Browsing or Searching User Interfaces and Other Aspects

Abstract

User interfaces for browsing and/or searching are described. In one embodiment, a method includes displaying a first display area for display representations of documents matching a search query, the first display area configured to display content of the documents which can have a plurality of different types of content including at least one of text-based content and a folder, and displaying a second display area for selecting a selected document to be displayed in the first display area. Other embodiments are also described, and computer readable media and apparatuses are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer readable storage medium storing executable program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method comprising:
 displaying a set of items of a list of items using a web browser with a first display area in the web browser having a center section for displaying a selected item, a first side section in the web browser for displaying a first item adjacent to the selected item, and a second side section in the web browser for displaying a second item adjacent to the selected item;   selecting either the first item or second item to designate the selected item;   displaying the selected item in the center section in response to the selecting; and   displaying a different first top item in the first side section or a different second top item in the second side section in response to the selecting.   
     
     
         2 . The medium as in  claim 1 , further comprising accessing the list of items with the web browser. 
     
     
         3 . The medium as in  claim 1  wherein the list of items comprises the result of a search query. 
     
     
         4 . The medium as in  claim 1  further comprising zooming the selected item, first item or second item to an enlarged view. 
     
     
         5 . The medium as in  claim 1  further comprising displaying the multiple pages of the selected item within the center section of the first display area. 
     
     
         6 . The medium as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying the first side section in a first stack fashion such that a first top most stack section displays a first item that precedes the selected item; and 
 displaying the second side section in a second stack fashion such that a second top most stack section displays a second item that follows the selected item. 
 
     
     
         7 . The medium as in  claim 6  wherein the first side section or the second side section displays only one item. 
     
     
         8 . The medium as in  claim 6  further comprising:
 displaying the first item which is most adjacent to the selected item the closest to the center section; and 
 displaying the first item which is next adjacent to the selected item the next closest to the center section. 
 
     
     
         9 . The medium as in  claim 6  further comprising:
 displaying the second item which is most adjacent to the selected item the closest to the center section; and 
 displaying the second item which is next adjacent to the selected item the next closest to the center section. 
 
     
     
         10 . The medium as in  claim 1  further comprising:
 displaying a series of first side sections in a first stack fashion such that the first side section is displayed as a first top most stack section; and 
 displaying a series of second side sections in a second stack fashion such that the second side section is displayed as a second top most stack section. 
 
     
     
         11 . A machine implemented method comprising:
 displaying a set of items of a list of items using a web browser with a first display area in the web browser having a center section for displaying a selected item, a first side section in the web browser for displaying a first item adjacent to the selected item, and a second side section in the web browser for displaying a second item adjacent to the selected item;   selecting either the first item or second item to designate the selected item;   displaying the selected item in the center section in response to the selecting; and   displaying a different first top item in the first side section or a different second top item in the second side section in response to the selecting.   
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 11 , further comprising accessing the list of items with the web browser. 
     
     
         13 . The method as in  claim 11  wherein the list of items comprises the result of a search query. 
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 11  further comprising zooming the selected item, first item or second item to an enlarged view. 
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 11  further comprising displaying the multiple pages of the selected item within the center section of the first display area. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 11  further comprising:
 displaying the first side section in a first stack fashion such that a first top most stack section displays a first item that precedes the selected item; and 
 displaying the second side section in a second stack fashion such that a second top most stack section displays a second item that follows the selected item. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 16  wherein the first side section or the second side section displays only one item 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 16  further comprising:
 displaying the first item which is most adjacent to the selected item the closest to the center section; and 
 displaying the first item which is next adjacent to the selected item the next closest to the center section. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 16  further comprising:
 displaying the second item which is most adjacent to the selected item the closest to the center section; and 
 displaying the second item which is next adjacent to the selected item the next closest to the center section. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method as in  claim 11  further comprising:
 displaying a series of first side sections in a first stack fashion such that the first side section is displayed as a first top most stack section; and 
 displaying a series of second side sections in a second stack fashion such that the second side section is displayed as a second top most stack section. 
 
     
     
         21 . A data processing system comprising:
 means for displaying a set of items of a list of items using a web browser with a first display area in the web browser having a center section for displaying a selected item, a first side section in the web browser for displaying a first item adjacent to the selected item, and a second side section in the web browser for displaying a second item adjacent to the selected item;   means for selecting either the first item or second item to designate the selected item;   means for displaying the selected item in the center section in response to the selecting; and   means for displaying a different first top item in the first side section or a different second top item in the second side section in response to the selecting.