Graphic-information flow method and system for visually analyzing patterns and relationships

• US 20060174209A1
• Filed: 01/11/2006
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tavusi Data Solutions LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Barros, Barbara L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,397,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A novel display control and information management system seamlessly integrates layered and slotted formatted data from local and remote sources to provide a highly versatile information display. The system permits selective control of display and display features so that complex data and data flows can be seamlessly accessed with enhanced cognition of salient information by a user.

Claims

1. A data processing system of organizing, retrieving, and displaying data within a computer system to enable viewing of different, user-selected subsets of elements, said system comprising:

a database and associated software for storing and retrieving data about elements and their attributes;

a display for displaying a visual representation of selected subset of elements for comparison, wherein

each of the different, selected elements is represented by a given symbol, text, or common image; and

wherein each element'"'"'s symbol, text or image is given a slot on the display, each of said slots being designated by x, y, and z locations representing the element'"'"'s real or symbolic relationship to other elements or being designated within a grid; and

a control apparatus for showing and hiding selected subsets on the visual representation, wherein said visual representation includes at least one display control panel with selectors that, in response to system events, call to the database to determine subset elements to be added and subtracted from the visual representation.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said elements relate to an interactive map or diagram of a place, topic, or thing.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said selected elements comprise information forming a computer or online alternative to reference documents.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said selected elements comprise information forming a computer or online store where consumers can ask to see and compare all the available offerings for a particular category of product from one or more entities.

11. A data processing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system events comprise a user selection.

12. A data processing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system events comprise an event detected in accordance with an automated agent.

13. A data processing system as recited in claim 2, wherein said map or diagram is two-dimensional, three dimensional, or four dimensional.

14. A data processing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said subset elements comprise additional information.

15. A data processing system as recited in claim 14, wherein said additional information is presented as a flip through presentation.

16. A data processing system as recited in claim 14, wherein said additional information is advertising information.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein said selected elements are collected by a user in layers of at least one map as the user searches through data records thereby enabling interaction between the map and the data records.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising image control paradigms for users to graphically edit said selected elements as part of the search of the data records.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the control apparatus is associated with said selected elements and performs at least one of the following:

alters the display of the data records;

displays at least a portion of the data record in a document area wherein the selected elements represent the content of the data record; and

manipulates a layered map in the document area.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein said selected elements inform an intelligent agent that alters the data record based on the selected elements.

37. The system of claim 33, further comprising a layered index with which to access a library of map collections wherein the layers of a map are filled with content from a map collection selected via the layered index and with which to name and save the map collection for listing in the layered index.

38. The system of claim 33, further comprising a layered symbol-list key to fill layers of the map with additional data and data attributes.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein multiple maps and multiple documents are viewable.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein multiple maps are viewable and interconnected to show one data set in different map formats.

41. The system of claim 33, wherein the control apparatus includes a palette of tools by which users mark a map in at least one of the following;

as part of a user'"'"'s review of the map;

to signal a change of content of one or more layers of the map;

to inform an intelligent agent;

in preparation for publication; and

as part of a user'"'"'s presentation of information embodied in the map.

63. The system of claim 1, wherein said visual representation of the control apparatus changes in appearance based on the subset elements selected for adding and subtracting from the visual representation.

64. The system of claim 1, wherein said subset of elements selected for adding and subtracting from the visual representation are stored for viewing in a control panel list.

65. The system of claim 1, wherein said subset of elements selected for adding and subtracting from the visual representation are stored for at least one of display and viewing in a control panel when the user returns to the visual representation.

66. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one display control panel displays control apparatus representing the subset of elements selected for adding and subtracting from the visual representation.

67. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one display control panel displays control apparatus representing the subset of elements selected for showing and hiding on said visual representation and the selected elements are stored for display when the user returns to the visual representation.

68. The system of claim 1, wherein said control apparatus provides an annotation display of additional information regarding a subset element in a slot.

69. The system of claim 68, wherein said annotation display is activated by selecting the given symbol, text, or common image associated with the element'"'"'s slot.

70. The system of claim 69, wherein said annotation display of additional information includes advertising related to the element.

71. The system of claim 1, wherein said control apparatus displays selectors based on the content of the subset elements.

72. The system of claim 1, wherein said control apparatus displays selectors based upon at least one of advertising, sponsorship branding, and purchasing opportunities related to the content of the subset elements.

73. The system of claim 68, wherein said annotation display of additional information is based on the content of the subset elements.

