JP2001357037A - Method and apparatus for searching and displaying hierarchically structured information using a GUI - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: A method and apparatus for searching and displaying hierarchically structured information using a GUI. Several search frames are shown, side by side, vertically or horizontally, providing visual separation of data between levels. Because items are displayed in separate frames, items at any level can be viewed without being disturbed by other levels of data, and in addition, the number of search frames can be controlled. When a predetermined search frame item is selected, the next level of data is acquired and displayed in the next frame. To move through the hierarchy, the user clicks on items of interest at each level and proceeds from one frame to the next. A toolbar frame is provided to display a cumulative selection of items. If the specified number of search frames is less than the depth of the search hierarchy, a rollover mechanism is provided to reuse the frames. A save button is provided to return the results of the search to the point of invocation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for searching and displaying hierarchically structured information at an arbitrary depth using a GUI, including Web pages of the Internet and an intranet. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As the amount of information that can be accessed from a computer increases, a method for effectively displaying the information is required. A GUI is a visual computer environment that represents programs, files, and options that have graphical images, such as icons, menus, and dialog boxes on the screen. The user can select and activate these options by pointing and clicking with a mouse or keyboard. The GUI provides standard software routines so that certain items, such as scroll bars, provide the same way to the user in any application. The GUI has the ability to invoke various resources to locate and display information. Using the GUI, a user can establish a connection through a communication network or direct program execution to a particular section of code. In the latter case, when the called section has completed execution, the information needed to resume execution at that point is stored.

[0003] GUIs simplify the handling of data, and the reach of a user is greatly extended by the ability to allow connections between computers. The Internet is a WAN (Wide Area Network) that connects thousands of different networks in industry, education, government and research. The Internet uses TCP / IP as a standard for transmitting information. An intranet is a closed network belonging to a single organization,
Execute the TCP / IP protocol. An intranet can also be connected to the Internet.

[0004] TCP is a protocol within TCP / IP that organizes data messages into packets sent by IP. A collection of linked hypertext documents residing on HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) servers worldwide is a WWW
(World Wide Web). HTTP
Is a protocol used to carry a request from a browser to a Web server and return a page to the requesting browser.

[0005] Documents on the WWW called Web pages are written in HTML (Hypertext Markup Language).
Written in HTML responds to user actions, such as how the web browser should display elements such as text and graphics to the user, and activates lines by pressing keys or clicking the mouse. An SGML application that uses tags to mark elements in a document to indicate what to do. Web pages are identified by URLs that specify a particular machine and path name to access the file, and are transferred from the server to the end user under HTML. Code called tags embedded in HTML documents associates URLs with specific words and images in the document so that a user can access another file by pressing a key or clicking a mouse.

[0006] A Web browser locates a Web page. A web browser is software that presents HTML documents to a user and accesses files and software associated with these documents. Web browsers can provide access to documents on a network, intranet, or local hard drive. Web browser software is based on hyperlinks that allow a user to freely switch between documents simply by operating a mouse. The Web browser downloads and transfers files, displays graphics embedded in the document, plays audio and visual files associated with the document, and also executes small programs included in the document by the programmer. it can. The URL specifies the protocol used to access the resource, the name of the server where the resource resides, and optionally the path to the resource. The URL is
Used by Web browsers to locate Internet resources.

[0007] A hyperlink is a connection between an element of a hypertext document, such as a word, phrase, symbol or image, and a different element of the same document, another document, file or script. The user activates the link by clicking on the linked element, indicating that the element is linked, usually underlined or a different color than the rest of the document . Hyperlinks are indicated in hypertext documents by tags in markup languages such as SGML and HTML.

[0008] Web browsers provide an opportunity to access information from the Internet and intranets and display that information on a user's screen.
Many data structures are organized hierarchically. Hierarchical refers to a system arranged in the shape of a pyramid, where each row of objects directly links to the underlying object. One of the most common ways to display hierarchically organized information is in the form of a tree structure that has the ability to expand or collapse any or all branches of the tree. A typical display displays a list of choices at a first level based on search criteria. The user then selects one of the items and, in the form of a nested tree,
You can see the choices associated with that item. The user may further expand the view of the selected data.

[0009] The Web browser displays the acquired data on Web pages and frames. In HTML,
A frame refers to a square section displayed in a web browser, which is a separate document from the rest of the page. In other words, the browser display is divided into separate sections, each of which is a completely different Web page.

