Interactive, tree structured, graphical visualization aid

• US 5,895,474 A
• Filed: 09/03/1996
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wecker, Alan Jay, Maarek, Yoelle Smadja, Vortman, Pnina
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kindred, Alford W.
• Application Number:
  US08/706,937
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• Field of Search: 707/514, 707/513, 707/515, 707/508, 345/356, 345/357
• US Class Current: 715/210
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/34 Browsing; Visualisation therefor

Abstract

An interactive, tree structured, graphical visualization aid enables a user to better understand and interpret underlying structures in collections of digitally stored data elements, such as documents, programs and other data files. The visualization aid responds to user input, which directs the aid to operate in one of at least two modes. In a first mode, the visualization aid displays a graphical tree structure that includes a selected node and all branches of the selected node, including all subordinate nodes and data elements. In this first mode of operation, all data elements or documents branching either directly from the selected node or directly from subordinate nodes are displayed in the tree structure as branching directly from their respective nodes. In a second mode of operation, the visualization aid displays a graphical tree structure that includes a single group of all data elements or documents that branch either directly from the selected node or directly from subordinate nodes, but the selected node and its subordinate nodes are not displayed.

Claims

1. A tree structured, graphical visualization aid for use with data elements that have been organized into a hierarchy, said visualization aid having two modes of operation, wherein:

in a first mode of operation, said visualization aid causes first, second and third nodes, and first and second data elements to be displayed in a graphical tree structure, wherein said first data element branches directly from said first node, said first node and said second data element branch directly from said second node, and said second node branches directly from said third node; and

in a second mode of operation, said visualization aid causes said third node and said first and second data elements to be displayed in a graphical tree structure, wherein said first and second data elements are grouped in a list that branches directly from said third node.

2. A data processing system, comprising:

a storage device for storing information, including first and second data elements that have been organized into a hierarchy;

a display device for displaying graphical information;

an input device for providing user input; and

a visualization aid coupled to said display device for displaying a tree structured, graphical representation of the information stored in said storage device, said visualization aid having first and second modes of operation, each one of said first and second modes of operation being selected in response to a different predetermined input from said input device, wherein;

in said first mode of operation, said visualization aid causes first, second and third nodes, and said first and second data elements to be displayed in a graphical tree structure, wherein said first data element branches directly from said first node, said first node and said second data element branch directly from said second node, and said second node branches directly from said third node; and

in a second mode of operation, said visualization aid causes said third node and said first and second data elements to be displayed in a graphical tree structure, wherein said first and second data elements are grouped in a list that branches directly from said third node.