Threaded conversation user interface

Abstract

Embodiments described herein provide a Threaded Conversation User Interface (“TCUI”) on a display area of a computer used to connect a social network. The TCUI comprises a plurality of nested columns. First, second, and third nested columns of the plurality of nested columns includes first, second, and third comments, respectively. The first nested column is positioned at a left margin of the display area, the second nested column is indented a single indentation width from the display area's left margin, and the third nested column is indented multiple indentation widths from the display area's left margin. A type of input gesture is determined from a received input gesture and in response, the TCUI is scrolled. The scrolling is terminated with at least one of second, third, or another nested column positioned at the left edge of the display area, the termination being based at least on the determined input gesture.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 providing a Threaded Conversation User Interface (TCUI) for display on a display area of a computing device based on received configuration information for the display area of the computing device, the TCUI comprising a plurality of nested columns, wherein:
 a first comment is in a first nested column of the plurality of nested columns, 
 a second comment is in a second nested column of the plurality of nested columns, and 
 a third comment is in a third nested column of the plurality of nested columns, and 
   wherein a left edge of the first nested column is positioned at a left margin of the display area, a left edge of the second nested column is indented a single indentation width in a horizontal direction from the left edge of the first nested column, the single indentation width being less than a width of the first nested column, and a left edge of the third nested column is indented multiple indentation widths in the horizontal direction from the left edge of the first nested column;   receiving an input gesture;   scrolling the TCUI in response to receiving the input gesture; and   terminating the scrolling of the TCUI with the left edge of the second nested column positioned at the left margin of the display area, a right edge of the second nested column positioned at a right margin of the display area, and a right edge of the first nested column indented the single indentation width in a horizontal direction from the right edge of the second nested column.   
     
     
         22 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising terminating the scrolling of the TCUI with the left edge of the third nested column positioned at the left margin of the display area and a right edge of the third nested column positioned at the right margin of the display area when the left edge of the third nested column is within a threshold proximity of the left margin of the display area. 
     
     
         23 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein, prior to the scrolling of the TCUI, the third comment is not displayed and a comment in another nested column of the plurality of nested columns is displayed in a vertical position that would have been occupied by the third comment if the third comment were displayed, and wherein, as a result of the scrolling of the TCUI, the third comment is displayed in the vertical position of the third nested column and the comment in the other nested column of the plurality of nested columns is moved downward in the TCUI. 
     
     
         24 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the second comment or the third comment is not displayed or partially displayed prior to the scrolling of the TCUI and fully displayed after the scrolling of the TCUI terminates. 
     
     
         25 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 displaying a visual placeholder corresponding to a comment within a nested column of the plurality of nested columns when the comment within the nested column is partially displayed or not displayed on the display area of the computing device.   
     
     
         26 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 25 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of the visual placeholder from the computing device; and   in response to receiving the selection of the visual placeholder:
 scrolling the TCUI; 
 terminating the scrolling of the TCUI when a left edge of the nested column associated with the comment, that corresponded to the visual placeholder, is positioned at the left margin of the display area; and 
 fully displaying the comment within the nested column. 
   
     
     
         27 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 21 , wherein the TCUI further comprises a column indicator to indicate a number of nested columns located left of the left margin. 
     
     
         28 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of the column indicator; and   in response to receiving the selection of the column indicator:
 scrolling the TCUI; and 
 terminating the scrolling of the TCUI when the left edge of the first nested column is positioned at the left margin of the display area. 
   
     
     
         29 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 28 , further comprising fully displaying one or more comments that correspond to the first nested column in response to receiving the selection of the column indicator. 
     