[0010] The use of Web pages in data display can be increased by the use of ASPs (Active Server Pages). ASP is a Web-oriented technology developed by Microsoft Corporation in the United States, which is designed to enable scripting on the server side (aside from the client side). ASP,
Text and text, which can include standard web document text and HTML tags, as well as commands written in a scripting language that can be executed on a server.
File. This server-side task allows the web creator to add interactivity to the document or customize the display or distribution of information to the client without regard to the platform on which the client runs. All ASPs are stored with the .asp extension and are
ft It can be accessed like a standard URL through a Web browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. When the ASP is requested by the browser, the server executes any script commands embedded in the page, generates an HTML document,
Then, the document to be displayed on the requesting (client) computer is sent back to the browser.

[0011]

When a browser is used, a data file or a Web page can be fetched. Fetching involves finding and loading data from storage. Each click on a branch of the tree typically causes a refetch from the server's page. While this method is widely used, it suffers from the following disadvantages: First, the displayed information is generally limited to one or, at most, two frames. Second, the nested tree structure is cumbersome to see all the choices available at the previous level without shrinking. Third, nested tree structures are cumbersome to navigate. The user may need to shrink and expand several times to reach the desired level. Fourth, if the page is too demanding due to tree shrinking and expanding,
Unnecessary traffic to the server is generated.

[0012] To that end, what is needed in the prior art is the ability to control the number of search frames displayed, the ability to limit the depth of the search level, display the search frames horizontally, vertically, or a combination thereof. A method for retrieving and displaying hierarchically structured information with the ability to do so and the ability to configure the rollover direction. What is further needed in the prior art is a method that utilizes a reusable common ASP code for search and display.

What is further needed in the prior art is a method that can simultaneously display two or more levels of hierarchical information. There is also a need for a method that provides visual separation of data between levels by displaying the data side by side in different frames. Finally, there is a need for a method that can provide a fast path to any previously visited level.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the need identified above, the present invention is a method for displaying hierarchical data in which information at each level of the hierarchy is displayed in a separate search frame. Several search frames are displayed vertically, horizontally, or a combination thereof, providing a visual separation of data between levels. Items are displayed in separate frames so that items at any level can be viewed without being disturbed by data from other levels. In addition, the number of search frames can be controlled. Selecting an item in a given search frame will acquire the data at the next level and display it in the next frame. By clicking on items of interest at each level to move through the hierarchy, the user proceeds from one frame to the next. A toolbar frame is provided to display the accumulated selection of items. When the number of specified search frames is less than the depth of the search hierarchy, a rollover mechanism is provided to reuse the frames. A save button is provided to return the results of the search to the call point.

[0015]

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of the processing. First, a search page is called (110). Invocation means calling or activating a command or subroutine. The user calls a search page by pressing a search icon on the browser display. Enter search criteria (112). The search criteria you enter are the search type, the number of display frames, and the maximum depth of the search. For example, the criterion can be expressed as: nF = number of display frames from = customizable search and query parameters maxL = maximum depth of display (nth level) One way to invoke the search screen is to use an ActiveX script, use the .ASP extension Is to use the ASP specification for the Web page. When a browser requests an ASP page, the web server creates a page in HTML code and sends it back to the browser. The search screen can be invoked by calling the search.asp file with the following parameters: search.asp? nF = 3 & maxL = 6 from = type of search screen (used for identification purposes and query generation) maxL = maximum number of possible levels Based on the parameters entered above, the maximum of three display frames The depth is 6. The type of search is to consult an inventory database.

The browser program receives the input parameters and creates internal parameters (114).
The browser determines the type of search (116). Searching refers to the process of searching for specific files or special data. Next, the browser gathers information based on the criteria (118). Information can also be gathered from a database or WWW. The program checks for database errors (120). If an error is detected, then the program displays an error message on the display screen (122). If there are no errors, the program determines whether a frame page needs to be created (124). A frame page is used to display information obtained as a result of a search.
A page with a toolbar, a dynamic display frame, and one or more display frames. If a frame page needs to be created, the program creates a frame page (126). The ASP file first displays a search screen with a toolbar frame, a dynamic display frame, and a selected number of display frames, and then it again to display the data in each display frame. Call yourself. The first display frame contains the results of an initial search based on the "from" parameter (eg, searching an inventory database). Items,
It is displayed in a list with a radio button for each item. Initially, none of the items are selected. radio·
The button means a circle with text beside it. The combination of radio buttons indicates a fixed set of choices, and the user can select only one of them. When a selection is made by clicking on the circle with the mouse, the circle is partially filled. As the only example of an option for selecting a data item, a radio button is used here. Hypertext links, check boxes, images or icons may be used. Thus, the term selection device, here, refers to a radio button, hypertext link, check box, image, or other user that can make a selection by pressing a key or clicking the mouse over a choice It means GUI.

