Browser for hierarchical structures

• US 6,278,991 B1
• Filed: 08/14/1998
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Ebert, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Te(Susan)
• Application Number:
  US09/134,502
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/101, 707/102, 707/103, 707/104, 707/907, 345/419, 345/433, 345/473, 345/335, 345/339, 345/347, 345/348, 345/352, 345/353, 345/354, 345/355, 345/356, 345/357, 345/961, 345/975, 345/976, 345/977, 345/522, 700/17, 382/209
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/957 Multidimensional
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A browser for viewing data representing text, pictures, sounds, virtual reality worlds, links, or other objects, and organized in a hierarchical structure is provided to display and interact with links to the data. A retrieved set of data is displayed in a lens, and subsequently retrieved sets of data that are deeper in the hierarchical structure are displayed in further stacked lenses, creating a visual representation of the hierarchy. A label on each lens provides information on the data originally displayed in the lens. A user may choose to view the originally displayed contents of any lens on the screen. A user may also modify a personal hierarchical data structure comprising links to sets of data in the first hierarchical structure. In doing so, a user creates an entirely new hierarchical structure that customizes the organization of data according to personal preferences and takes advantage of natural association to reduce the number of perceived levels in the new hierarchical data structure.

Claims

1. A method of displaying and interacting with links to data, which data is organized in a hierarchical data structure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a first request from a graphical user interface on a computer to provide a first set of data, said first set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a associated with said position of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(b) receiving in said computer said first set of data in response to said first request;

(c) converting said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

(d) displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens displayed by said graphical user interface;

(e) sending a second request from said graphical user interface to provide a second set of data, said second set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of second set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(f) receiving in said computer said second set of data in response to said second request;

(g) comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data to determine which level is deeper within said hierarchical data structure;

(h) converting said second set of data to a graphical representation for visual display based upon said comparing of said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data; and

(i) displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data in a second lens displayed by said graphical user interface stacked within and on top of said first lens responsive only to a determination that said level of said second set of data is deeper than said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

2. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of claim 1, wherein said first lens and said second lens are substantially hexagonal in shape.

3. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of claim 1, wherein at least said second set of data contains a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

4. The method of displaying and interacting with links to data of claim 1, wherein at least said second set of data contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending of said requests and said receiving of said sets of data is via a computer network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

7. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

discontinuing display of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data by said graphical user interface responsive to a determination that said level of said second set of data is equal to said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

8. A method of displaying and interacting with links to data, which data is organized in a hierarchical data structure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a first request from a graphical user interface on a computer to provide a first set of data, said first set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(b) receiving in said computer said first set of data in response to said first request;

(c) converting said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

(d) displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens displayed by said graphical user interface;

(e) sending a second request from said graphical user interface to provide a second set of data, said second set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said second set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(f) receiving in said computer said second set of data in response to said second request;

(g) comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data to determine which level is deeper within said hierarchical data structure;

(h) converting said second set of data to a graphical representation for visual display based upon said comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data; and

(i) displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data in a second lens displayed by said graphical user interface stacked within and on top of said first lens only when said level of said second set of data is deeper than said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure; and

wherein;

at least one of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data and said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data contains a graphical representation for visual display of a category;

said category has a position in said hierarchical data structure and has a level associated with said position of said category; and

said graphical representation for visual display of said category indicates whether a third set of data having a position at a deeper level than said level associated with said position of said category exists.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the sending of said requests and said receiving of said sets of data is via a computer network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

11. The method of claim 8, and further comprising:

discontinuing display of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data by said graphical user interface responsive to a determination that said level of said second set data is equal to said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

12. A method of displaying and interacting with links to data in an R/3 system, which data is organized in a hierarchical data structure, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) sending a first request from an R/3 graphical user interface on a computer to provide a first set of data, said first set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of first set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(b) receiving in said computer said first set of data in response to said first request;

(c) converting said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

(d) displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens displayed by said R/3 graphical user interface;