74. The system of claim 1, wherein said control apparatus includes a panel for selecting multiple attributes for a query to the database to determine subset elements for display.

75. The system of claim 1, wherein said control apparatus includes at least one of user marks and user notations displayed in a slot.

76. The system of claim 1, wherein said control apparatus includes means to edit at least one of the symbol, text, and image in a slot and the data in the database associated with the symbol, text, or image in a slot.

77. The system of claim 1, wherein said visual representation is saved for future access.

78. The system of claim 1, wherein said visual representation is made available for access by others.

79. The system of claim 1, wherein said display is a wireless, portable display.

80. The system of claim 1, wherein said data is displayed in at least one of a roll-up display, a fold-up display, and a stretchable display.

83. The system of claim 2, wherein said map or diagram is at least one of two-dimensional, three dimensional, and four dimensional.

84. The system of claim 2, wherein said slots for the diagram are three-dimensional.

85. The system of claim 2, wherein said slots for the diagram are four-dimensional.

97. The system of claim 1, wherein said control apparatus is inserted within a text or image document to serve as a means of adding and subtracting selected subsets from the visual representation.

98. The system of claim 1, wherein said control apparatus adds and subtracts selected subsets simultaneously on two or more visual representations.

99. The system of claim 1, wherein said control apparatus is inserted within a text or image document by means of an intelligent agent.

124. The system of claim 1 wherein said selected elements comprise information forming a computer or online alternative to reference documents.

125. The system of claim 124, wherein said alternative to reference documents is an atlas.

126. The system of claim 124, wherein said alternative to reference documents is an encyclopedia.

127. The system of claim 124, wherein said alternative to reference documents is a text book.

128. The system of claim 124, wherein said alternative to reference documents is a natural history guide.

129. The system of claim 124, wherein said alternative to reference documents is a travel guide.

130. The system of claim 124, wherein said alternative to reference documents is a yellow pages directory.

131. The system of claim 124, wherein said alternative to reference documents is a product catalogue.

132. The system of claim 124, wherein said alternative to reference documents is a machine manual.

133. The system of claim 124, wherein said alternative to reference documents is a land-use planning report.

5. A data-processing system for presenting a collection of user selected information elements to display complex topical data in an enhanced display format, said system comprising:

at least one display control panel for receiving user commands and implementing selective layering of data in the form of at least one of graphics, text and images onto a base presentation, wherein said control panel includes at least one of control icons and text lists for manipulating the content of said selective layers in accordance with user defined objectives;

a database comprising one or more data elements for use in providing the substance to said layered data said selective layering of data, wherein said data elements are located in an addressable memory in said database;

a central display controller in communication with said database and said control panel for interpreting commands received by said control panel and directing the placement of said data elements in accordance with a pre-programmed hierarchy; and

wherein said display is interconnected with said central display controller for receiving image data including a base image and one or more of said selective layers for visual perception by said user.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein database further comprises database elements for supporting slotted map data for incorporation into said image data on said display.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein said display is a two-dimensional matrix of pixel elements characterizing said data elements.

17. A data processing system as recited in claim 5, wherein said elements comprise additional information related to a user selection.

18. A data processing system as recited in claim 17, wherein said additional information is presented as a flip through presentation.

19. A data processing system as recited in claim 17, wherein said additional information is advertising information.

42. The system of claim 5, wherein said selective layering of data includes advertisements and related information relevant to the content of the map topic based on the user selections within the control panel or key.

43. The system of claim 5, wherein said selective layering of data includes advertisements relevant to the place, topic, or object represented by the map symbol, wherein the map symbol is a user-controlled icon for toggling advertising material and other information related to the place, topic, or object.

44. The system of claim 5, wherein said selective layering of data by the control icon includes a hideable panel, wherein the hideable panel layer further includes a control apparatus by which the user specifies the content of the hideable panel layer.

45. The system of claim 5, wherein the control panel includes a control apparatus in the form of a segmented bar used to change the content of the control panel or map layer.

46. The system of claim 5, wherein said selective layering of data includes a hideable panel which contains form fields, text lists, and icons for defining a query and for submitting data.

62. The system of claim 5, further comprising a second control panel that replaces the computer document by inserting and displaying a map comprising a blank grid of slots wherein a user drags images from the original control panel to the second control panel to design alternative combinations of base data.

81. The system of claim 5, wherein said data is displayed in a wireless, portable display.

82. The system of claim 5 wherein said data is displayed in at least one of a roll-up display, a fold-up display, and a stretchable display.