If it is not necessary to create a frame page, then the program proceeds to the next step,
It is determined whether a toolbar frame should be displayed (128). Toolbar means a row, column or block of buttons or icons on the screen. When a button or icon is clicked with the mouse, an application macro or specific function is activated. If a toolbar frame is displayed, the program displays the hypertext value in the toolbar frame (134) and proceeds to the next step. If no toolbar frame is displayed, the program proceeds to the next step. Next, the program determines whether the current frame is the last frame (13).
0). If the current frame is not the last frame, the data is displayed in the current frame (132) and the program returns to step 116 and continues the cycle.
If the current frame is the last frame, then the program proceeds to rollover (136).
Rollover means shifting the data from each search frame from the current position to the next position in the preferred direction. The preferred orientation is determined by the user choosing whether to position the display frame horizontally left to right or right to left, or vertically top to bottom or bottom to top. The program asks if the search has reached the maximum depth. If the maximum depth has been reached, the program stops searching. If the maximum depth has not been reached, then
The program queries whether the current frame is the last search frame. If the current frame is not the last search frame, then the program displays the data on the current frame. If the current frame is the last search frame, the program
Perform a rollover. If a rollover has been performed, then a back button is displayed on the first search frame (138). Next, the data is displayed in the last frame (140) and the program returns to step 116. At any time during the process, the user can return all selected values to the call point, close the window, and click the save button.

FIG. 2 shows a data structure 160 of a database searched using the method described above. Data structure 1
60 is the first data level 162, the second data level
Level 164, third data level 166, fourth data level 168, and fifth data level 17
Has zero.

FIG. 3 shows a toolbar frame 202, a first display frame 220, a second display frame 240,
3 shows a display screen 200 consisting of a third display frame 260. The toolbar frame 202 has a save button 204 and a cancel button 206.
Display screen 200 also has a dynamic display frame 208. When the cancel button 206 is selected, the search program is closed. When the save button 204 is selected, the values of all the selections are returned to the calling point, and the window is closed. The toolbar frame 202, the dynamic display frame 208, and the search frame can be configured on any side of the search screen in any combination of horizontal and vertical frames. The database query is
Called to get data to display in the display frame. The database query may be SQL with parameters generated based on the selection at each level. When the user revisits the search frame, all selected values are stored in hidden variables to avoid unnecessary queries, so that the information can be easily displayed.

FIG. 4 shows a display screen 20 having a toolbar frame 202 and a first display frame 220.
Indicates 0. The first display frame 220 displays a first set of searchable items corresponding to a first data level 162 of the data structure 160 (see FIG. 2) based on the specified search type. First display frame 2
20 has five data values displayed with the selection device 210. Data that further search is desired
By clicking on one of the selection devices 210 displayed in the first display frame 220 corresponding to the level, the user can start a further search.

The selection of any selected device for any frame follows these rules. First search frame 2
Selecting the twenty selected devices causes the next data level of the data item corresponding to the selected selected device to be displayed in the second display frame 240. In addition, the data item corresponding to the selected selected device will be displayed in a dynamic display frame 208, such as a hyperlink. The second frame 240 and the third frame 260 are blank.

As described below, changing the selection of any frame can change the value displayed in the dynamic display frame 208. If the level depth is greater than the level of the last search frame, then any selection of the last search frame will initiate a rollover effect. A rollover effect means shifting data to be displayed in a search frame in a preferred direction.

FIG. 5 shows a dynamic display frame 208 showing the cumulative selection from each search frame. Any values displayed in the dynamic display frame 208 are hyperlinks. Clicking on any value dynamically changes the selection in each search frame to display the appropriate item. Dynamic display frame 208 provides a fast path to the required level. By clicking on the appropriate hyperlink in the dynamic display frame,
The user can get a fast path to the requested level. An additional means of manipulating the retreat is by using the "back" button described below. Display frame 220
Displays the name of the category to search for and the items in that category available for selection. First display frame 220 displays a data item at a first data level 162 of data structure 160. Second display frame 2
40 is the second data level 16 of the data structure 160
4 data items are displayed.

Clicking on any of the selected devices in the first display frame 220, along with additional information including the current level and the selected current item, results in search.ASP.
Recall the file. The ASP examines the parameters, fetches the data associated with the selected item, and displays them in the second display frame 240. Second
No items in the display frame 240 are selected. The third display frame 260 is blank. The value of the item selected in the first display frame 220 is displayed in the dynamic display frame 208 (for example, SOFTWARE =
>). As additional values are displayed in the dynamic display frame 208, they are displayed in a hierarchical format.

