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Fractal nested layout for hierarchical system

  • US 6,122,634 A
  • Filed: 05/02/1997
  • Issued: 09/19/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for displaying a visual hierarchy of nodes as a fractal nested layout on a monitor connected to a computer, comprising the steps of:

  • (a) displaying a higher level node in the hierarchy as a window on the monitor; and

    (b) simultaneously displaying a plurality of lower level nodes as nested and separate regions within an area of the window of the higher level node thereby displaying a fractal nested layout, wherein the lower level nodes comprise a plurality of levels within the visual hierarchy, so that a plurality of unexpanded lower level nodes are displayed opaquely in a first area within the display of the higher level node and a plurality of expanded lower level nodes are displayed as windows in a second area within the display of the higher level node, wherein the unexpanded lower level nodes conceal their contents and the expanded lower level nodes disclose their contents, wherein the visual hierarchy of nodes is a consistent display of the higher and lower level nodes having regularity of the layout at each level of the hierarchy, wherein the expanded lower level nodes are visually formatted like the higher level node and the first and second areas have the same relative spatial positions in the layout at each level of the hierarchy and wherein all nodes of the hierarchy are displayed in a single pane of the window of the higher level node, and the spatial relationship between displayed nodes in the fractal nested layout is indicative of the relationship between nodes in the hierarchy.

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