Systems, methods, and computer program products to modify the graphical display of data entities and relational database structures

• US 20040113942A1
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tomlyn, Craig R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,703,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer products that efficiently present large amounts of entity information with a graphical display that retains all or most of the relevant contextual information. More particularly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention enables efficient analysis of data with a graphical display that minimizes distortion of the text in the graphical display, that retains contextual information associated with data objects in the graphical display, and that positions the objects to optimally represent relational database associations.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with data, said method comprising:

displaying said at least one object in at least one area in said graphical display;

accepting input that enlarges said at least one object;

enlarging said display of said area that includes said enlarged at least one object; and

moving said display of said at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said enlarged area.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising including vertical movement in said movement of said at least one object.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising including horizontal movement in said movement of said at least one object.

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

including said at least one moved object in another said area; and

aligning said at least one moved object within said another area.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising including at least one additional object that is associated with said data within said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising aligning said at least one moved object within said area.

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

including at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said enlarged area; and

moving said at least one object not included in said enlarged area, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said enlarged area.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising displaying said relationship on said graphical display by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said enlarged area with said at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area.

6. A computer-implemented method, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with data, said method comprising:

displaying said at least one object in at least one area in said graphical display;

accepting input that reduces said at least one object;

reducing said display of said area that includes said reduced at least one object; and

moving said display of said at least one object that is not included in said reduced area, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said reduced area.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising including vertical movement in said movement of said at least one object.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising including horizontal movement in said movement of said at least one object.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising:

including said at least one moved object in another said area; and

aligning said at least one moved object within said another area.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising including at least one additional object that is associated with said data within said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

11. A computer-implemented method, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, said method comprising:

displaying in at least one area said at least two objects in said graphical display;

accepting input that enlarges at least one of said at least two objects;

enlarging said display of said area that includes said enlarged at least one object; and

moving at least one of said at least two objects that is not enlarged thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising configuring said graphical display as a star schema.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, the method further comprising representing said at least two entities with said at least two objects.

17. A computer-implemented method, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, said method comprising:

displaying in at least one area said at least two objects in said graphical display;

accepting input that reduces at least one of said at least two objects;

reducing said display of said area that includes said reduced at least one object; and

moving at least one of said at least two objects that is not reduced thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising aligning said at least one moved object within said area.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, further comprising:

including at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said reduced area; and

moving said at least one object not included in said reduced area, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said reduced area.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 further comprising displaying said relationship on said graphical display by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said reduced area with said at least one object that is not included in said reduced area.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 further comprising configuring said graphical display as a star schema.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, the method further comprising representing said at least two entities with said at least two objects.

23. A computer system for enabling efficient analysis of data in said computer system, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with said data, said computer system comprising:

said at least one object in at least one area that is displayed in said graphical display;

said at least one object that is subsequently enlarged;

said display of said area that is enlarged to accommodate said enlarged at least one object; and

said display of said at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area that is moved to accommodate said enlarged area, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said enlarged area.

24. The computer system of claim 23 further comprising said at least one object that is vertically moved to accommodate said enlarged at least one object.

25. The computer system of claim 23 further comprising said at least one object that is horizontally moved to accommodate said enlarged at least one object.

26. The computer system of claim 23 further comprising said at least one object that is included in another said area and that is moved and aligned within said another area to accommodate said enlarged at least one object.

27. The computer system of claim 23 further comprising:

at least one additional object that is associated with said data; and

said at least one additional object that is included in said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

28. A computer system for enabling efficient analysis of data in said computer system, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with said data, said computer system comprising:

said at least one object in at least one area that is displayed in said graphical display;

said at least one object that is subsequently reduced;

said display of said area that is reduced to accommodate said reduced at least one object; and

said display of said at least one object that is not included in said reduced area that is moved to accommodate said reduced area, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said reduced area.

29. The computer system of claim 28 further comprising said at least one object that is vertically moved to accommodate said reduced at least one object.

30. The computer system of claim 28 further comprising said at least one object that is horizontally moved to accommodate said reduced at least one object.

31. The computer system of claim 28 further comprising said at least one object that is included in another said area and that is moved and aligned within said another area to accommodate said reduced at least one object.

32. The computer system of claim 28 further comprising:

at least one additional object that is associated with said data; and

said at least one additional object that is included in said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

33. A computer system having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, said computer system comprising:

said at least two objects in at least one area that is displayed in said graphical display;

at least one of said at least two objects that is subsequently enlarged;

said display of said area that is enlarged to accommodate said enlarged at least one object; and

said at least one object that is not enlarged and that is moved to accommodate said enlarged object, thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects.

34. The computer system of claim 33, further comprising said at least one moved object that is aligned within said area.

35. The computer system of claim 33, further comprising at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said enlarged area and that is moved to accommodate said enlarged area, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said enlarged area.

