Manipulation of an ajax tree presentation

Abstract

The present invention discloses a method for manipulating the presentation of an AJAX tree using an array representing the hierarchical path of a tree node. Such a method can begin with the receipt of a user-request to expand a selected tree node of an AJAX tree in a Web page. Next, it can be determined if the tree node is present in the existing path array. When the tree node is present in the existing path array, the existing path array can be modified for the selected tree node. A new path array can be requested from the AJAX engine when the tree node does not exist in the existing path array. A path array handler can be invoked to expand the AJAX tree using the existing path array.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method for manipulating presentation of an AJAX tree presented within a Web page, comprising:
 determining a presence of a user-selected tree node in an existing path array for the AJAX tree;   modifying, based upon the determining, the existing path array to reflect the user-selected tree node; and   invoking a path array handler to expand the AJAX tree, wherein   each tree node of the AJAX tree that is expanded by the path array handler is contained within the existing path array.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein
 the modifying includes removing a data element from a last position of the existing path array, and   the removing the data element is repeated until the user-selected tree node is in the last position of the existing path array.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein
 the existing path array is stored in a location accessible by the Web page in response to a detection of a page unload event of the Web page.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein
 the location is at least one of a Web cookie and a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) session variable.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein
 the page unload event is one of a refresh event, a backward-navigation event, and a forward-navigation event.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein
 in response to a detection of a page reload event of the Web page:
 the existing pay array is retrieved from the location, and 
 the path array handler is invoked to present the AJAX tree expanded according to the existing path array. 
   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein
 the page reload event is one of a refresh event, a backward-navigation event, and a forward-navigation event.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein
 the existing path array contains a plurality of data elements, and   the plurality of data elements represent a hierarchal order of expanded tree nodes contained within the AJAX tree.   
     
     
         29 . A computer hardware system configured to manipulate presentation of an AJAX tree presented within a Web page, comprising:
 a hardware processor configured to initiate the following operations:
 determining a presence of a user-selected tree node in an existing path array for the AJAX tree; 
 modifying, based upon the determining, the existing path array to reflect the user-selected tree node; and 
 invoking a path array handler to expand the AJAX tree, wherein 
   each tree node of the AJAX tree that is expanded by the path array handler is contained within the existing path array.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein
 the modifying includes removing a data element from a last position of the existing path array, and   the removing the data element is repeated until the user-selected tree node is in the last position of the existing path array.   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein
 the existing path array is stored in a location accessible by the Web page in response to a detection of a page unload event of the Web page.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein
 the location is at least one of a Web cookie and a HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) session variable.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein
 the page unload event is one of a refresh event, a backward-navigation event, and a forward-navigation event.   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein
 in response to a detection of a page reload event of the Web page:
 the existing pay array is retrieved from the location, and 
 the path array handler is invoked to present the AJAX tree expanded according to the existing path array. 
   
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein
 the page reload event is one of a refresh event, a backward-navigation event, and a forward-navigation event.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein
 the existing path array contains a plurality of data elements, and   the plurality of data elements represent a hierarchal order of expanded tree nodes contained within the AJAX tree.   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the hardware processor is further configured to execute:
 requesting, upon the user-selected tree node being absent from the existing path array, a path array for the user-selected tree node from a Web server associated with the Web page.   
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein
 the path array handler is configured to utilize the requested path array to expand the AJAX tree.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein
 the requested path array is provided by a path array generator that is a component of an AJAX engine operating on the Web server.