Browser for hierarchical structures

• US 20010042063A1
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Published: 11/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Ebert, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 6,434,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/957 Multidimensional
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A browser for viewing data representing text, pictures, sounds, virtual reality worlds, links, or other objects, and organized in a hierarchical structure is provided to display and interact with links to the data. A retrieved set of data is displayed in a lens, and subsequently retrieved sets of data that are deeper in the hierarchical structure are displayed in further stacked lenses, creating a visual representation of the hierarchy. A label on each lens provides information on the data originally displayed in the lens. A user may choose to view the originally displayed contents of any lens on the screen. A user may also modify a personal hierarchical data structure comprising links to sets of data in the first hierarchical structure. In doing so, a user creates an entirely new hierarchical structure that customizes the organization of data according to personal preferences and takes advantage of natural association to reduce the number of perceived levels in the new hierarchical data structure.

Claims

1. A method of displaying and interacting with links to data, which data is organized in a hierarchical data structure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a first request from a graphical user interface on a computer to provide a first set of data, said first set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of first set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(b) receiving in said computer said first set of data in response to said first request;

(c) converting said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

(d) displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens displayed by said graphical user interface;

(e) sending a second request from said graphical user interface to provide a second set of data, said second set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of second set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(f) receiving in said computer said second set of data in response to said second request;

(g) comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data to determine which level is deeper within said hierarchical data structure;

(h) converting said second set of data to a graphical representation for visual display based upon said comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data; and

(i) displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data in a second lens displayed by said graphical user interface stacked within and on top of said first lens only when said level of said second set of data is deeper than said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

2. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of

claim 1

, wherein said first lens and said second lens are substantially hexagonal in shape.

3. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of

claim 1

, wherein at least one of said first set of data and second set of data contains a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

4. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of

claim 1

, wherein at least one of said first set of data and second set of data contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

5. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of

claim 1

, wherein:

at least one of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data and said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data contains a graphical representation for visual display of a category;

said category has a position in said hierarchical data structure and has a level associated with said position of said category; and

said graphical representation for visual display of said category indicates whether a third set of data having a position at a deeper level than said level associated with said position of said category exists.

6. A method of displaying and interacting with links to data in an R/3 system, which data is organized in a hierarchical data structure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a first request from an R/3 graphical user interface on a computer to provide a first set of data, said first set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of first set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(b) receiving in said computer said first set of data in response to said first request;

(c) converting said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

(d) displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens displayed by said R/3 graphical user interface;

(e) sending a second request from said R/3 graphical user interface to provide a second set of data, said second set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of second set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(f) receiving in said computer said second set of data in response to said second request;

(g) comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data to determine which level is deeper within said hierarchical data structure;

(h) converting said second set of data to a graphical representation for visual display based upon said comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data; and

(i) displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data in a second lens displayed by said R/3 graphical user interface stacked within and on top of said first lens only when said level of said second set of data is deeper than said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

7. A computer system comprising a display, a central processor, a graphics processor, a memory, an input device, and a graphical user interface, wherein:

said memory has a hierarchical data structure, said hierarchical data structure having a first set of data and a second set of data, said first set of data having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure, said second set of data having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said second set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

said graphical user interface requests said first set of data;

said graphics processor receives said first set of data in response to said request for said first set of data;

said graphics processor converts said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

said graphical user interface displays said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens on said display;

said graphical user interface requests said second set of data;

said graphical processor receives said second set of data in response to said request for said second set of data;

said central processor compares said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data to determine which level is deeper within said hierarchical data structure;

said graphics processor converts said second set of data to a graphical representation for visual display based upon said comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data; and

said graphical user interface displays said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data in a second lens stacked within and on top of said first lens on said display only when said level of said second set of data is deeper than said level of said first set of data.

8. The computer system of

claim 7

, wherein said first lens and said second lens are substantially hexagonal in shape.

9. The computer system of

claim 7

, wherein said central processor and said graphics processor are the same processor.

10. The computer system of

claim 7

, wherein at least one of said first set of data and second set of data contains a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

11. The computer system of

claim 7

, wherein at least one of said first set of data and second set of data contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

12. The computer system of

claim 7

, wherein:

at least one of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data and said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data contains a graphical representation for visual display of a category;

said category has a position in said hierarchical data structure and has a level associated with said position of said category; and

said graphical representation for visual display of said category indicates whether a third set of data having a position at a deeper level than said level associated with said position of said category exists.

13. The computer system of

claim 7

, wherein said graphical user interface operates in conjunction with an instance of SAP Business Information Warehouse.

14. The computer system of

claim 7

, wherein said graphical user interface displays a context-sensitive pop-up menu, based on attributes of said second set of data and based on an authorization level.