Referring to FIG. 6, second display frame 240
Clicking on any of the selected devices recalls the search.ASP file, with additional information including the current level and the current item selected. ASP,
Examine the parameters, fetch the data associated with the selected item, and display them in the third display frame 260. No items are selected in the third display frame 260. The value of the selected item in the second display frame 240 is displayed in a dynamic display frame 208 in a hierarchical format. (For example, SOFTWARE => NAME
SERVER =>)

A rollover mechanism is implemented to replace the data in the hierarchy, such that only the preferred number of levels is indicated. The rollover mechanism is
It can be configured to shift the data of all search frames in any direction. Parameters passed, search type, number of frames to display, search depth,
Selecting a search frame item based on the current level and the current frame will display the retrieved information in the next search frame. Further, the value of the selected item is added to the previously selected value of the dynamic display frame. Clicking on the item in the last search frame automatically causes a forward rollover. This only applies if there is at least another level beyond the level of the last search frame.

When a rollover effect occurs, a back button 212 is displayed in the first frame that allows the user to return to a previous level in the search hierarchy. The previous level of the first search frame is shown on the back button 212. As the user moves back and forth between search frames, the previously selected values of the hierarchy are examined. The save button 204 in the toolbar frame 202 returns the value of all selections to the point of invocation. The database query is invoked to get the next set of search criteria. The result is then formatted into a selection list with a selection device. When the user revisits the search frame / page, all selected values are stored in hidden variables to avoid unnecessary queries, so that the information can be easily displayed.

Referring to FIG. 7, third display frame 260
Clicking on any of the selected devices recalls the search.ASP file, with additional information including the current level and the current item selected. ASP,
Examine the parameters and fetch the data associated with the selected item. However, because it is the last display frame, a rollover to the left occurs. Therefore, the fetched information is displayed in the third display frame 260
Will be displayed. The data of the third display frame 260 is
Rolled to second display frame 240 and what was in second display frame 240 is rolled to first display frame 220. What was in the first display frame 220 disappears. Third display frame 260
No items are selected. The back button 212 is moved to the first display frame 220 so that the user can return to the previous level due to the rollover effect.
Will be displayed. The level number is shown on the back button 212. When the acquired data level exceeds the number of selected display frames, a back button 212 is provided to the first display frame 220 for reverse rollover. The level before the first search frame is shown on the back button. The values of the selected items in the third display frame 260 are displayed in a dynamic display frame 208 in a hierarchical format.

The user can move the display frame in any of three ways. First, the user
To call the item to be displayed, a selection device next to the item to be selected can be used. Second, the user can also use dynamic display frame hyperlinks. Clicking on this hyperlink results in the item being clicked in first display frame 220. Finally, the user can also click the back button 212. The movement here means moving forward and backward.

Referring to FIG. 8, third display frame 260
Clicking on any of the selected devices will cause the rollover effect again, and the back button 212
Displays “Back to 2”. Third display frame 26
The value of the item selected at 0 is displayed on the dynamic display frame 208 in a hierarchical format. (For example, SOFTWARE
=> NAMESERVER => Module4 => Item4-1)

Referring to FIG. 9, second display frame 240
Clicking on any one of the selection devices 210 does not cause a rollover effect. Selected device 21 selected
It simply fetches the information associated with the item corresponding to 0 and displays that data in the third display frame 260. The value of the item selected in the second display frame 240 is
It is displayed in a dynamic display frame 208 in a hierarchical format. (For example, SOFTWARE => NAMESERVER =>
Module4 => Item4-3 =>)

Referring to FIG. 10, first display frame 22
If you click on any of the 0 selection devices 210,
Information related to the selected item appears in a second display frame 240. The third display frame 260 is blank. When the value of the selected item in the first display frame 220 is
It is displayed in a dynamic display frame 208 in a hierarchical format. (For example, SOFTWARE => NAMESERVER =>
Module2 =>)

Referring to FIG. 11, second display frame 24
If you click on any of the 0 selection devices 210,
Information related to the selected item appears in a third display frame 260. The first display frame 220 does not change. The value of the selected item in the second display frame is displayed in a dynamic display frame 208 in a hierarchical format. (For example, SOFTWARE => NAMESERVER => Module
2 = Item2-1 =>)

Referring to FIG. 12, clicking back button 212 returns the user to a previous level in the hierarchy. The first display frame 220 contains the previous level of data. The second display frame 240 and the third display frame 260 are blank. Items selected at all previous levels are shown restored. The dynamic display frame 208 reflects the change (SOFTWARE =
>). Save button 204 on toolbar frame 202
Clicking closes the search page and returns all selected values to the calling point.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of the entire processing.

