Method, apparatus, processor arrangement, and computer-readable medium storing program for displaying network data

• US 20060062157A1
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Akio
• Application Number:
  US11/228,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20060062157A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

In a method and an apparatus for displaying network data, nodes are segmented into multiple groups or layers based on their precalculated importance (i.e., static importance) values. A layered structure is constructed based on the importance values of the nodes. A data visualization is generated starting from the nodes on the layer with the highest importance value. While shifting from one node to another, a predetermined node is set as an origination node, and the importance values of the nodes are dynamically updated based on numerous changes in conditions, such as the importance values of selected nodes and the trust relationships of links between the selected nodes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying associative network data including nodes having static importance values and being arranged in an order of the static importance values, and links connecting the nodes, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for segmenting the nodes into a number of layers according to the static importance values of the nodes;

(b) means for displaying all nodes on a first layer among said layers;

(c) means for accepting a designation of a first node among the nodes on the first layer, a designation of a first distance from the first node, and a designation of a second layer among said layers; and

(d) means for displaying a second node existing within the first distance from the first node on the second layer, and displaying at least one of (d-1) a line connecting the first node and the second node and (d-2) the static importance value of the second node.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

(e) means for accepting a designation of the second node on the second layer, and a designation of a second distance from the second node; and

(f) means for displaying a third node existing within the second distance from the second node, and displaying at least one of (f-1) a line connecting the second node and the third node and (f-1) the static importance value of the third node.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the means for segmenting includes one of;

(a-1) means for setting a constant number of nodes in each of said layers; and

(a-2) means for setting a range of importance values for the nodes in each of said layers.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for changing a property of the line connecting the nodes according to the distance between the nodes.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for calculating and displaying a dynamic importance value of the second node based on information including at least one of (i) an attribute value associated with the link between the nodes, (ii) the static importance value of the first node, (iii) the static importance value of the second node, and (iv) the first distance.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, comprising means for calculating the dynamic importance (impd) value of the second node according to the following equation:

impd=imps+(imps_org×

prop_rate×

1/distance)

where “

imps_org”

denotes the static importance value of the first node, “

imps”

denotes the static importance value of the second node, “

prop_rate”

denotes a multiplier obtained from the attribute value, and “

distance”

denotes the first distance.

7. A method for displaying associative network data including nodes having static importance values and being arranged in an order of the static importance values, and links connecting the nodes, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) segmenting the nodes into a number of layers according to the static importance values of the nodes;

(b) displaying all nodes on a first layer among said layers;

(c) accepting a designation of a first node among the nodes on the first layer, a designation of a first distance from the first node, and a designation of a second layer among said layers; and

(d) displaying a second node existing within the first distance from the first node on the second layer, and displaying at least one of (d-1) a line connecting the first node and the second node and (d-2) the static importance value of the second node.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

(e) accepting a designation of the second node on the second layer, and a designation of a second distance from the second node; and

(f) displaying a third node existing within the second distance from the second node, and displaying at least one of (f-1) a line connecting the second node and the third node and (f-2) the static importance value of the third node.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of changing a property of the line connecting the first node and the second node according to the distance between the first node and the second node.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of calculating and displaying a dynamic importance value of the second node based on information including at least one of (i) an attribute value associated with the link between the nodes, (ii) the static importance value of the first node, (iii) the static importance value of the second node, and (iv) the first distance.

15. A processor arrangement for performing the method of claim 7.

11. A computer-readable medium storing therein a program for execution by a computer to perform a process for displaying associative network data including nodes having static importance values and being arranged in an order of the static importance values, and links connecting the nodes, said program comprising:

(a) a segmenting processing for segmenting the nodes into a number of layers according to the static importance values of the nodes;

(b) a displaying processing for displaying all nodes on a first layer among said layers;

(c) an accepting processing for accepting a designation of a first node among the nodes on the first layer, a designation of a first distance from the first node, and a designation of a second layer among said layers; and

(d) a displaying processing for displaying a second node existing within the first distance from the first node on the second layer, and displaying at least one of (d-1) a line connecting the first node and the second node and (d-2) the static importance value of the second node.

12. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, said program further comprising:

(e) an accepting processing for accepting a designation of the second node on the second layer, and a designation of a second distance from the second node; and

(f) a displaying processing for displaying a third node existing within the second distance from the second node, and displaying at least one of (f-1) a line connecting the second node and the third node and (f-2) the static importance value of the third node.

13. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, said program further comprising for a further processing for changing a property of the line connecting the nodes according to the distance between the nodes.

14. The program according to claim 11, further comprising for a further processing for calculating and displaying a dynamic importance value of the second node based on information including at least one of (i) an attribute value associated with the link between the nodes, (ii) the static importance value of the first node, (iii) the static importance value of the second node, and (iv) the first distance.

16. An apparatus for displaying associative network data including nodes having static importance values, and links connecting the nodes, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a segmenting element for segmenting the nodes into a number of layers according to the static importance values of the nodes;

(b) a displaying element for displaying all nodes on a first layer among said layers;

(c) an inputting element for accepting a designation of a first node among the nodes on the first layer, a designation of a first distance from the first node, and a designation of a second layer among said layers; and

(d) a displaying element for displaying a second node existing within the first distance from the first node on the second layer, and displaying at least one of (d-1) a line connecting the first node and the second node and (d-2) the static importance value of the second node.