15. The computer system of

claim 7

, wherein said graphical user interface is imbedded in a container.

16. A method of displaying data organized in a hierarchical data structure, the method comprising displaying a plurality of lenses, each lens having a size, wherein:

each said lens is associated with a set of data, each said set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and each having a position in said hierarchical data structure and each having a level associated with said position of said set of data in said hierarchical data structure; and

said size of each said lens being dependent on said level of said set of data associated with said lens, wherein a lens associated with a set of data having a deeper level has a smaller size than a lens associated with a set of data having a shallower level.

17. The method of displaying data organized in a hierarchical data structure of

claim 16

, wherein each said lens has a label.

18. The method of displaying data organized in a hierarchical data structure of

claim 16

, further comprising selecting any one of said plurality of lenses using a graphical user interface, displaying said any one of said plurality of lenses, and displaying said set of data associated with said any one of said plurality of lenses.

19. The method of displaying data organized in a hierarchical data structure of

claim 16

, wherein at least one of said plurality of lenses is associated with data containing a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

20. The method of displaying data organized in a hierarchical data structure of

claim 16

, wherein at least one of said plurality of lenses is associated with data contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

21. The method of displaying data organized in a hierarchical data structure of

claim 16

, wherein each said lens is substantially hexagonal in shape.

22. A computer system for displaying and interacting with data organized in a hierarchical data structure, which comprises:

(a) means for sending a first request from a graphical user interface on a computer to provide a first set of data, said first set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of first set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(b) means for receiving in said computer said first set of data in response to said first request;

(c) means for converting said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

(d) means for displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens displayed by said graphical user interface;

(e) means for sending a second request from said graphical user interface to provide a second set of data, said second set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of second set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(f) means for receiving in said computer said second set of data in response to said second request;

(g) means for comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data to determine which level is deeper within said hierarchical data structure;

(h) means for converting said second set of data to a graphical representation for visual display based upon said comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data; and

(i) means for displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data in a second lens displayed by said graphical user interface stacked within and on top of said first lens only when said level of said second set of data is deeper than said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

23. The computer system of

claim 22

, wherein said first lens and said second lens are substantially hexagonal in shape.

24. The computer system of

claim 22

, wherein at least one of said first set of data and second set of data contains a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

25. The computer system of

claim 22

, wherein at least one of said first set of data and second set of data contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

26. The computer system of

claim 22

, wherein:

at least one of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data and said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data contains a graphical representation for visual display of a category;

said category has a position in said hierarchical data structure and has a level associated with said position of said category; and

said graphical representation for visual display of said category indicates whether a third set of data having a position at a deeper level than said level associated with said position of said category exists.

27. The computer system of

claim 22

, wherein said graphical user interface operates in conjunction with an instance of SAP Business Information Warehouse.

28. The computer system of

claim 22

, wherein said graphical user interface displays a context-sensitive pop-up menu, based on attributes of said second set of data and based on an authorization level.

29. The computer system of

claim 22

, wherein said graphical user interface is imbedded in a container.

30. A method of displaying and interacting with links to data, which data is organized in a first hierarchical data structure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a link to a set of data in said first hierarchical data structure;

(b) placing said link into a second hierarchical data structure; and

(c) converting said link to a graphical representation for visual display, said graphical representation for visual display of said link being based upon position of said link in said second hierarchical data structure.

31. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of

claim 30

, wherein said graphical representation for visual display of said link inherits attributes of a graphical representation for visual display of at least one other link in said second hierarchical data structure.

32. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of

claim 30

, wherein said set of data contains a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

33. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of

claim 30

, wherein said set of data contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

34. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of

claim 30

, further comprising the step of storing the position of said graphical representation for visual display of said link, relative to positions of graphical representations for visual display of other links, on computer-readable storage media.

35. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of

claim 30

, further comprising the step of displaying a context-sensitive pop-up menu, based on type of said set of data and based on an authorization level, when a cursor is placed near said graphical representation for visual display of said link.

36. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of

claim 30

, further comprising the step of obtaining said first set of data in said first hierarchical data structure through a channel.

37. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of

claim 30

, further comprising the step of reporting an exception associated with said set of data in said first hierarchical data structure by altering said graphical representation for visual display of said link.

38. A computer system comprising a display, a central processor, a graphics processor, a memory, an input device, and a graphical user interface, wherein:

said memory has a first hierarchical data structure and a second hierarchical data structure, said first hierarchical data structure having a set of data, said set of data having a position in said first hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said set of data in said first hierarchical data structure;

said graphical user interface requests said set of data;

said graphics processor receives said set of data in response to said requesting said set of data;

said graphics processor converts said set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

said central processor creates a link to a subset of said set of data;

said central processor places said link into said second hierarchical data structure; and

said graphics processor converts said link to a graphical representation for visual display, said graphical representation for visual display of said link being based upon position of said link in said second hierarchical data structure.

