Concentric hierarchical list browser

1. A computer-implemented method for browsing hierarchically structured data, comprising:

displaying on a display a first-level circular user interface object with at least one first-level selector object, wherein the first-level circular user interface object is a first graphical user interface object with a first circular form, wherein the at least one first-level data object represents a first level of the hierarchically structured data, wherein the first-level circular user interface object has an outer circular edge with a first diameter, wherein the first diameter is equal to an initial diameter; and

responsive to receiving a first selection of one of the at least one first-level selector object and by operation of a computer:

rotating the first-level circular user interface object to orient the at least one first-level selector object to stop at a predefined orientation used to align all selected selector objects on the same circular angle;

indicating the first selection on the display in response to receiving the selection;

decreasing the first diameter in response to receiving the selection; and

displaying a second-level circular user interface object with at least one second-level selector object in response to the first selection, wherein the second-level circular user interface object is a second graphical user interface object with a second circular form, wherein the second-level circular user interface is operable for receiving a second selection of one of the at least one-second level selector objects, wherein the at least one second-level data object represents a second-level branch of a second level of the hierarchically structured data, wherein the first branch is determined by the first selection, wherein the second-level circular user interface object has an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and wherein the inner circular edge of the second-level circular user interface object is attached to the outer circular edge of the first-level circular user interface object.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the outer circular edge of the second-level circular user interface has a diameter less than or equal to the initial diameter.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

responsive to receiving a second selection of one of the at least one second-level selector object:

rotating the second-level circular user interface object to orient the at least one second-level selector object to stop at the predefined orientation;

indicating the second selection on the display in response to the second selection;

decreasing the diameter of the first-level circular user interface object and the second-level circular user interface object in response to the second selection; and

displaying a third-level circular user interface object with least one third-level selector object in response to the second selection, each representing a third-level data object associated with the second selection, wherein the third-level circular user interface object is a third graphical user interface object with a third circular form, wherein the third-level circular user interface is operable for receiving a third selection of one of the at least one third-level selector object, wherein the at least one third-level data object represents a third-level branch of a third level of the hierarchically structured data, wherein the third-level branch is determined by the second selection, wherein the third-level circular user interface object has an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and wherein the inner circular edge of the third-level circular user interface object is attached to the outer circular edge of the second-level circular user interface object.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the outer circular edge of the third-level circular user interface has a diameter less than or equal to the initial diameter.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the hierarchically structured data has a tree like structure with m-levels, wherein m is greater than or equal to 2, wherein the method further comprises:

responsive to receiving a nth selection of one of the at least one n-level selector object, wherein n is less than m:

rotating the n-level circular user interface object to orient the at least one n-level selector object to stop at the predefined orientation;

indicating the nth selection on the display in response to receiving the nth selection;

decreasing a nth outer diameter of an n-level circular interface object in response to receiving the nth-selection; and

displaying an n+1-level circular user interface object with at least one n+1-level selector object in response to the nth selection, wherein the n+1-level circular user interface object is a n+1 graphical user interface object with a n+1 circular form, wherein the n+1-level circular user interface is operable for receiving a n+1 selection of one of the at least one n+1- level selector objects, wherein the at least one n+1-level data object represents a n+1-level branch of an n+1 level of the hierarchically structured data, wherein the n+1 branch is determined by the nth selection, wherein the n+1-level circular user interface object has an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and wherein the inner circular edge of the n+1-level circular user interface object is attached to the outer circular edge of the n-level circular user interface object.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a fourth selection of one of the at least one second-level user interface objects:

indicating the fourth selection on the display in response to the selection, and

displaying on the display a rectangular user interface object at least partially outside of the outer circular edge in response to the fourth selection.

7. The computer-implemented method claim 1 ; wherein resizing of the first-level circular user interface object is performed by at least one of selecting, clicking, multi-clicking, dragging, multi-touch, pinching, an algorithm, or voice control.

8. The computer-implemented method claim 1 , further comprising displaying, in the first-level circular user interface object, a navigation user interface object.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the navigation user interface object performs an undo function when selected.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the hierarchically structured data represents internal machine states.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one first-level selector objects is displayed as a portion of the first-level circular user interface object.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein each of the at least one first-level selector object represents data selected from the hierarchically structured data.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising: displaying on the display a first-level icon within the boundary of the outer circular edge during receiving the selection of the at least one first-level selector object.

14. A computer-accessible, non-transitory, storage medium encoded with computer-readable instructions configured to cause one or more data processing apparatus to:

display on a display a first-level circular user interface object with at least one first-level selector object, wherein the first-level circular user interface object is a first graphical user interface object with a first circular display form, wherein the at least one first-level data object represents a first level of hierarchically structured data, wherein the first-level circular user interface object has an outer circular edge with a first diameter, wherein the first diameter is equal to an initial diameter; and

responsive to receiving a first selection of one of the at least one first-level selector object:

rotating the first-level circular user interface object to orient the at least one first-level selector object to stop at a predefined orientation used to align all selected selector objects on the same circular angle;

indicate the first selection on the display in response to receiving the selection;

decrease the first diameter in response to receiving the selection; and

display a second-level circular user interface object with at least one second-level selector object in response to the first selection, wherein the second-level circular user interface object is a second graphical user interface object with a second circular form, wherein the second-level circular user interface is operable for receiving a second selection of one of the at least one-second level selector objects, wherein the at least one second-level data object represents a second-level branch of a second level of the hierarchically structured data, wherein the first branch is determined by the first selection, wherein the second-level circular user interface object has an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and wherein the inner circular edge of the second-level circular user interface object is attached to the outer circular edge of the first-level circular user interface object.

15. A computer system comprising:

memory for storing machine executable instructions; and

a processor operable for executing the machine executable instructions, wherein execution of the instructions cause the processor to:

display on a display a first-level circular user interface object with at least one first-level selector object, wherein the first-level circular user interface object is a first graphical user interface object with a first circular form, wherein the at least one first-level data object represents a first level of the hierarchically structured data, wherein the first-level circular user interface object has an outer circular edge with a first diameter, wherein the first diameter is equal to an initial diameter; and

responsive to receipt of a first selection of one of the at least one first-level selector object:

rotate the first-level circular user interface object to orient the at least one first-level selector object to stop at a predefined orientation used to align all selected selector objects on the same circular angle;

indicate the first selection on the display in response to receiving the selection;

decrease the first diameter in response to receiving the selection; and

display a second-level circular user interface object with at least one second-level selector object in response to the first selection, wherein the second-level circular user interface object is a second graphical user interface object with a second circular form, wherein the second-level circular user interface is operable for receiving a second selection of one of the at least one-second level selector objects, wherein the at least one second-level data object represents a second-level branch of a second level of the hierarchically structured data, wherein the first branch is determined by the first selection, wherein the second-level circular user interface object has an inner circular edge and an outer circular edge, and wherein the inner circular edge of the second-level circular user interface object is attached to the outer circular edge of the first-level circular user interface object.