Abstract: Data is commonly stored in multidimensional arrays. Users and computer applications may request or interact with the data objects. As larger amounts of data are stored, the resources used to maintain and manipulate the data increase. An effective way to manage resources is to operate on an index of ranges that identify selected data within a multidimensional array. The index of ranges is associated with only a subset of data objects, instead of the entire multidimensional array. A range may comprise multiple dimensions (e.g. row and column) that are indexed by start and end indexes. Using the index of ranges to access data is efficient because the index of ranges is kept in sorted order, allowing for a binary search for locating and accessing specified data within the multidimensional array. The index of ranges is updated to reflect operations within the multidimensional array, such as, selecting new data or removing data, for example.

Abstract: An improved system and method for focus navigation behavior specification in a user interface is provided. To this end, an application may include declarations that may associate a focus navigation resource with a user interface object and a focus navigation behavior may be dynamically selected for changing the input focus in the user interface. A focus navigation engine may be provided for applying a number of focus navigation behaviors for moving input focus within and among logical groups of user interface objects. A visual representation of the user interface objects with the applied focus navigation behavior may be generated and a display representation may be rendered for presentation on a user interface display.

Abstract: Data is commonly stored in multidimensional arrays. Users and computer applications may request or interact with the data objects. As larger amounts of data are stored, the resources used to maintain and manipulate the data increase. An effective way to manage resources is to operate on an index of ranges that identify selected data within a multidimensional array. The index of ranges is associated with only a subset of data objects, instead of the entire multidimensional array. A range may comprise multiple dimensions (e.g. row and column) that are indexed by start and end indexes. Using the index of ranges to access data is efficient because the index of ranges is kept in sorted order, allowing for a binary search for locating and accessing specified data within the multidimensional array. The index of ranges is updated to reflect operations within the multidimensional array, such as, selecting new data or removing data, for example.

Abstract: A system and method for improved directional focus navigation in a user interface is provided. The directional focus navigation engine may receive directional input for changing the input focus of a user interface object in the user interface. A target candidate selector may select target candidates in a direction of travel among one or more user interface objects for receiving the input focus. A target candidate scorer may score the target candidates selected and the directional focus navigation engine may change the input focus to user interface object based upon the scoring. Scoring the target candidates may be biased when navigation continues in the same traversal direction for changing input focus.