Method and apparatus for increasing the displayed detail of a tree structure
First Claim
1. A computer controlled display system for displaying three dimensional visualizations of hierarchically related information, said hierarchically related information comprised of a node link structure, said computer controlled display system comprising:
- a display for displaying said node-link structure on a viewing area of said display;
receiving means for receiving a node-link structure, said node-link structure having multiple levels;
layout means coupled to said receiving means, said layout means for creating planar addresses for each of said nodes in said node-link structure, said planar addresses representing a layout of said node link structure on a plane;
warping means coupled to said layout means, said warping means for transforming said planar addresses into three dimensional display addresses using a surface function for each of a plurality of nodes in said node-link structure, said surface function corresponding to a surface shape;
rendering means coupled to said warping means and said display, said rendering means for causing nodes in said node-link structure to be displayed in said viewing area of said display at said created three dimensional display addresses so that said entire node-link structure appears to be warped about said surface shape; and
scrolling means coupled to said warping means, said scrolling means for causing scrolling of said node-link structure so that said node-link structure scrolls about said surface shape.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for increasing the displayed detail of a tree structure. The present invention is for use on a computer controlled display system and provides for visualization of a tree structure so that a greater amount of the detail of the tree structure may be displayed in a display area. In the present invention, a tree structure is warped about an arbitrary surface for display. Such an arbitrary surface would include a surface defined by a parabola, a hyperbola or by the intersection of two lines. As a result, an increased number of nodes in each level of the tree can be displayed.
142 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computer controlled display system for displaying three dimensional visualizations of hierarchically related information, said hierarchically related information comprised of a node link structure, said computer controlled display system comprising:
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a display for displaying said node-link structure on a viewing area of said display; receiving means for receiving a node-link structure, said node-link structure having multiple levels; layout means coupled to said receiving means, said layout means for creating planar addresses for each of said nodes in said node-link structure, said planar addresses representing a layout of said node link structure on a plane; warping means coupled to said layout means, said warping means for transforming said planar addresses into three dimensional display addresses using a surface function for each of a plurality of nodes in said node-link structure, said surface function corresponding to a surface shape; rendering means coupled to said warping means and said display, said rendering means for causing nodes in said node-link structure to be displayed in said viewing area of said display at said created three dimensional display addresses so that said entire node-link structure appears to be warped about said surface shape; and scrolling means coupled to said warping means, said scrolling means for causing scrolling of said node-link structure so that said node-link structure scrolls about said surface shape. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for displaying a node-link structure in a three-dimensional visualization on a display, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a node-link structure, said node-link structure comprised of a plurality of nodes and levels; b) laying out said node-link structure on a plane to create a planar address for each of said plurality of nodes in said node-link structure; c) transforming the planar address of each node of said plurality of nodes in said node-link structure using a surface function to create a three dimensional display address, said surface function corresponding to a surface shape; d) displaying said nodes of said node-link structure at their corresponding three dimensional display address, wherein said entire node-link structure appears warped about said surface shape; e) receiving a request to scroll said node-link structure; and f) displaying an animation of scrolling said node-link structure by repeating step c)-d) for said transformed planar addresses for nodes in said node link structure so that said node-link structure appears to scroll about said surface shape. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a computer controlled display system for controlling the display of a multi-level tree structure on a viewing area of a coupled display, said computer controlled display system having a processing means, internal memory, a cursor control device, a keyboard and external memory, said tree structure comprised of a plurality of nodes laid out on a planar surface wherein each of said plurality of nodes has a planar address, an improvement comprising:
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warping means for warping said tree structure about a surface so that an increased number of nodes of said tree structure are visible in said viewing area of said display, said warping means comprised of; means for receiving a planar address for a node of said tree structure; means for transforming said planar address for said node of said tree structure to create a three dimensional display address for said node using a surface function, said surface function corresponding to said surface; and scrolling means coupled to said warping means, said scrolling means for scrolling said tree structure about said surface. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for displaying a node-link structure in a three-dimensional visualization on a display, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a node-link structure, said node-link structure comprised of a plurality of nodes and levels; b) laying out said node-link structure on a plane to create a planar address for each node in said node-link structure; c) transforming the planar address of each node of said plurality of nodes in said node-link structure using a surface function to create a three dimensional display address, said surface function corresponding to a static surface shape; and d) displaying said nodes of said node-link structure at their corresponding three dimensional display address, wherein said entire node-link structure appears warped about said static surface shape.
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Specification