FIG. 2 shows a data structure.

FIG. 3 shows a display screen.

FIG. 4 shows a display screen with data in a first display frame.

FIG. 5 shows a display screen with data in first and second display frames.

FIG. 6 shows a display screen with data in first, second and third display frames.

FIG. 7 shows a screen and a back button.

FIG. 8 shows a further example of a display screen.

FIG. 9 shows a further example of a display screen.

FIG. 10 shows a further example of a display screen.

FIG. 11 shows a further example of a display screen.

FIG. 12 shows a further example of a display screen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 160 data structure 162 first data level 164 second data level 166 third data level 168 fourth data level 170 fifth data level 200 display screen 204 save button 206 cancel button 208 dynamic Display frame 210 selection device 212 back button 220 first display frame 240 second display frame 260 third display frame

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Mercy Laxmana Mansa USA 78717 Austin, Texas Split Arrow Drive 8807 F-term (reference) 5B075 KK02 KK07 ND04 ND35 NR02 NR03 PP03 PP13 PQ02 PR01 UU06 UU40 5B082 GC04

Claims (23)

[Claims] 1. A method for retrieving and displaying hierarchically structured information using a GUI, comprising the steps of: invoking a search screen; selecting a number of display frames; Selecting the maximum depth level. 2. The method according to claim 1, comprising selecting an item from a display frame. 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the display frame by selecting one or more selection devices. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of rolling over. 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of moving the display screen by a fast path. 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting whether to arrange the display frame horizontally left to right or right to left, or vertically top to bottom or bottom to top. the method of. 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising moving the display screen with a back button. 8. A programmable device for retrieving and displaying hierarchically structured information using a GUI, comprising at least one computer, at least one network, and a program installed on the computer. And responsive to the program, obtaining data from the network and displaying the data on one or more display screens. 9. Clicking on a selection device next to the first data level of the first display frame to generate a second data level to be displayed in the second display frame.
9. The programmable device according to claim 8, further comprising a plurality of selection devices. 10. The programmable device according to claim 8, further comprising a rollover mechanism. 11. The programmable device according to claim 8, further comprising a fast path. 12. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a back button.
A programmable device according to claim 1. 13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a user selection of placing the display frame horizontally left to right or right to left, or vertically top to bottom or bottom to top. Programmable device. 14. The programmable device of claim 8, further comprising a cumulative display of hyperlinks in the dynamic display frame. 15. A computer readable memory for operating a computer to retrieve and display hierarchically structured information using a GUI, the computer readable memory being formed by a computer program and having a request from the computer. Operating the computer to query a user for search parameters in response to the
Obtaining data for display in response to the parameter;
A computer readable memory including a computer readable storage medium storing the computer program. 16. The computer-readable memory of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of selection devices. 17. The computer readable memory according to claim 15, further comprising a rollover mechanism. 18. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a back button.
6. The computer-readable memory according to claim 5. 19. The computer readable memory of claim 15, further comprising a fast path. 20. The computer readable memory of claim 15, further comprising a cumulative display of hyperlinks in the dynamic display frame. 21. The system further comprises a user selection of placing the display frame horizontally left to right or right to left, or vertically top to bottom or bottom to top.
A computer readable memory according to claim 15. 22. A method for retrieving and displaying hierarchically structured information using a GUI, comprising: connecting a computer to at least one network; and applying a search criterion to a program of the computer. Providing; obtaining one or more data levels of data responsive to the criteria; displaying the data levels in one or more display frames of a frame page; Accumulation of hyperlinks in a dynamic display frame to move the display screen with step-by-step left-to-right or right-to-left or vertical top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top direction and fast path Displaying a graphical display; and moving the display frame by one or more selected devices. And-up, the back button, and a step of moving the display frame, the method. 23. A method for retrieving and displaying hierarchically structured information using a GUI, comprising the steps of:
Executing instructions from the memory of the computer; inputting search criteria in response to a request from the search screen; obtaining one or more data levels in response to the search criteria. Arranging said display frame horizontally left-to-right or right-to-left, or vertically top-to-bottom or bottom-to-top; displaying one or more of said data levels in adjacent display frames A method comprising: moving the data level by clicking on one or more selected devices; and changing the display frame in response to a rollover mechanism.