Method and apparatus for organizing and processing information using a digital computer

• US 6,166,739 A
• Filed: 03/19/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TheBrain Technologies, LP
• Original Assignee: Natrificial LLC
• Inventors: Hugh, Harlan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/272,808
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 345/357, 345/356, 345/340, 345/327, 345/328-332, 345/333-335, 345/336, 345/341-342, 345/352-355, 345/145-146, 345/343-351, 709/100, 709/101, 709/102, 709/103-108
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/18 of spreadsheets form-filling G06F40/174

Abstract

An effect method and apparatus for organizing and processing chunks of interrelated information (or "thoughts") using a digital computer is disclosed. The invention utilizes highly flexible, associative thought networks to organize and represents digitally-stored thoughts. A thought network specifies a plurality of thoughts, as well as network relationship among the thoughts. A graphical representation of the thought network is displayed, including a plurality of display icons corresponding to the thoughts, and a plurality of connecting lines corresponding to the relationships among the thoughts. Each of the thought is associated with one or more software application programs, such as a word processing or spreadsheet utility. Users are able to select a current thought conveniently by interacting with the graphical representation, and the current thought is processed by automatically invoking the application program associated with the current thought in a transparent manner. Users can conveniently modify the thought network by interactively redefining the connecting lines between thoughts. In another aspect of the invention, attribute values are associated with the various thoughts of the network, and the network is searched to identify a subset of the thoughts having attribute values equal to a desired set of values. Further aspects of the invention include techniques for scheduling selected thoughts of the network for desired operations at specified times, and storing timing and usage statistics in order to preserve a history of the processing tasks performed on each thought.

Claims

1. A method for navigating a group of information in a computer system, comprising the steps of:

identifying said group of information associated with a selected data item;

converting certain pieces of said group information into generated data items;

associating unilateral and multilateral display relationships with said generated data items, each unilateral display relationship representing a direct relationship between two of said generated data items, and said multilateral relationships also representing an indirect relationship with other generated data items;

associating unilateral and multilateral display relationships with said generated data items and said selected data item, each unilateral display relationship representing a direct relationship between said selected data item and one of said generated data items, and said multilateral relationships also representing an indirect relationship between said selected data item and said generated data items; and

forming a display associated with said selected data item, including said generated data items, wherein said display distinguishes between said selected data item and said generated data items.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said group of information comprises a directory.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said group of information comprises a hierarchical group of information.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of converting certain pieces of said group information into generated data items further comprises the step of:

converting certain pieces of said hierarchical group of information into a non-hierarchical group of information.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said display graphically distinguishes between said selected data item and said generated data items.

6. The method claimed in claim 5, wherein said selected data item is colored differently from said generated data items.

7. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of converting certain of said pieces of information into generated data items further comprises the step of:

converting those pieces of information disposed in a navigational vicinity of said selected thought into generated data items.

8. The method claimed in claim 7, wherein said navigational vicinity of said selected thought comprises an area within said display.

9. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

eliminating said generated data items in accordance with a predetermined condition.

10. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein said step of eliminating said generated data items in accordance with a predetermined condition further comprises the step of:

eliminating said generated data items from a memory of said computer system.

11. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein said step of eliminating said generated data items in accordance with a predetermined condition further comprises the step of:

eliminating said generated data items which are no longer disposed in said navigational vicinity of said selected thought on said display.

12. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein said step of eliminating said generated data items in accordance with a predetermined condition further comprises the step of:

eliminating said generated data items which are no longer required to return to said selected data item.

13. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said selected data it ems are permanent data items.

14. The method claimed in claim 13, further comprising the step of:

converting certain of said generated data items into permanent data items.

15. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said group of information comprises a database.

16. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein said group of information comprises a set of linked items.

17. The method claimed in claim 16, wherein said linked items comprise a web site.

18. An apparatus for navigating a group of information in a computer system, comprising:

means for identifying said group of information associated with a selected data item;

means for converting certain pieces of said group information into generated data items;

means for associating unilateral and multilateral display relationships with said generated data items, each unilateral display relationship representing a direct relationship between two of said generated data items, and said multilateral relationships also representing an indirect relationship with other generated data items;

means for associating unilateral and multilateral display relationships with said generated data items and said selected data item, each unilateral display relationship representing a direct relationship between said selected data item and one of said generated data items, and said multilateral relationships also representing an indirect relationship between said selected data item and said generated data items; and

means for forming a display associated with said selected data item, including said generated data items, wherein said display distinguishes between said selected data item and said generated data items.

19. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, wherein said group of information comprises a directory.

20. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, wherein said group of information comprises a hierarchical group of information.

21. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, wherein said means for converting certain pieces of said group information into generated data items further comprises:

means for converting certain pieces of said hierarchical group of information into a non-hierarchical group of information.

22. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, wherein said display graphically distinguishes between said selected data item and said generated data items.

23. The apparatus claimed in claim 22, wherein said selected data item is colored differently from said generated data items.

24. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, wherein said means for converting certain of said pieces of information into generated data items further comprises:

means for converting those pieces of information disposed in a navigational vicinity of said selected thought into generated data items.

25. The apparatus claimed in claim 24, wherein said navigational vicinity of said selected thought comprises an area within said display.

26. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

means for eliminating said generated data items in accordance with a predetermined condition.

27. The apparatus claimed in claim 26, wherein said means of eliminating said generated data items in accordance with a predetermined condition further comprises:

means for eliminating said generated data items from a memory of said computer system.

28. The apparatus claimed in claim 26, wherein said means for eliminating said generated data items in accordance with a predetermined condition further comprises:

means for eliminating said generated data items which are no longer disposed in said navigational vicinity of said selected thought on said display.

29. The apparatus claimed in claim 26, wherein said means for eliminating said generated data items in accordance with a predetermined condition further comprises:

means for eliminating said generated data items which are no longer required to return to said selected data item.

30. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, wherein said selected data items are permanent data items.

31. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

means for converting certain of said generated data items into permanent data items.

32. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, wherein said group of information comprises a database.

33. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, wherein said group of information comprises a set of linked items.

34. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, wherein said linked items comprise a web site.