Method and system for navigating a large amount of data

Abstract

Methods for navigating a large amount of data are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present invention accesses a source of formatted warehoused data. The present invention then displays a grid on a display device. In one embodiment, the grid is an iconic representation of the formatted warehoused data. The grid is comprised of elements, each element corresponding to some portion of the formatted warehoused data. The present invention displays a portion of the formatted warehoused data on the display device in response to a selection of a corresponding element of the grid. In another embodiment, the formatted warehoused data is condensed so that it can be read in summary form to a user using a voice-based protocol. The user can issue voice commands to drill down deeper into the data, until the desired information is reached. The user thus doesn't need to hear all of the information in the formatted warehoused data, but instead can make inquiries to directly navigate to a particular item of interest.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for navigating a large amount of formatted warehouse data, said the method comprising:
 accessing a source of the formatted warehoused data; 
 displaying a grid on a display device, said the grid being an iconic representation of said the formatted warehoused data, said the grid comprising elements, each element corresponding to some portion of said the formatted warehoused data; and 
 displaying a portion of said the formatted warehoused data on said the display device, the portion concurrently displayed with and visually distinguished from the grid, in response to a selection of a corresponding element of said the grid. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein content server timeouts are prevented while accessing said the source of formatted data. 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said the warehoused data is formatted in a cross-tabular manner. 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said the portion of said the formatted warehoused data is indicated by a distinctive marking of said the corresponding element of said the grid. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein only said the portion of said the formatted warehoused data is downloaded to said the display device in response to said the selection. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a different portion of said the formatted warehoused data is displayed on said the display device by selecting a different element of said the grid. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a cursor and scrolling arrows is also displayed on said the display device. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 7 , wherein a different portion of said the formatted warehoused data is displayed by utilizing said the GUI to navigate within said the grid and to select a different element of said the grid. 
     
     
       9. A device comprising:
 a bus; 
 a display coupled with said the bus; 
 a memory unit coupled with said the bus; and 
 a processor coupled with said the bus, said the processor for executing a method for navigating a large amount of data, said the method comprising:
 accessing a source of formatted warehoused data; 
 displaying a grid on said the display, said the grid being an iconic representation of said the formatted warehoused data, said the grid comprising elements, each element corresponding to some portion of said the formatted warehoused data; and 
 displaying a portion of said the formatted warehoused data on said the display, the portion concurrently displayed with and visually distinguished from the grid, in response to a selection of a corresponding element of said the grid. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein content server timeouts are prevented while accessing said the source of formatted data. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 9 , wherein said the warehoused data is formatted in a cross-tabular manner. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 9 , wherein said the portion of said the formatted warehoused data is indicated by a distinctive marking of said the corresponding element of said the grid. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 9 , wherein only said the portion of said the formatted warehoused data is downloaded in response to said the selection. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 9 , wherein a different portion of said the formatted warehoused data is displayed on said the display by selecting a different element of said the grid. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 9 , wherein a graphical user interface (GUI) comprising a cursor and scrolling arrows is also displayed on said the display. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 15 , wherein a different portion of said the formatted warehoused data is displayed by utilizing said the GUI to navigate within said the grid and to select a different element of said the grid. 
     
     
       17. A The method for navigating a large amount of data, said method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
 accessing a source of formatted warehoused data; 
 distilling said the formatted warehoused data into a plurality of hierarchical overviews, wherein a hierarchical overview comprises a subtotal of selected entries from said the formatted warehoused data; and 
 receiving a hierarchical overview in response to a first inquiry, the received hierarchical overview corresponding to the portion. 
 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein content server timeouts are prevented while accessing said the source of formatted data. 
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the formatted warehoused data is formatted in a cross-tabular manner. 
     
     
       20. The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said the device is a communications device. 
     
     
       21. The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein information about said the selected entries is received in response to a subsequent inquiry. 
     
     
       22. The method as recited in  claim 17 , wherein inquiries and responses to inquiries are conveyed audibly according to a voice-based communications protocol. 
     
     
       23. The method as recited in  claim 21 , wherein a response to an inquiry is displayed. 
     
     
       24. A The device of claim 9, the processor for executing the method further comprising:
 a bus; 
 a memory unit coupled with said bus; and 
 a processor coupled with said bus, said processor for executing a method for navigating a large amount of data, said method comprising: accessing a source of formatted warehoused data;   distilling said the formatted warehoused data into a plurality of hierarchical overviews, wherein a hierarchical overview comprises a subtotal of selected entries from said the formatted warehoused data; and   receiving a hierarchical overview in response to a first inquiry, the received hierarchical overview corresponding to the portion.   
 
     
     
       25. The device of  claim 24 , wherein content server timeouts are prevented while accessing said the source of formatted data. 
     
     
       26. The device of  claim 24 , wherein the formatted warehoused data is formatted in a cross-tabular manner. 
     
     
       27. The device of  claim 24 , wherein said the device is a communications device. 
     
     
       28. The device of  claim 24 , wherein information about said the selected entries is received in response to a subsequent inquiry. 
     
     
       29. The device of  claim 24 , wherein inquiries and responses to inquiries are conveyed audibly according to a voice-based communications protocol. 
     
     
       30. The device of  claim 28 , wherein a response to an inquiry is displayed.