Displaying arbitrary relationships in a tree-map visualization

• US 20040212615A1
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Published: 10/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Uthe, Robert Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,605,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A treemap visualization system can include a treemap configured to visualize a set of nodes. The treemap visualization system also can include an event handler programmed to process a proximity event associated with a specific portion of the treemap. The event handler can process the proximity event by visually coupling selected nodes which are inter-related to a node associated with the proximity event. The system further can include logic for displaying a direction for each inter-relationship between the selected nodes and the node associated with the proximity event. In this regard, the proximity event can include a mouse-over event, a mouse-click event, and a keyboard selection event.

Claims

1. A method for presenting inter-related nodes in a treemap, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a proximity event about a representation for a node in the treemap;

determining through said representation at least one inter-related node; and

,

highlighting said nodes and drawing a linkage in said treemap between said nodes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining a directionality for said inter-related node; and

,

visually indicating said directionality in said treemap.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of visually indicating comprises the step of drawing said linkage with arrowheads to indicate said directionality.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting step comprises the step of receiving a mouse-over event in an event handler for the treemap.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting step comprises the step of receiving a mouse-over event in an event handler for said representation about which said proximity event is detected.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting step comprises the step of receiving a mouse-click event in an event handler for the treemap.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said detecting step comprises the step of receiving a mouse-click event in an event handler for said representation about which said proximity event is detected.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of repeating said detecting, determining, highlighting and drawings steps for a selected group of nodes determined to be inter-related to said node for which a proximity event has been detected.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said repeating step is limited to those nodes which are within a specified number of generations from said node for which said proximity event has been detected.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said repeating step is performed for all inter-related nodes if a number of inter-relationships falls below a pre-specified threshold value.

11. A treemap visualization system comprising:

a treemap configured to visualize a set of nodes; and

,

an event handler programmed to process a proximity event associated with a specific portion of said treemap by visually coupling selected nodes which are inter-related to a node associated with said proximity event.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising logic for displaying a direction for each inter-relationship between said selected nodes and said node associated with said proximity event.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said proximity event is selected from the group consisting of a mouse-over event, a mouse-click event, and a keyboard selection event.

14. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for presenting inter-related nodes in a treemap, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

detecting a proximity event about a representation for a node in the treemap;

determining through said representation at least one inter-related node; and

,

highlighting said nodes and drawing a linkage in said treemap between said nodes.

15. The machine readable storage of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

determining a directionality for said inter-related node; and

,

visually indicating said directionality in said treemap.

16. The machine readable storage of claim 15, wherein said step of visually indicating comprises the step of drawing said linkage with arrowheads to indicate said directionality.

17. The machine readable storage of claim 14, wherein said detecting step comprises the step of receiving a mouse-over event in an event handler for the treemap.

18. The machine readable storage of claim 14, wherein said detecting step comprises the step of receiving a mouse-over event in an event handler for said representation about which said proximity event is detected.

19. The machine readable storage of claim 14, wherein said detecting step comprises the step of receiving a mouse-click event in an event handler for the treemap.

20. The machine readable storage of claim 14, wherein said detecting step comprises the step of receiving a mouse-click event in an event handler for said representation about which said proximity event is detected.

21. The machine readable storage of claim 14, further comprising the step of repeating said detecting, determining, highlighting and drawings steps for a selected group of nodes determined to be inter-related to said node for which a proximity event has been detected.

22. The machine readable storage of claim 21, wherein said repeating step is limited to those nodes which are within a specified number of generations from said node for which said proximity event has been detected.

23. The machine readable storage of claim 21, wherein said repeating step is performed for all inter-related nodes if a number of inter-relationships falls below a pre-specified threshold value.