Indicating hierarchy in a computer system with a graphical user interface

Abstract

Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for indicating hierarchy of objects in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computer system. The method uses a first color to display a first set of objects at a first level of the hierarchy. The method then uses a second color, different from the first color, to display a second set of objects at a second level of the hierarchy. The first and second colors are two different colors in the visible light spectrum in some embodiments, while they are two different shades of the same color in other embodiments.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to perform operations comprising:
 providing a plurality of parent selectable items comprising a first parent selectable item and a second parent selectable item, wherein the first parent selectable item provides access to a first set of child selectable items, wherein the second parent selectable item provides access to a second set of child selectable items;   providing a first display area for displaying the plurality of parent selectable items, the first display area being provided by using a first color; and   providing a second display area for (i) displaying the first set of child selectable items when the first parent selectable item is selected and (ii) displaying the second set of child selectable items when the second parent selectable item is selected, wherein only one set of child selectable items may be displayed at a time in the second display area, the second display area being provided by using a second color that is different than the first color to color at least a portion of the second display area to highlight a parent-child relationship between the selected parent item and the set of child selectable items displayed in the second display area, the first and second display areas each having a fixed size that does not change regardless of which parent selectable item is selected and wherein the first and second display areas are both displayed within a window.   
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the first set of child selectable items comprises more than one child selectable item and the second set of child selectable items comprises only one child selectable item. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the fixed size of the second display area comprises a fixed shape. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second colors are different shades of the same color, 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 2 , where a first child selectable item of the first set of child selectable items provides access to a first set of grandchild selectable items. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions, which when executed by the least one processor, configure the at least one processor to further perform operations comprising:
 providing a third display area for displaying the first set of grandchild selectable items when the first child selectable item is selected, wherein the third display area is provided by using a third color that is different than the first and second color to color at least a portion of the third display area.   
     
     
         8 . A system for providing a graphical user interface (“GUI”), the system comprising:
 at least one processor; 
 a storage device comprising instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of parent selectable items comprising a first parent selectable item and a second parent selectable item, wherein the first parent selectable item provides access to a first set of child selectable items, wherein the second parent selectable item provides access to a second set of child selectable items; 
 displaying a first display area for displaying the plurality of parent selectable items, the first display area displayed by using a first color; 
 displaying the first set of child selectable items in a second display area when the first parent selectable item is selected; and 
 displaying the second set of child selectable items in the second display area when the second parent selectable item is selected, the second display area having a fixed display that remains unchanged regardless of which parent selectable item is selected, 
 wherein only one of the first and second sets of child selectable items may be displayed at a time in the second display area, the second display area displayed by using a second color that is different than the first color to color at least a portion of the second display area to convey a hierarchical relationship between the selected parent selectable item and the set of child selectable items displayed in the second display area. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second parent selectable items are tabs associated with a particular icon from an icon group, the particular icon being a parent of the first and second parent selectable items. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first and second parent selectable items are linearly arranged in the first display area and the particular icon is linearly arranged with other icons in the icon group in a third display area that is displayed by using a third color different from the first and second colors. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second display areas are both displayed within a window. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first set of child selectable items comprises more than one child selectable item and the second set of child selectable items comprises only one child selectable item. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the fixed display of the second display area comprises a fixed size and shape. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second colors are different shades of the same color. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , where a first child selectable item of the first set of child selectable items provides access to a first set of grandchild selectable items. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions, which when executed by the least one processor, configure the at least one processor to further perform operations comprising:
 providing a third display area for displaying the first set of grandchild selectable items when the first child selectable item is selected, wherein the third display area is provided by using a third color that is different than the first and second color to color at least a portion of the third display area.