39. The computer system of

claim 38

, wherein said graphical representation for visual display of said link inherits attributes of a graphical representation for visual display of at least one other link in said second hierarchical data structure.

40. The computer system of

claim 38

, wherein said central processor and said graphics processor are the same processor.

41. The computer system of

claim 38

, wherein said set of data contains a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

42. The computer system of

claim 38

, wherein said set of data contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

43. The computer system of

claim 38

, wherein the position of said graphical representation for visual display of said link, relative to positions of graphical representations for visual display of other links, is stored on computer-readable storage media.

44. The computer system of

claim 38

, wherein said graphics processor creates a context-sensitive pop-up menu, based on type of said subset of said set of data and based on an authorization level, when a cursor is placed near said graphical representation for visual display of said link.

45. The computer system of

claim 38

, wherein said graphics processor receives said set of data through a channel.

46. The computer system of

claim 38

, wherein said central processor reports an exception associated with said subset of said set of data by having said graphics processor alter said graphical representation for visual display of said link.

47. A method of displaying and linking data organized in a first hierarchical data structure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a set of data in said first hierarchical data structure;

(b) selecting a subset of said set of data;

(c) creating a link to said subset of said set of data;

(d) placing said link into a second hierarchical data structure; and

(e) converting said link to a graphical representation for visual display, said graphical representation for visual display of said link being based upon position of said link in said second hierarchical data structure.

48. The method of displaying and linking data organized in a first hierarchical data structure of

claim 47

, wherein said set of data contains a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

49. The method of displaying and linking data organized in a first hierarchical data structure of

claim 47

, wherein said set of data contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

50. The method of displaying and linking data organized in a first hierarchical data structure of

claim 47

, further comprising the step of storing the position of said graphical representation for visual display of said link, relative to positions of graphical representations for visual display of other links, on computer-readable storage media.

51. The method of displaying and linking data organized in a first hierarchical data structure of

claim 47

, further comprising the step of displaying a context-sensitive pop-up menu, based on type of said subset of said set of data and based on an authorization level, when a cursor is placed near said graphical representation for visual display of said link.

52. The method of displaying and linking data organized in a first hierarchical data structure of

claim 47

, further comprising the step of obtaining said set of data in said first hierarchical data structure through a channel.

53. The method of displaying and linking data organized in a first hierarchical data structure of

claim 47

, further comprising the step of reporting an exception associated with said subset of said set of data by altering said graphical representation for visual display of said link.

54. A computer system for displaying and interacting with links to data, which data is organized in a first hierarchical data structure, which comprises:

(a) means for creating a link to a set of data in said first hierarchical data structure;

(b) means for placing said link into a second hierarchical data structure; and

(c) means for converting said link to a graphical representation for visual display, said graphical representation for visual display of said link being based upon position of said link in said second hierarchical data structure.

55. The computer system of

claim 54

, wherein said graphical representation for visual display of said link inherits attributes of a graphical representation for visual display of at least one other link in said second hierarchical data structure.

56. The computer system of

claim 54

, wherein said set of data contains a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

57. The computer system of

claim 54

, wherein said set of data contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

58. The computer system of

claim 54

, further comprising means for storing the position of said graphical representation for visual display of said link, relative to positions of graphical representations for visual display of other links, on computer-readable storage media.

59. The computer system of

claim 54

, further comprising means for displaying a context-sensitive pop-up menu, based on type of said set of data and based on an authorization level, when a cursor is placed near said graphical representation for visual display of said link.

60. The computer system of

claim 54

, further comprising means for obtaining said set of data in said first hierarchical data structure through a channel.

61. The computer system of

claim 54

, further comprising means for reporting an exception associated with said set of data by altering said graphical representation for visual display of said link.

62. A method of displaying and interacting with links to data in an R/3 system, which data is organized in a first hierarchical data structure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a first request from an R/3 graphical user interface on a computer to provide a first set of data, said first set of data being in said first hierarchical data structure and having a position in said first hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of first set of data in said first hierarchical data structure;

(b) receiving in said computer said first set of data in response to said first request;

(c) converting said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

(d) displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens displayed by said R/3 graphical user interface;

(e) creating a link to a subset of said set of data;

(f) placing said link into a second hierarchical data structure; and

(g) converting said link to a graphical representation for visual display in a user favorites screen, said graphical representation for visual display in a user favorites screen of said link being based upon position of said link in said second hierarchical data structure.