Software system for biological storytelling

• US 20020178184A1
• Filed: 05/22/2001
• Published: 11/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Moh, David Chitai, Bittner, Michael, Meltzer, Paul, Kuchinsky, Allan, Chen, Yidong, Graham, Katherine, Creech, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US09/863,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20020178184A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/512
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 45/00 ICT specially adapted for bioinformatics-related data visualisation, e.g. displaying of maps or networks
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 50/00 ICT programming tools or database systems specially adapted for bioinformatics
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 50/30 Data warehousing; Computing architectures

Abstract

Narrative structure and a free-form database to support biological storytelling. An interactive software system provides a framework, methodology, and tools for organizing information during speculative phases of research using a narrative structure. The system provides interactive tools and techniques for organizing, sharing, and using diverse information at multiple levels of abstraction through coordinated multiple-view visualization in the process of hypothesis formation. Items are created or imported through an item manager and can be grouped into collections using a collection manager. Items and collections are combined in a narrative structure through pathway and story editors. Annotation and collaboration are supported.

Claims

1. A system for organizing information across external information objects comprising:

An Item Manager for creating items representing external information objects,

A Collection Manager for creating and manipulating collections of items,

A Story Editor based on a narrative grammar for incorporating items and collections into the narrative grammar.

2. The system of claim 1 where the Item Manager additionally supports the display and annotation of items.

3. The system of claim 1 where the Collection Manager additionally supports the display and annotation of collections.

4. The system of claim 1 where the items included in a collection may include other collections.

5. The system of claim 1 where an update made to a component such as an item, collection, or story is automatically reflected in connected components.