System for viewing the structure of computer graphical elements

• US 6,020,899 A
• Filed: 06/14/1996
• Issued: 02/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Information Technology Services Incorporated (Canon Inc.), Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Long, Timothy Merrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US08/664,331
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/441, 345/443, 345/133, 345/134
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for displaying a grouped structure (23) in a computer graphics image. This involves providing at least one selection tag (18) for the grouped structure. A group display mode is used so that, when a selection tar (18) of the grouped structure is selected, portions (25,26) of the structure of the group structured are determined. The portions (25,26) of the structure of the grouped structure (23) are then displayed. Preferably, the displayed portions (25,26) initially comprise a top level portion (25) of the grouped structure (23). This further involves displaying further levels (26) of the grouped structure (23). Preferably, the displayed portions of the structure are displayed in a tree format. Optionally, the tree format includes nodes (25,26) denoting part of the grouped structure (23). This involves providing means for selecting a current node (26) within the tree format and displaying at least the child nodes (27,28), if any, of the current node (26), upon selection of the current node (26). Optionally, a sub-portion of the displayed portions of the structure can be selected and interactive access can be provided to the selected sub-portion.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a grouped structure in a computer graphics image, said method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one selection tag for said grouped structure;

utilising a group display mode, whereby portions of the structure of said grouped structure are determined when a selection tag of said grouped structure is selected in said group display mode; and

displaying said portions of the structure of said grouped structures.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said displayed portions initially comprise a top level portion of said grouped structure, and said method further comprises providing a means for displaying further levels of said grouped structure.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of displaying said portions of said grouped structure includes a step of displaying said portions in a tree format.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said tree format includes nodes denoting part of said grouped structure, and said method further comprises the steps of:

providing means for selecting a current node within said tree format; and

displaying at least the child nodes, if any, of said current node upon selection of said current node.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing means for selecting a sub-portion of said displayed portions of said grouped structure and providing interactive access to said selected sub-portion.

6. An apparatus for displaying a grouped structure in a computer graphics image, comprising:

means for providing at least one selection tag for said grouped structure,

means for providing a group display mode and for determining portions of the structure of said grouped structure in response to selection of a selection tag of said grouped structure in a group display mode; and

means for displaying said portions of the structure of said grouped structures, said display means coupled to said group display mode means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for displaying said portions displays a top level portion of said grouped structure and further comprises means for displaying further levels of said grouped structure.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means for displaying said portions includes means for displaying said portions in a tree format.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said tree format includes nodes denoting part of said grouped structure.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

means for selecting a current node within said tree format; and

means for displaying at least the child nodes, if any, of said current node in response to selection of said current node.

11. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for selecting a sub-portion of said displayed portions of said grouped structure; and

means for interactively accessing said selected sub-portion.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon for displaying a grouped structure in a computer graphics image, said computer program product comprising:

means for providing at least one selection tag for said grouped structure;

means for utilizing a group display mode, whereby portions of the structure of said grouped structure are determined when a selection tag of said grouped structure is selected in said group display mode; and

means for displaying said portions of the structure of said grouped structures.

13. The computer program product according to claim 12, wherein said displayed portions initially comprise a top level portion of said grouped structure, and further comprising means for displaying further levels of said grouped structure.

14. The computer program product according to claim 12, wherein said displaying of said portions of said grouped structure includes displaying said portions in a tree format.

15. The computer program product according to claim 14, wherein said tree format includes nodes denoting part of said grouped structure, and further comprises:

means for selecting a current node within said tree format; and

means for displaying at least the child nodes, if any, of said current node upon selection of said current node.

16. The computer program product according to claim 12, further comprising means for selecting a sub-portion of said displayed portions of said grouped structure and providing-interactive access to said selected sub-portion.

17. Computer apparatus for displaying a grouped structure in a computer graphics image, said apparatus comprising:

at least one data entry device operable by a user of said apparatus;

a video display device;

a computer module operatively coupled to said data entry device and said video display device and including a storage device for storing information related to said computer graphics image and a processor arranged to process said information, said computer module further comprising;

means for providing at least one selection tag for said grouped structure;

means for providing a group display mode and for determining portions of the structure of said grouped structure in response to selection of a selection tag of said grouped structure in a group display mode; and

means, operatively coupled to said group display mode means of said computer module, for displaying on said video display device said portions of the structure of said grouped structures.

18. Computer apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said display device displays a top level portion of said grouped structure, and said computer module further comprises means for displaying on said video display device further levels of said grouped structure.

19. Computer apparatus according to claim 17, wherein means for displaying said portions of said grouped structure includes means for displaying said portions in a tree format.

20. Computer apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said tree format includes nodes denoting part of said grouped structure.

21. Computer apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said computer module further comprising:

means for selecting a current node within said tree format; and

means for displaying on said display means at least the child nodes, if any, of said current node in response to selection of said current node.

22. Computer apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising;

means for selecting a sub-portion of said displayed portions of said grouped structure; and

means for interactively accessing said selected sub-portion.

23. A method of controlling the display of an image, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a grouped image on a display screen;

designating a desired portion of the displayed image;

displaying a tag according to the designating step; and

displaying a component image corresponding to the selection tag.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said displayed component image initially comprises a top level portion of said grouped image, and said method further comprises the step of displaying further levels of said grouped image.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said step of displaying said component image of said grouped image includes a step of displaying said portions in a tree format.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said tree format includes nodes denoting part of said grouped image, and said method further comprises the steps of:

selecting a current node within said tree format; and

displaying at least the child nodes, if any, of said current node upon selection of said current node.

27. The method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of selecting a sub-portion of said displayed portions of said grouped image and providing interactive access to said selected sub-portion.