36. The computer system of claim 35 further comprising displaying said relationship on said graphical display by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said enlarged area with said at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area.

37. The computer system of claim 33 further comprising said graphical display being configured as a star schema.

38. The computer system of claim 33, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, the computer system further comprising said at least two entities that are represented by said at least two objects.

39. A computer system having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, said computer system comprising:

said at least two objects in at least one area that is displayed in said graphical display;

at least one of said at least two objects that is subsequently reduced;

said display of said area that is reduced to accommodate said reduced at least one object; and

said at least one object that is not reduced and that is moved to accommodate said reduced object, thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects.

40. The computer system of claim 39, further comprising said at least one moved object that is aligned within said area.

41. The computer system of claim 39, further comprising at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said reduced area and that is moved to accommodate said reduced area, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said reduced area.

42. The computer system of claim 39 further comprising displaying said relationship on said graphical display by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said reduced area with said at least one object that is not included in said reduced area.

43. The computer system of claim 39 further comprising said graphical display being configured as a star schema.

44. The computer system of claim 39, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, the computer system further comprising said at least two entities that are represented by said at least two objects.

45. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program usable medium embodying one or more instructions executable by said computer for enabling efficient analysis of data in said computer system, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with said data, wherein:

said computer usable instructions display said at least one object in at least one area in said graphical display;

said computer usable instructions accept input that enlarges said at least one object;

said computer usable instructions enlarge said display of said area that includes said enlarged at least one object; and

said computer usable instructions move said display of said at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said enlarged area.

46. The article of manufacture of claim 45 wherein said computer usable instructions include vertical movement in said movement of said at least one object.

47. The article of manufacture of claim 45 wherein said computer usable instructions include horizontal movement in said movement of said at least one object.

48. The article of manufacture of claim 45 wherein:

said computer usable instructions include said at least one moved object in another said area; and

said computer usable instructions align said at least one moved object within said another area.

49. The article of manufacture of claim 45 wherein said computer usable instructions include at least one additional object that is associated with said data within said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

50. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program usable medium embodying one or more instructions executable by said computer for enabling efficient analysis of data in said computer system, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with said data, wherein:

said computer usable instructions display said at least one object in at least one area in said graphical display;

said computer usable instructions accept input that reduces said at least one object;

said computer usable instructions reduce said display of said area that includes said reduced at least one object; and

said computer usable instructions move said display of said at least one object that is not included in said reduced area, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said reduced area.

51. The article of manufacture of claim 50 wherein said computer usable instructions include vertical movement in said movement of said at least one object.

52. The article of manufacture of claim 50 wherein said computer usable instructions include horizontal movement in said movement of said at least one object.

53. The article of manufacture of claim 50 wherein:

said computer usable instructions include said at least one moved object in another said area; and

said computer usable instructions align said at least one moved object within said another area.

54. The article of manufacture of claim 50 wherein said computer usable instructions include at least one additional object that is associated with said data within said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

55. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program usable medium embodying one or more instructions executable by said computer, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, wherein:

said computer usable instructions display in at least one area said at least two objects in said graphical display;

said computer usable instructions accept input that enlarges at least one of said at least two objects;

said computer usable instructions enlarge said display of said area that includes said enlarged at least one object; and

said computer usable instructions move at least one of said at least two objects that is not enlarged thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects.

56. The article of manufacture of claim 55, wherein said computer usable instructions align said at least one moved object within said area.

57. The article of manufacture of claim 55, wherein:

said computer usable instructions include at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said enlarged area; and

said computer usable instructions move said at least one object not included in said enlarged area, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said enlarged area.

58. The article of manufacture of claim 57 wherein said computer usable instructions display said relationship on said graphical display by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said enlarged area with said at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area.

59. The article of manufacture of claim 55 wherein said computer usable instructions configure said graphical display as a star schema.

60. The article of manufacture of claim 55, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, wherein said computer usable instructions represent said at least two entities with said at least two objects.

61. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program usable medium embodying one or more instructions executable by said computer, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, wherein:

said computer usable instructions display in at least one area said at least two objects in said graphical display;

said computer usable instructions accept input that reduces at least one of said at least two objects;

said computer usable instructions reduce said display of said area that includes said reduced at least one object; and

said computer usable instructions move at least one of said at least two objects that is not reduced thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects.

62. The article of manufacture of claim 61, wherein said computer usable instructions align said at least one moved object within said area.

63. The article of manufacture of claim 61, wherein:

said computer usable instructions include at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said reduced area; and

said computer usable instructions move said at least one object not included in said reduced area, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said reduced area.

64. The article of manufacture of claim 63 wherein said computer usable instructions display said relationship on said graphical display by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said enlarged area with said at least one object that is not included in said reduced area.

65. The article of manufacture of claim 61 wherein said computer usable instructions configure said graphical display as a star schema.

66. The article of manufacture of claim 61, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, wherein said computer usable instructions represent said at least two entities with said at least two objects.