User interface presentation of information in reconfigured or overlapping containers

Abstract

A graphical user interface provides a display of multiple items of information in a manner such that the user can comprehend the relationship of various items to one another over a wide span. To achieve this result, at least some information containers are allocated a reduced amount of area in which to be viewed by the user. At least one container continues to be displayed in full view, however. in one embodiment, the containers are displayed in an overlapping arrangement. In a column view, for instance, the column containing the object that was last clicked upon, and the column showing the contents of the selected object, can be displayed in full view. The other columns may be only partially visible, due to the overlapping arrangement. However, the user is presented with enough information to comprehend the relationship of objects at different levels. When the user moves a cursor over a container with a reduced viewing area, the display changes to show that container in full view.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 displaying a user interface that includes a plurality of containers of information;   while displaying the plurality of containers of information including a first container and a second container, receiving an input that includes an instruction to increase an amount of overlap between the first container and the second container;   in response to receiving the input:
 increasing an amount of overlap of the first container over the second container; 
 in accordance with a determination that the first container overlaps the second container by a first amount, displaying a shadow for the first container with a first size that corresponds to the first amount of overlap; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the first container overlaps the second container by a second amount that is greater than the first amount, displaying a shadow for the first container with a second size that is greater than the first size and corresponds to the second amount of overlap. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising gradually changing the shadow for the first container with the first size as the amount of overlap between the first container and the second container increases. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein gradually changing the shadow for the firs container includes presenting an animated transition gradually over time after the input is detected. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising, in response to receiving the input, increasing an amount of overlap of the second container over a third container. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising, in response to receiving the input, gradually changing a size of a shadow for the second container based on the amount of overlap of the second container over the third container as the amount of overlap of the second container over the third container changes. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising, in response to receiving the input, revealing an additional portion of the first container as the amount of overlap between the first container and the second container increases, wherein the additional portion of the first container was hidden from view before the input was received. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the input is a stationary input over the first container. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the input includes movement over the first container. 
     
     
         29 . The meth d of  claim 28 , wherein increasing the amount of overlap of the first container over the second container includes moving the second container and the first container on the display. 
     
     
         30 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium including instructions for receiving information, which when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 display a user interface that includes a plurality of containers of information;   while displaying the plurality of containers of information including a first container and a second container, receive an input that includes an instruction to increase an amount of overlap between the first container and the second container;   in response to receiving the input:
 increase an amount of overlap of the first container over the second container; 
 in accordance with a determination that the first container overlaps the second container by a first amount, display a shadow for the first container with a first size that corresponds to the first amount of overlap; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the first container overlaps the second container by a second amount that is greater than the first amount, display a shadow for the first container with a second size that is greater than the first size and corresponds to the second amount of overlap. 
   
     
     
         31 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 30 , further comprising instructions to gradually change the shadow for the first container with the first size as the amount of overlap between the first container and the second container increases. 
     
     
         32 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the instructions to gradually change the shadow for the first container include instructions to present an animated transition gradually over time after the input is detected. 
     
     
         33 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 30 , further comprising instructions to increase, in response to receiving the input, an amount of overlap of the second container over a third container. 
     
     
         34 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 33 , further comprising instructions to gradually change a size of a shadow for the second container based on the amount of overlap of the second container over the third container as the amount of overlap of the second container over the third container changes. 
     
     
         35 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 30 , further comprising instructions to reveal, in response to receiving the input, an additional portion of the first container as the amount of overlap between the first container and the second container increases, wherein the additional portion of the first container was hidden from view before the input was received. 
     
     
         36 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the input is a stationary input over the first container. 
     
     
         37 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the input includes movement over the first container. 
     
     
         38 . The machine-readable medium of  claim 37 , wherein the instructions to increase amount of overlap of the first container over the second container include instructions to move the second container and the first container on the display. 
     
     
         39 . A computing device, comprising:
 one or more input devices;   a display coupled to the one or more input devices, the display to:
 display a user interface that includes a plurality of containers of information; 
 while displaying the plurality of containers of information including a first container and a second container, receive an input from the one or more input devices that includes an instruction to increase an amount of overlap between the first container and the second container; 
 in response to receiving the input:
 increase an amount of overlap of the first container over the second container; 
 in accordance with a determination that the first container overlaps the second container by a first amount, display a shadow for the first container with a first size that corresponds to the first amount of overlap; and 
 in accordance with a determination that the first container overlaps second container by a second amount that is greater than the first amount, display a shadow for the first container with a second size that is greater than the first size and corresponds to the second amount of overlap. 
 
   
     
     
         40 . The computing device of  claim 39 , wherein the display is to gradually change the shadow for the first container with the first size as the amount of overlap between the first container and the second container increases. 
     
     
         41 . The computing device of  claim 40 , wherein to gradually change the shadow for the first container the display is to present an animated transition gradually over time after the is detected. 
     
     
         42 . The computing device of  claim 39 , wherein the display is to increase an amount of overlap of the second container over a third container.