Efficient Navigation Of Hierarchical Data Displayed In A Graphical User Interface

Abstract

Techniques are described for display and navigation of hierarchical messages, which displays include contextual data for the messages. Context information for a current message includes reply messages, parent messages, and metadata representations. Message representations are also associated with visual depth indicators that are independent of the text of the messages. Users may navigate displays of hierarchical message data using different navigational inputs. For example, more information may be requested for messages, without selecting a new message for viewing as a focal message, using swipes across portions of the display dedicated to displaying the messages. A limited number of messages for a requested list of messages is initially retrieved and displayed, and a mechanism for viewing more messages from the list is provided. Historical usage of the mechanism is recorded and the number of messages to be displayed for the list of messages is adjusted based on the historical usage data.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 displaying, within a graphical user interface of a computing device, a plurality of messages that belong to a hierarchy of messages;   wherein the plurality of messages comprises a first message from a first depth level in the hierarchy of messages and a second message from a second depth level in the hierarchy of messages;   wherein the first depth level is different than the second depth level;   displaying, within the graphical user interface of the computing device, a plurality of depth indicators;   wherein a first depth indicator indicates that the first message is from the first depth level based on a position of the first depth indicator within the graphical user interface;   wherein a second depth indicator indicates that the second message is from the second depth level based on a position of the second depth indicator within the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein first depth indicator indicates that the first message is from the first depth level based on a position of the first depth indicator along a horizontal axis. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein first depth indicator indicates that the first message is from the first depth level based on a position of the first depth indicator along a vertical axis.