100. The system of claim 5, further comprising a keyword plotter to match text in the document with place names and topics by plotting the place names and topics on a map.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein the topics matched by the keyword plotter include at least one of themes, people, and objects.

102. The system of claim 100, wherein the topics are plotted or inserted into slots in at least one of geographic map layers, timelines, grid-formatted image catalogs, and charts.

123. The system of claim 5, further comprising a second control panel that replaces the computer document by inserting and displaying a map comprising a blank grid of slots wherein a user drags images from the original control panel to the second control panel to design alternative combinations of base data.

8. A display management system for displaying complex data elements, said system comprising:

a first database having a plurality of data elements on a subject and its graphic information, said elements are stored in volatile memory and said first database capable of being refreshed with current data from a second database;

a display processor characterized by a controlling program that provides one or more users with control icons for selectively recalling collections of data;

a communication means for linking said first database with said second database to provide for refreshed data elements therefrom; and

a display for providing a multi-dimensional presentation of selected data element layers in accordance with system events and said program controlling logic.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said communication means is a public access network.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said control icons are further characterized by descriptive text that is selectively displayed to enhance navigation and information display.

20. A display management system as recited in claim 8, wherein said system events comprise a user selection.

21. A display management system as recited in claim 8, wherein said system events comprise an event detected in accordance with an automated agent.

22. A display management system as recited in claim 8, wherein said subset elements comprise additional information.

23. A data processing system as recited in claim 22, wherein said additional information is presented as a flip through presentation.

24. A data processing system as recited in claim 22, wherein said additional information is advertising information.

47. The system of claim 8 wherein said program controlling logic includes an intelligent agent that alters the content of the selected data element layers based on user actions and user-selected subsets of viewed elements.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said intelligent agent alters the content of the selected data element layers to show attribute-match results by searching for attributes selected by the user and attributes associated with content selected by the user.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein said intelligent agent alters the content of the selected data element layers to show partial attribute-match results and match results by searching for attributes selected by the user and attributes associated with the content selected by the user.

86. The system of claim 8, wherein graphic information and associated data is shared between at least one of users and databases.

87. The system of claim 8, further comprising a layered visual representation and control apparatus for viewing at least one of graphic information and associated data submitted to a database of the system for display by others.

88. The system of claim 8, wherein said display management system searches one or more documents for data to be provided in said presentation of selected data element layers.

89. The system of claim 8, wherein said display management system searches one or more documents for at least one of words and images of at least one of geographic names, terms, and concepts to be provided in a geographic map version of said presentation of selected data element layers.

90. The system of claim 8, wherein said display management system searches one or more documents for at least one of words and images of at least one of geographic names, terms, and concepts to determine document data to be provided in a geographic map version of said presentation of selected data element layers.

91. The system of claim 8, wherein said display management system searches one or more documents for time data related to data to be provided in a time line version of said presentation of selected data element layers.

92. The system of claim 8, further comprising an intelligent agent to search one or more documents for data to be provided in said presentation of selected data element layers based on the user'"'"'s activity.

93. The system of claim 8, further comprising an intelligent agent to search one or more documents for product-related data to be provided in said presentation of selected data element layers based on the user'"'"'s activity.

94. The system of claim 8, wherein said display management system provides for the display of a layered visual representation and control apparatus for viewing data regarding selections of subset elements by one or more users.

95. The system of claim 8, wherein said database includes the storage of data in a common format to accept data from additional sources to gather, store, file, store data to generate a mapset for display.

96. The system of claim 8, wherein said data management system includes remuneration to owners of graphic information and associated data based upon an owner'"'"'s grant of access to the graphic information and associated data by at least one of a user and a database.

25. A computer implemented display management system for displaying information relevant a user selection, said system comprising:

display means for displaying a portion of a list of elements, said elements having a predefined order;

means for displaying a retrieval element having plural segments, each of said segments corresponding to a subset of elements in the list; and

whereby user selection of a segment from said plural segments will cause a corresponding subset of the elements to be displayed on said display means in the predefined order.

26. A computer implemented display management system as recited in claim 25, wherein said list of elements is in the form of layered blocks of data, each layer comprising one of said subsets of the elements.

27. A computer implemented display management system as recited in claim 26, wherein said predefined order is alphabetical and said segments of said retrieval element each correspond to an alphabetical range.