(e) sending a second request from said R/3 graphical user interface to provide a second set of data, said second set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of second set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(f) receiving in said computer said second set of data in response to said second request;

(g) comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data to determine which level is deeper within said hierarchical data structure;

(h) converting said second set of data to a graphical representation for visual display based upon said comparing of said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data; and

(i) displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data in a second lens displayed by said R/3 graphical user interface stacked within and on top of said first lens responsive only to a determination from said comparing that said level of said second set of data is deeper than said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the sending of said requests and said receiving of said sets of data is via a computer network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

15. The method of claim 12, and further comprising:

discontinuing display of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data by said graphical user interface responsive to a determination that said level of said second set of data is equal to said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

16. A computer system comprising a display, a central processor, a graphics processor, a memory, an input device, and a graphical user interface, wherein:

said memory has a hierarchical data structure, said hierarchical data structure having a first set of data and a second set of data, said first set of data having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure, said second set of data having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said second set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

said graphical user interface requests said first set of data;

said graphics processor receives said first set of data in response to said request for said first set of data;

said graphics processor converts said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

said graphical user interface displays said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens on said display;

said graphical user interface requests said second set of data;

said graphical processor receives said second set of data in response to said request for said second set of data;

said central processor compares said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data to determine which level is deeper within said hierarchical data structure;

said graphics processor converts said second set of data to a graphical representation for visual display based upon said comparing of said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data; and

said graphical user interface displays said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data in a second lens stacked within and on top of said first lens on said display responsive only to a determination that said level of said second set of data is deeper than said level of said first set of data.

17. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said first lens and said second lens are substantially hexagonal in shape.

18. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said central processor and said graphics processor are the same processor.

19. The computer system of claim 16, wherein at least said second set of data contains a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

20. The computer system of claim 16, wherein at least said second set of data contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

21. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said graphical user interface operates in conjunction with an instance of SAP Business Information Warehouse.

22. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said graphical user interface displays a context-sensitive pop-up menu, based on attributes of said second set of data and based on an authorization level.

23. The computer system of claim 16, wherein said graphical user interface is imbedded in a container.

24. The system of claim 16, wherein the sets of data are requested and received over a computer network.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

26. The system of claim 16, wherein said graphical user interface discontinues display of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data responsive to a determination that said level of said second set of data is equal to said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

27. A computer system comprising a display, a central processor, a graphics processor, a memory, an input device, and a graphical user interface, wherein:

said memory has a hierarchical data structure, said hierarchical data structure having a first set of data and a second set of data, said first set of data having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure, said second set of data having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said second set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

said graphical user interface requests said first set of data;

said graphics processor receives said first set of data in response to said request for said first set of data;

said graphics processor converts said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

said graphical user interface displays said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens on said display;

said graphical user interface requests said second set of data;

said graphical processor receives said second set of data in response to said request for said second set of data;

said central processor compares said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data to determine which level is deeper within said hierarchical data structure;

said graphics processor converts said second set of data to a graphical representation for visual display based upon said comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data; and

said graphical user interface displays said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data in a second lens stacked within and on top of said first lens on said display only when said level of said second set of data is deeper than said level of said first set of data; and

wherein;

at least one of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data and said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data contains a graphical representation for visual display of a category;

said category has a position in said hierarchical data structure and has a level associated with said position of said category; and

said graphical representation for visual display of said category indicates whether a third set of data having a position at a deeper level than said level associated with said position of said category exists.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the sets of data are requested and received over a computer network.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein said graphical user interface discontinues display of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data responsive to a determination that said level of said second set of data is equal to said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

31. A method of displaying sets of data organized in a hierarchical data structure, the method comprising displaying a plurality of lenses, each lens having a size, wherein:

each said lens is associated with a respective set of data, each said set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and each having a position in said hierarchical data structure and each having a level associated with said position of said set of data in said hierarchical data structure; and

said size of each said lens being determined based on said level of said set of data associated with said lens so that one of said lenses is smaller than another of said lenses where said one of said lenses is associated with a set of data having a deeper level in the hierarchical data structure than the level of the set of data associated with said another of said lenses.

