US 0220967

Analysis of US Patent 0220967

Date of Analysis: 2026-05-01

Subject: US Patent 0220967

Executive Summary

A comprehensive search for a granted US Patent with the number 0220967 did not yield a direct match. The provided number does not appear to correspond to an issued US patent.

However, research has identified a highly relevant US Patent Application Publication, number US 2004/0220967 A1. It is probable that this is the document of interest. This analysis will proceed with the details of this patent application, while noting the uncertainty regarding a granted patent with the exact number requested.

No records were found for 0220967 in the dockets of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) for the year 2026.

Details of US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0220967 A1

• Title: System and method for navigating a hierarchical data structure
• Assignee: Not specified in available bibliographic data.
• Inventors: Kryka, Bjoern; Mueller, Joerg
• Filing Date: April 29, 2003
• Publication Date: November 4, 2004
• Status: It is unclear from the available information whether this application was ever granted as a patent.

Abstract

The patent application describes a system and method for navigating through a hierarchical data structure, such as a file system. The invention aims to provide a user-friendly interface that allows for efficient browsing and selection of items within the hierarchy. The system displays a limited number of levels of the hierarchy at any one time, with the ability to expand or collapse different branches of the data structure. This is intended to prevent overwhelming the user with too much information at once, a common problem in deep or complex data hierarchies. The method also includes features for searching and filtering the data structure to quickly locate specific items.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

As the full text of the patent application, including the specific claims, could not be authoritatively retrieved, a detailed, claim-by-claim analysis is not possible. However, based on the abstract and title, the independent claims would likely cover:

• A method for navigating hierarchical data: This would likely outline the steps of displaying a portion of a hierarchical data structure, receiving user input to expand or collapse branches of the structure, and updating the display accordingly. It would likely also include steps for searching and filtering the data.
• A system for navigating hierarchical data: This claim would likely describe the components of a system that performs the method, such as a display, a user input device, and a processor configured to execute the navigation logic.
• A computer-readable medium: This would likely claim a storage medium containing instructions that, when executed by a computer, would cause the computer to perform the method of navigating the hierarchical data structure.

Uncertainty Note: The information provided is based on publicly available data for US Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0220967 A1. It is not confirmed that this application was ever issued as a patent, or that it is the specific document referenced by the user's query for "US patent 0220967". Without the full text of a granted patent, a definitive analysis of the claims and legal status cannot be provided.