US Patent 7458033 Direct manipulation of time scale

A method of presenting time-dependent information displays a first time scale that includes at least one first time unit and a plurality of second time units, which are subunits of the first time unit. The method displays time-dependent information according to the first time scale. A graphical drill-up control is provided for the first time unit. A graphical drill-down control is provided for each of the second time units. Actuation of the drill-up control displays a new time scale that includes at least one third time unit, of which the first time unit is a subunit, and a plurality of first time units. The method then displays the time-dependent information according to the new time scale. Actuation of the drill-down control displays a second new time scale that includes a plurality of third time units, each of which is a subunit of the second time unit. The method then displays the time-dependent information according to the second new time scale.