising made this way takes into consideration the
user's interests and
23 behaviors to avoid over exposing or bothering the user with too many
misdirected
24 advertisings. The computer tool takes into consideration the time logged
in, the number of
documents viewed, the speed of navigation on the array, the number of
attributes
26 selected, the number of displayed arrays, keywords documents visible on
the display,
27 user's preference settings, the day of the week and the time of the day
among other
28 helpful data helping to adjust the user's exposure to advertising. The
user might also
29 decide what type of advertising he/she wants and how it will be
presented. The user can
decide to receive numerous adds in exchange of other advantages. The user can
also
31 decide not to see any advertising at all.
32
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1 [172] The advertiser is billed (electronically or not) according
to a function including
2 the number of times his/her advertising has been shown. An additional fee
is charged to
3 the advertised if the user clicked the advertising. All money transfer
can be made
4 electronically illustratively using PaypalTM, credit cards or by any
other electronic money
transfer.
6 [173] The advertising can be a picture, an image, a movie clip, an
animation a
7 selectable means or any other graphical or multimedia file known in the
communication
8 industry. The advertising is associated with related attributes. This
association will
9 influence when the advertising is displayed and along with which array of
documents.
Because the advertising is displayed in correlation with attributes selected
by viewers it
11 increases the precision of the advertising display by directing the
advertising to only
12 viewers who have shown interest into a specific attribute.
13 [174] Figure 42 is an exemplary flow chart that illustrates one
possible way to
14 influence the display of advertising in cooperation with an array of
documents. The
sequence begins 800 with the definition of an attribute 802 if it does not
already exists.
16 The advertiser associates the advertising with the defined attribute 804
and optionally
17 decides what periodicity is to be used for the display of the
advertising 806. Next, a viewer
18 selects the defined attribute 810¨ normally among a wider choice of
attributes. An array of
19 documents is created 812 to group relevant documents having the selected
attribute in
common. The array thus created is displayed with the advertising thereon 814
in
21 accordance with the defined periodicity before the sequence ends 816.
22 [175] An alternate sequence is illustrated on Figure 43 where the
sequence starts
23 820 with an advertiser that defines an attribute 822 and associates the
defined attribute
24 824 with the advertising 824. A viewer, or a potential client, selects
an attribute in a quest
for filtering documents of interest 826. If the selected attribute is not the
defined attribute
26 828 then the advertising is not displayed along with the documents 832.
Conversely, if the
27 selected attribute is similar to the defined attribute 828 the array is
created and groups the
28 documents having the selected attribute in common 830 and the
advertising is displayed
29 either next to the array 834 or on the array 836 before the sequence
ends 838.
33
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1 [176] Turning now to Figure 44, an array of documents 850 is
illustrated with a series
2 of documents 852 and an advertising 854 identified with a bold frame 858.
Navigation
3 means 856 and means for identifying continuing documents 860 are also
depicted on
4 Figure 36. Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 45, another array of
documents 880 is
illustrated with a series of documents 882 and an advertising 884 disposed
along with the
6 array 880. The advertising 884 identified with a bold frame 858 on an
area that suits the
7 size of the advertising. Navigation means 856 and means for identifying
continuing
8 documents 860 are also depicted on this figure.
9 [177] The attribute that is defined by the advertiser is
correlated with synonyms and
groups of other attributes related to the defined attribute. This correlation
allows a user to
11 select an attribute that is different than the attribute defined by the
advertiser and, if there
12 is correlation between the selected attribute and the defined attribute,
to display the
13 advertising.
14 [178] An alternate illustrative embodiment is depicted on Figure
46. Four arrays of
documents 900, 902, 904, 906 are juxtaposed one next to the other and form a
matrix like
16 arrangement. Each array 900, 902, 904, 906 is provided with means for
identifying non
17 displayed continuing documents 860. The first array 900 groups documents
sharing a
18 commonality and displays repetitive advertisings 920 disposed at an
interval of each two
19 documents 908. The advertising 920 has been associated with the
attribute representing
the commonality and is displayed along with relevant documents. The second
array 902
21 groups documents having the same attribute associated therewith.
Advertising 922 has
22 been previously associated with the same attribute and is displayed
along with the
23 documents sharing the same attribute on the array 902 grouping documents
having the
24 attribute in common. On array 902, a single advertising 922 is shown.
The advertising
could alternatively be displayed next to the array 902 at display area 928 or
be shown both
26 on the array 902 and on the display area 928.
27 [179] Array 904 illustrates two advertisings 930, 932, from
distinct advertisers. The
28 two advertisings 930, 932 are sharing the same attribute as the
attribute selected for
29 generating the array 904. The two advertisings 930, 932 are disposed
every five
documents 912 and repeated in sequence every other five documents. More
advertisings
34
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1 can be associated with the selected attribute and a rotation of all the
different advertisings
2 would occur every five documents.
3 [180] Still on Figure 38, array 906 displays two advertisings 940,
942 located on each
4 .. side of the array 906. Whether the documents 944 are scrolled left or
right with the
.. navigation means 856 they remain in place just like the documents were
flowing
6 underneath as illustrated with arrow 946.
7
8 [181] Other Potentially Claimable Subject Matter
9 [182] A system for displaying arrays of user-selectable elements,
the system
.. comprising: a geographical position defining module adapted to receive
instructions about
11 a geographical position; an array defining module adapted to enable an
array of user-
12 selectable element base, at least in part, on the geographical position;
and a display
13 module adapted to display a graphical representation of the geographical
position and the
14 array of user-selectable elements.
[183] An interface comprising: a map display area adapted to display a map
in
16 .. accordance with a geographical position; and an array display area
adapted to display an
17 array of user-selectable elements, the array of user-selectable elements
being adapted to
18 group user-selectable elements related to the geographical position.