     
         30 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a computing device to:
 provide a Threaded Conversation User Interface (TCUI) for display on a display area of the computing device based on received configuration information for the display area of the computing device, the TCUI comprising a plurality of nested columns, wherein:
 a first comment is in a first nested column of the plurality of nested columns, 
 a second comment is in a second nested column of the plurality of nested columns, and 
 a third comment is in a third nested column of the plurality of nested columns, and 
   wherein a left edge of the first nested column is positioned at a left margin of the display area, a left edge of the second nested column is indented a single indentation width in a horizontal direction from the left edge of the first nested column, the single indentation width being less than a width of the first nested column, and a left edge of the third nested column is indented multiple indentation widths in the horizontal direction from the left edge of the first nested column;   receive an input gesture;   scroll the TCUI in response to receiving the input gesture; and   terminate the scrolling of the TCUI with the left edge of the second nested column positioned at the left margin of the display area, a right edge of the second nested column positioned at a right margin of the display area, and a right edge of the first nested column indented the single indentation width in a horizontal direction from the right edge of the second nested column.   
     
     
         31 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , further storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to:
 terminate the scrolling of the TCUI with the left edge of the third nested column positioned at the left margin of the display area and a right edge of the third nested column positioned at the right margin of the display area when the left edge of the third nested column is within a threshold proximity of the left margin of the display area.   
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein, prior to the scrolling of the TCUI, the third comment is not displayed and a comment in another nested column of the plurality of nested columns is displayed in a vertical position that would have been occupied by the third comment if the third comment were displayed, and wherein, as a result of the scrolling of the TCUI, the third comment is displayed in the vertical position of the third nested column and the comment in the other nested column of the plurality of nested columns is moved downward in the TCUI. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the second comment is not displayed or is partially displayed prior to the scrolling of the TCUI and fully displayed after the scrolling of the TCUI terminates. 
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , further storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to display a visual placeholder corresponding to a comment within a nested column of the plurality of nested columns when the comment within the nested column is partially displayed or not displayed on the display area of the computing device. 
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 34 , further storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to:
 receive a selection of the visual placeholder from the computing device; and   in response to receiving the selection of the visual placeholder:
 scroll the TCUI; 
 terminate the scrolling of the TCUI when a left edge of the nested column associated with the comment, that corresponds to the visual placeholder, is positioned at the left margin of the display area; and 
 fully display the comment within the nested column. 
   
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 30 , wherein the TCUI further comprises a column indicator to indicate a number of nested columns located left of the left margin. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , further storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to:
 receiving a selection of the column indicator; and   in response to receiving the selection of the column indicator:
 scroll the TCUI; and 
 terminate the scrolling of the TCUI when the left edge of the first nested column is positioned at the left margin of the display area; and 
 fully display one or more comments that correspond to the first nested column. 
   
     
     
         38 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor;   a display screen; and   at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to:   provide a Threaded Conversation User Interface (TCUI) for display on a display area of the display screen based on received configuration information for the display area of the display screen, the TCUI comprising a plurality of nested columns, wherein:
 a first comment is in a first nested column of the plurality of nested columns, 
 a second comment is in a second nested column of the plurality of nested columns, and 
 a third comment is in a third nested column of the plurality of nested columns, and 
   wherein a left edge of the first nested column is positioned at a left margin of the display area, a left edge of the second nested column is indented a single indentation width in a horizontal direction from the left edge of the first nested column, the single indentation width being less than a width of the first nested column, and a left edge of the third nested column is indented multiple indentation widths in the horizontal direction from the left edge of the first nested column;   receive an input gesture;   scroll the TCUI in response to receiving the input gesture; and   terminate the scrolling of the TCUI with the left edge of the second nested column positioned at the left margin of the display area, a right edge of the second nested column positioned at a right margin of the display area, and a right edge of the first nested column indented the single indentation width in a horizontal direction from the right edge of the second nested column.   
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , further storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to terminate the scrolling of the TCUI with the left edge of the third nested column positioned at the left margin of the display area and a right edge of the third nested column positioned at the right margin of the display area when the left edge of the third nested column is within a threshold proximity of the left margin of the display area. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein, prior to the scrolling of the TCUI, the third comment is not displayed and a comment in another nested column of the plurality of nested columns is displayed in a vertical position that would have been occupied by the third comment if the third comment were displayed, and wherein, as a result of the scrolling of the TCUI, the third comment is displayed in the vertical position of the third nested column and the comment in the other nested column of the plurality of nested columns is moved downward in the TCUI.