Claims
- 1-27. Cancelled.
- 28. A method for creating associations between data, wherein the associations are defined by navigation paths between triggers and targets, and wherein the targets are used to identify and navigate to one or more corresponding targets, the method comprising:
displaying icons representing different data, wherein each of the different data can be identified as a target and as a trigger; receiving user input dragging a first icon representing a target onto a second icon representing a trigger; and dynamically creating a navigation path between the trigger and the target in response to the user input, wherein the navigation path is stored for subsequent access by a computing system.
- 29. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein creating the navigation path includes:
creating a data structure that identifies first data associated with the first icon as a target and that identifies second data associated with the second icon as a trigger; storing the data structure as an association between the trigger and target; and inserting one or more criteria in the data structure that determine the circumstances under which the association between the trigger and target applies, the association corresponding to a user preference for navigating between the trigger and target.
- 30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein upon storing the association, automatically modifying the association in response to subsequent navigation between the trigger and target.
- 31. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the icons are displayed by a graphical user interface and wherein the graphical user interface, in response to subsequent user input, creates an association between the trigger and another target.
- 32. A method as recited in claim 29, further including: providing a find tool for enabling a user to find a created association.
- 33. A method as recited in claim 29, further including: providing a view tool for enabling a user to create a view for displaying the association.
- 34. A method as recited in claim 29, further including: providing a navigation tool for enabling navigation between the associated target and trigger, the navigation tool defining what should be done when a user selects the association.
- 35. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein the association is displayed by a graphical user interface and wherein selection of the association causes the target to be displayed when only a single target is associated with the trigger.
- 36. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein selection of the association causes the target and trigger to be manipulated.
- 37. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the association also includes an association between the trigger and at least one other target, and wherein selection of the association causes the user interface to request user selection of either the target and the at least one other target.
- 38. A method as recited in claim 35, wherein the association also includes an association between the trigger and at least one other target, and wherein selection of the association causes the user interface to automatically select one of either the target and the at least one other target based on heuristics.
- 39. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing the method recited in claim 28.
- 40. A computer program product as recited in claim 39, wherein creating the navigation path includes:
creating a data structure that identifies first data associated with the first icon as a target and that identifies second data associated with the second icon as a trigger; storing the data structure as an association between the trigger and target; and inserting one or more criteria in the data structure that determine the circumstances under which the association between the trigger and target applies, the association corresponding to a user preference for navigating between the trigger and target.
- 41. A computer program product as recited in claim 40, wherein upon storing the association, automatically modifying the association in response to subsequent navigation between the trigger and target.
- 42. A computer program product as recited in claim 39, wherein the icons are displayed by a graphical user interface and wherein the graphical user interface, in response to subsequent user input, creates an association between the trigger and another target.
- 43. A computer program product as recited in claim 40, wherein the method further includes providing a find tool for enabling a user to find a created association.
- 44. A computer program product as recited in claim 40, wherein the method further includes providing a view tool for enabling a user to create a view for displaying the association.
- 45. A computer program product as recited in claim 40, wherein the method further includes providing a navigation tool for enabling navigation between the associated target and trigger, the navigation tool defining what should be done when a user selects the association.
- 46. A computer program product as recited in claim 40, wherein the association is displayed by a graphical user interface and wherein selection of the association causes the target to be displayed when only a single target is associated with the trigger.
- 47. A computer program product as recited in claim 46, wherein selection of the association causes the target and trigger to be manipulated.
- 48. A computer program product as recited in claim 46, wherein the association also includes an association between the trigger and at least one other target, and wherein selection of the association causes the user interface to request user selection of either the target and the at least one other target.
- 49. A computer program product as recited in claim 46, wherein the association also includes an association between the trigger and at least one other target, and wherein selection of the association causes the user interface to automatically select one of either the target and the at least one other target based on heuristics.
- 50. A method for creating associations between different data, wherein the associations are defined by navigation paths between triggers and targets, wherein the targets are used to identify and navigate to one or more corresponding targets, the method comprising:
providing a graphical user interface that displays icons representing different data, wherein each of the different data can be identified as a target and as a trigger; receiving user input dragging a first icon representing a target onto a second icon representing a trigger; dynamically creating a navigation path between the trigger and the target in response to the user input, wherein the navigation path is stored for subsequent access by a computing system and wherein the navigation path is stored with one or more criteria that determine the circumstances under which an association between the trigger and target applies, the association corresponding to a user preference for navigating between the trigger and target; and automatically modifying the association in response to navigation between the trigger and target.
- 51. A method as recited in claim 50, further including: providing a navigation tool for enabling navigation between the associated trigger and target, the navigation tool defining what should be done when a user selects the association.
- 52. A method as recited in claim 50, wherein the association is displayed by a graphical user interface and wherein selection of the association causes the target to be displayed when only a single target is associated with the trigger.
- 53. A method as recited in claim 52, wherein the association also includes an association between the trigger and at least one other target, and wherein selection of the association causes the user interface to request user selection of either the target and the at least one other target.
- 54. A method as recited in claim 52, wherein the association also includes an association between the trigger and at least one other target, and wherein selection of the association causes the user interface to automatically select one of either the target and the at least one other target based on heuristics.
- 55. A method as recited in claim 50, wherein the trigger also comprises a target for another association corresponding to a different trigger.
- 56. A computer program product comprising one or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions for implementing the method recited in claim 50.
- 57. A computer program product as recited in claim 56, further including:
providing a navigation tool for enabling navigation between the associated trigger and target, the navigation tool defining what should be done when a user selects the association.
- 58. A computer program product as recited in claim 56, wherein the association is displayed by a graphical user interface and wherein selection of the association causes the target to be displayed when only a single target is associated with the trigger.
- 59. A computer program product as recited in claim 58, wherein the association also includes an association between the trigger and at least one other target, and wherein selection of the association causes the user interface to request user selection of either the target and the at least one other target.
- 60. A computer program product as recited in claim 58, wherein the association also includes an association between the trigger and at least one other target, and wherein selection of the association causes the user interface to automatically select one of either the target and the at least one other target based on heuristics.
- 61. A computer program product as recited in claim 56, wherein the trigger also comprises a target for another association corresponding to a different trigger.
- 62. A graphical user interface for creating associations between different data, wherein the associations are defined by navigation paths between triggers and targets, wherein the targets are used to identify and navigate to one or more corresponding targets, the method comprising:
a plurality of icons representing different data, wherein each of the different data can be user defined as a target and as a trigger, wherein a first icon representing a trigger can be dragged and dropped onto a second icon representing a target; wherein in response to the dragging and dropping of the target onto the trigger, the graphical user interface dynamically creates a navigation path between the trigger and the target and stores the navigation path for subsequent access by a computing system, the graphical user interface storing the navigation path with one or more criteria that determine the circumstances under which an association between the trigger and target applies, the association corresponding to a user preference for navigating between the trigger and target; and tools for displaying the association and for navigating the association between the trigger and the target.
- 63. A graphical user interface as recited in claim 62, wherein the association is automatically modified in response to navigation between the trigger and target.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/494,716 filed Jan. 31, 2000, entitled “Dynamic Personalized Information Organizer” which is incorporated herein by reference.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09494716 |
Jan 2000 |
US |
Child |
10893514 |
Jul 2004 |
US |