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Methods of centering nodes in a hierarchical display

  • US 5,333,254 A
  • Filed: 10/02/1991
  • Issued: 07/26/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a processor connected for providing image data to an image output device that includes a display, the image output device presenting images on the display in response to the image data;

  • the processor further being connected for receiving signals from a user input device;

    the method comprising steps of;

    providing first image data so that the image output device presents a first image, the first image including a first node-link structure that is perceptible as lying on a plane-like surface;

    the first node-link structure including a first set of three or more nodes arranged in two or more rows with at least two nodes in one row and at least one node in a different row;

    the first node-link structure having a centering line across which row extends;

    the first node-link structure further including a first set of two or more links, each of the first set of links being perciptible as connecting two of the first set of nodes, the two connected nodes being in different rows;

    receiving a signal from the user input device indicating one of the first set of nodes in the first node-link structure;

    in response to the signal from the user, determining whether the indicated node is at the centering line of the first node-link structure; and

    if the indicated node is not at the centering line of the first node-link structure, providing second image data so that the image output device presents a second image, the second image including a second node-link structure that is perceptible as lying on a plane-like surface;

    the second node-link structure including a second set of three or more nodes arranged in two or more rows with at least two modes in one row and at least one node in a different row;

    the second node-link structure having a centering line across which row extends;

    the second node-link structure further including a second set of two or more links, each of the second set of links being perceptible as connecting two of the second set of nodes, the two connected nodes being in different rows;

    each of the second set of nodes being perceptible as a continuation of a respective one of the first set of nodes;

    the second set of nodes including a continued indicated node that is perceptible as a continuation of the indicated node;

    the continued indicated node being at the centering line of the second node-link structure;

    the rows of the second node-link structure being perceptible as continuations of the rows of the first node-link structure, with the indicated node'"'"'s row shifted to position the continued indicated node at the centering line of the second node-link structure.

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