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Layout of node-link structures in space with negative curvature

  • US 5,590,250 A
  • Filed: 09/14/1994
  • Issued: 12/31/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:

  • obtaining layout data;

    the layout data indicating positions in a layout space for parts of a node-link structure;

    the layout space being a space with negative curvature;

    the node-link structure including nodes and links, each link relating at least two of the nodes;

    the layout data indicating positions in the layout space for a set of the nodes;

    the set of nodes forming a branch that includes two or more levels of nodes including a top level and at least one lower level, the top level including a top level node and the lower levels including lower level nodes, each node at each lower level having a parent node at a next higher level to which the node is related through one link;

    for each of a set of two or more parent nodes, the layout data indicating;

    a parent position in the layout space for the parent node; and

    child positions that lie approximately along a circle in the layout space for a number of lower level nodes that share the parent node, the parent position being approximately at the center of the circle;

    the number of lower level nodes being two or more;

    adjacent child positions along the circle being separated by approximately a base spacing;

    the circles having radii that, together, approximate a function that increases slowly with number of lower level nodes such that the radii and spacings between adjacent child positions along circles are all approximately uniform within the branch;

    using the layout data to present a first representation of the node-link structure on a display;

    receiving a signal from a user;

    the signal indicating a change from a first display position to a second display position;

    the first representation including a first feature near the first display position, the first feature representing a first part of the node-link structure; and

    in response to the signal, presenting a second representation of the node-link structure on the display;

    the second representation including a second feature representing the first part of the node-link structure, the second feature being presented near the second display position;

    the second representation being perceptible as a changed continuation of the first representation.

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