32. The method of displaying data organized in a hierarchical data structure of claim 31, wherein each said lens has a label.

33. The method of displaying data organized in a hierarchical data structure of claim 31, further comprising selecting any one of said plurality of lenses using a graphical user interface, displaying said any one of said plurality of lenses, and displaying said set of data associated with said any one of said plurality of lenses.

34. The method of displaying data organized in a hierarchical data structure of claim 31, wherein at least said one of said lenses is associated with data containing a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

35. The method of displaying data organized in a hierarchical data structure of claim 31, wherein at least said one of said lenses is associated with data that contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

36. The method of displaying data organized in a hierarchical data structure of claim 31, wherein each said lens is substantially hexagonal in shape.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the sets of data are requested and received from the hierarchical data structure over a computer network.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

39. The method of claim 31, and further comprising:

discontinuing display of one of said lenses responsive to a determination that said level of the set of data associated therewith is equal to said level of the set of data associated with another lens to be displayed.

40. A computer system for displaying and interacting with data organized in a hierarchical data structure, which comprises:

(a) means for sending a first request from a graphical user interface on a computer to provide a first set of data, said first set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(b) means for receiving in said computer said first set of data in response to said first request;

(c) means for converting said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

(d) means for displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens displayed by said graphical user interface;

(e) means for sending a second request from said graphical user interface to provide a second set of data, said second set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of second set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(f) means for receiving in said computer said second set of data in response to said second request;

(g) means for comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data to determine which level is deeper within said hierarchical data structure;

(h) means for converting said second set of data to a graphical representation for visual display based upon said comparing of said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data; and

(i) means for displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data in a second lens displayed by said graphical user interface stacked within and on top of said first lens responsive only to a determination that said level of said second set of data is deeper than said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

41. The computer system of claim 40, wherein said first lens and said second lens are substantially hexagonal in shape.

42. The computer system of claim 40, wherein at least said second set of data contains a representation of a three-dimensional animation.

43. The computer system of claim 40, wherein at least said second set of data contains a representation of a virtual reality world.

44. The computer system of claim 40, wherein said graphical user interface operates in conjunction with an instance of SAP Business Information Warehouse.

45. The computer system of claim 40, wherein said graphical user interface displays a context-sensitive pop-up menu, based on attributes of said second set of data and based on an authorization level.

46. The computer system of claim 40, wherein said graphical user interface is imbedded in a container.

47. The system of claim 40, wherein the sets of data are requested and received over a computer network.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

49. The system of claim 40, and further comprising:

means for discontinuing display of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data by said graphical user interface responsive to a determination that said level of said second set of data is equal to said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure.

50. A computer system for displaying and interacting with data organized in a hierarchical data structure, which comprises:

(a) means for sending a first request from a graphical user interface on a computer to provide a first set of data, said first set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(b) means for receiving in said computer said first set of data in response to said first request;

(c) means for converting said first set of data to a graphical representation for visual display;

(d) means for displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data in a first lens displayed by said graphical user interface;

(e) means for sending a second request from said graphical user interface to provide a second set of data, said second set of data being in said hierarchical data structure and having a position in said hierarchical data structure and having a level associated with said position of said second set of data in said hierarchical data structure;

(f) means for receiving in said computer said second set of data in response to said second request;

(g) means for comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data to determine which level is deeper within said hierarchical data structure;

(h) means for converting said second set of data to a graphical representation for visual display based upon said comparing said level of said second set of data with said level of said first set of data; and

(i) means for displaying said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data in a second lens displayed by said graphical user interface stacked within and on top of said first lens only when said level of said second set of data is deeper than said level of said first set of data in said hierarchical data structure; and

wherein;

at least one of said graphical representation for visual display of said first set of data and said graphical representation for visual display of said second set of data contains a graphical representation for visual display of a category;

said category has a position in said hierarchical data structure and has a level associated with said position of said category; and

said graphical representation for visual display of said category indicates whether a third set of data having a position at a deeper level than said level associated with said position of said category exists.