28. A computer implemented display management system as recited in claim 26, wherein said predefined order is topical and said segments of said retrieval element each correspond to at least one topic.

29. A computer implemented display management system as recited in claim 26, wherein each of said subsets of elements comprise a level of the corresponding subset of elements.

30. A computer implemented display management system as recited in claim 26, wherein said list of elements comprises plural graphical elements.

31. A computer implemented display management system as recited in claim 26, wherein said list of elements comprises plural elements of data.

32. A computer implemented display management system as recited in claim 26, wherein said segmented retrieval element comprises plural segments arranged in a linear manner.

50. A control panel for displaying base data of a computer document, the control panel comprising:

a computer document;

an index for accessing and retrieving the document for display;

a control apparatus to display data in layered slots; and

a smart graphics symbol on the displayed data that responds to user commands to annotate map layers and slots.

51. The control panel of claim 50, wherein the computer document is a product page with descriptions and access to an ordering system.

52. The control panel of claim 50, wherein the control apparatus displays data in an overlaid map.

53. The control panel of claim 50, wherein the control apparatus displays data in a gridded map.

54. The control panel of claim 50, wherein the smart graphics symbol includes an image with identification and action information attached.

55. The control panel of claim 50, wherein the smart graphics symbol activates user-triggered scripts and data in a database to retrieve text or graphic data from the database in response to user input.

56. The control panel of claim 50, wherein the smart graphics symbol informs an intelligent agent to bring data similar to the displayed base data into the control panel.

57. The control panel of claim 50, wherein the smart graphics symbol informs an intelligent agent to transform the content of the computer document in the control panel based on the base data collected.

58. The control panel of claim 54, wherein the identification and action information of the smart graphics symbol denotes a set of isolated representations for additional study by the user.

59. The control panel of claim 58, wherein the identification and action information of the smart graphics symbol includes a collection notation for identifying the set of isolated representations for additional study by the user.

60. The control panel of claim 59, wherein the collection notation identification and action information fills the control panel with the image, name, and description of the isolated representations.

61. The control panel of claim 59, wherein the collection notation identification and action information fills the control panel with the image, name, and description of the isolated representations.

103. A control panel for displaying base data on a presentation of layered slots.

104. The control panel of claim 103, wherein the control apparatus displays data in an overlaid map.

105. The control panel of claim 103, wherein the control apparatus displays data in a gridded map.

106. The control panel of claim 103, wherein the control panel includes a computer document.

107. The control panel of claim 106, wherein the control panel document is a page of images and text for collection in the slotted map presentation.

108. The control panel of claim 106, wherein the control panel document is a page of products with descriptions for collection in the slotted map presentation.

109. The control panel of claim 106, wherein the control panel document is a page of search links for collection in the slotted map presentation.

110. The control panel of claim 103, wherein the displayed data is at least one of a smart graphics symbol, an image, text, and a link that responds to user commands to annotate map layers and slots.

111. The control panel of claim 110, wherein the smart graphics includes an image with identification and action information attached.

112. The control panel of claim 110, wherein the display of the smart graphics activates user-triggered scripts and data in a database to retrieve text or graphic data from the database in response to user input.

113. The control panel of claim 110, wherein the display of the smart graphics informs an intelligent agent to bring data similar to the displayed base data into the control panel.

114. The control panel of claim 110, wherein the display of the smart graphics informs an intelligent agent to transform the content of the computer document in the control panel based on the base data collected.

115. The control panel of claim 111, wherein the identification and action information of the smart graphics denotes a set of isolated representations for additional study by the user.

116. The control panel of claim 115, wherein the identification and action information of the smart graphics includes a collection notation for identifying the set of isolated representations for additional study by the user.

117. The control panel of claim 116, wherein the collection notation identification and action information fills the control panel with at least one of the image, name, and description of the isolated representations.

118. The control panel of claim 103, wherein the control apparatus of said control panel is presented in one or more layered slots.

119. The control panel of claim 118, wherein at least one of symbols, images, and text of said control panel apparatus changes in the layered slots in response to system events.

120. The control panel of claim 118, wherein said control apparatus provide for the replacement of one block of at least one of symbols, images, and text with a second block of at least one of symbols, images, and text within the control panel.

121. The control panel of claim 120, wherein said control apparatus within the control panel provides for the organization of and access to an index for a data set.

122. The control panel of claim 120, wherein said control apparatus is at least one of an arrow, a symbol, a segmented bar, a tabbed bar, a topical list, alphabetical list, numerical list, and graphical line.