19 [184] A method comprising: receiving instructions providing data
about a
.. geographical position; and displaying an array of user-selectable elements,
the array of
21 user-selectable elements being adapted to group user-selectable elements
related to the
22 geographical position.
23 [185] One or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
24 executable instructions adapted to provide a method for displaying
arrays of user-
selectable elements, the method comprising: displaying an array of user-
selectable
26 elements, the array of user-selectable elements defining a past portion,
a present portion
27 and a future portion.
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1 [186] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
2 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
3 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein at least some of the
user-selectable
4 elements are documents.
[187] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
6 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
7 selectable elements of preceding claim, wherein at least some of the user-
selectable
8 elements are multimedia assets.
9 [188] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying arrays of
user-
11 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein at least some of the
user-selectable
12 elements are menu items.
13 [189] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
14 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the array of user-selectable
elements is
16 a substantially linear distribution of user-selectable elements.
17 [190] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
18 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
19 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein at least one of the
portion has an
adjustable width.
21 [191] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
22 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
23 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein at least one of the
portions is provided
24 with a continuity identifier indicating additional user-selectable
elements are not visible.
[192] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
26 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
27 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein scrolling is adapted
to be performed in
28 a single portion at the time.
36
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1 [193] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
2 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
3 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein at least one of the
portions has a
4 navigation tool associated therewith.
[194] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
6 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
7 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the portions are
adapted to be
8 independently selected to associate a navigation tool therewith.
9 [195] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying arrays of
user-
11 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the portions are
separated.
12 [196] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
13 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
14 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the array of user-
selectable elements is
a plurality of arrays of user-selectable elements.
16 [197] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
17 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
18 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the plurality of
arrays of user-selectable
19 elements is stackable.
[198] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
21 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
22 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein each array from the
plurality of arrays of
23 user-selectable elements is independently selectable.
24 [199] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying arrays of
user-
26 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein at least one array of
user-selectable
27 elements is displayable at an angle from another array of user-
selectable elements.
37
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1 [200] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
2 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
3 selectable elements of a preceding claim, comprising a navigation tool
adapted to scroll
4 through user-selectable elements that are displayed at various angles
from each other.
[201] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
6 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
7 selectable elements of a preceding claim wherein at least two portions
are adapted to be
8 superposed one next to the other.
9 [202] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying arrays of
user-
11 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein user-selectable
elements are adapted
12 to be magnified.
13 [203] A system adapted to provide a method for displaying arrays
of user-selectable
14 elements, the system comprising: a display module adapted to display an
array of user-
selectable elements; a memory module adapted to store data about the array of
user-
16 selectable elements; a processing module adapted to enable a method, the
method
17 comprising: displaying the array of user-selectable elements, the array
of user-selectable
18 elements defining a past portion, a present portion and a future
portion.
19 [204] An interface comprising: a display area adapted to display
an array of user-
selectable elements defining a past portion, a present portion and a future
portion.
21 [205] A method comprising: displaying an array of user-selectable
elements, the
22 array of user-selectable elements defining a past portion, a present
portion and a future
23 portion.
24 [206] One or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
executable instructions adapted to provide a method for displaying arrays of
user-
26 selectable elements, the method comprising: associating an advertising
with an attribute;
27 receiving instructions about the selection of the attribute; displaying
an array of user-
28 selectable elements, the array of user-selectable elements grouping user-
selectable
29 element having the attribute in common; and displaying the advertising.
38
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1 [207] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
2 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
3 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein at least some of the
user-selectable
4 elements are documents.
[208] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
6 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
7 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein at least some of the
user-selectable
8 elements are multimedia assets.
9 [209] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying arrays of
user-
11 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein at least some of the
user-selectable
12 elements are menu items.
13 [210] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
14 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the array of user-selectable
elements is
16 a substantially linear distribution of user-selectable elements.
17 [211] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
18 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
19 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the advertising is
disposed next to the
array of user-selectable elements.
21 [212] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
22 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
23 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the advertising is
disposed on the array
24 of user-selectable elements.
[213] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
26 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
27 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the advertising is
disposed on the array
28 of user-selectable elements.
39
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1 [214] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having
encoded machine-
2 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
3 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the advertising is
repetitively disposed
4 on the array of user-selectable elements at an interval therebetween.
[215] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
6 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
7 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the advertising is a
plurality of
8 advertising and are disposed on the array of user-selectable elements at
an interval
9 therebetween.
[216] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
11 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
12 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the advertising is a
plurality of
13 advertising and are disposed on the array of user-selectable elements at
an interval
14 therebetween.
[217] The one or more tangible machine-readable media having encoded
machine-
16 executable instructions adapted to provide the method for displaying
arrays of user-
17 selectable elements of a preceding claim, wherein the advertising is not
simultaneously
18 displayed with the array of user-selectable elements.
19 [218] A system adapted to provide a method for displaying arrays
of user-selectable
elements, the system comprising: associating an advertising with an attribute;
receiving
21 instructions about the selection of the attribute; displaying an array
of user-selectable
22 elements, the array of user-selectable elements grouping user-selectable
element having
23 the attribute in common; and displaying the advertising.
24 [219] An interface comprising: a display area adapted to display
an array of user-
selectable elements and an advertising.
26 [220] A method comprising: displaying an array of user-selectable
elements, the
27 array of user-selectable elements defining a past portion, a present
portion and a future
28 portion.
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1 [221] The description and the drawings that are presented above are
meant to be
2 illustrative of the present invention. They are not meant to be limiting
of the scope of the
3 present invention. Modifications to the embodiments described may be made
without
4 departing from the present invention, the scope of which is defined by
the following
claims:
6
41
