Method, apparatus and article of manufacture for displaying traversing and playing content in a multi-dimensional topic space

• US 6,281,899 B1
• Filed: 06/08/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cedar Lane Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: MONKEYmedia, Inc.
• Inventors: Gould, Eric Justin, Strickland, Rachel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US09/327,893
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/333, 345/334, 345/335, 345/339, 345/340, 345/355, 345/356, 345/357, 345/968, 345/419, 345/440, 707/1-5, 707/10, 707/100, 707/104
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• 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 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object

Abstract

A computer system utilizing software to map content by determining a field of relevance and at least one topic in the field of relevance is presented. The system determines at least one content pertaining to the topic, retrieves a representation of the content and maps the representation of the content onto the field of relevance. Then, it provides an extremely flexible presentation mechanism where the content is organized by multi-dimensional mappings to present the information effectively. The system also provides a navigation aid for traversing multi-dimensional information utilizing a variety of features and tools for effectively visualizing the information. One of the features allows a vector to be assigned to each entity, queries a user or software agent for a particular focal element and displays the multiplicity of distinguishable entities based upon the assigned vectors utilizing the focal vector as a reference point to view the information. The system facilitates the organization of results of database interrogations, web searches and other large data situations, creating a multi-dimensional topic space of content and the tools to navigate the space effectively. The topic space is traversed by dynamically modifying the focal vector, which modifies the visualization of the information to conform the user or software agent'"'"'s directions. The invention represents a novel, unique approach that matches nicely with the requirements of the Internet to efficiently examine the results from search engines in an efficient manner.

Claims

1. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display, comprising the steps of:

determining at least one topic;

retrieving content associated with the at least one topic;

assigning a vector to the at least one topic;

determining a focal point based on the at least one topic;

mapping the content representative of the at least one topic on a display as a multi-dimensional topic space based on the vector and the focal point; and

navigating amongst the content representative of the at least one topic.

2. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1, and further comprising the step of responding to a user indicia to traverse the multi-dimensional topic space on the display, wherein traversing at least one topic results in a dynamic mapping of a view of the content.

3. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 2, wherein a topic influences navigation through the information on the display.

4. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1, wherein content influences navigation to a view exposing additional detail pertaining to the display of information.

5. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1, wherein a field of relevance includes detecting a change of the field of relevance and navigating to information pertaining to the field of relevance based on the change.

6. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1, wherein mapping the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance, includes the steps of:

determining relative salience of the content;

calculating a spatial location for the content based upon the relative salience of the content;

displaying the content at the spatial location of the content; and

navigating to the content.

7. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 2, wherein the user indicia is supplied by positioning a cursor.

8. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1, including the steps of utilizing a user position to map the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on the display and navigating to a field of relevance on the display.

9. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1, including the step of mapping the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance in a multi-dimensional manner and navigating to a topic in the field of relevance in a multi-dimensional manner.

10. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 1, including the step of mapping the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces on the display and navigating to a topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces.

11. A method for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 10, including the step of mapping the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces of a polyhedron on a display and traversing the polyhedron to navigate to the topic in the field of relevance.

12. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display, comprising:

code that determines at least one topic;

code that retrieves content representative of the at least one topic;

code that assigns a vector to the at least one topic;

code that determines a focal point based on at least one topic;

code that maps the content representative of the at least one topic on a display as a multi-dimensional topic space based on the vector and the focal point; and

code that navigates amongst the content representative of the at least one topic.

13. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12, wherein at least one topic results in a dynamic mapping of a view of the content.

14. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 13, wherein a topic influences navigation through the information on the display.

15. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12, wherein content influences navigation to a view exposing additional detail pertaining to the content on the display.

16. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12, wherein a field of relevance includes detecting a change of the field of relevance and navigating to information pertaining to the field of relevance based on the change.

17. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12, wherein mapping the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on the display in a manner centering attention on the content, includes:

code that determines relative salience of the content;

code that calculates a spatial location for the content based upon the relative salience of the content;

code that displays the content at the spatial location of the content; and

code that navigates among the content.

18. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12, and further comprising code that responds to a user indicia to traverse the multi-dimensional topic space on the display, wherein the user indicia is supplied by positioning a cursor and selecting the area on the display.

19. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12, including code that utilizes a position to map the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on the display and code that navigates to a field of relevance on the display.

20. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for Navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12, including code that maps the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance in a multi-dimensional manner and navigates to the topic in the field of relevance in a multi-dimensional manner.

21. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12, including code that maps the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces on the display, navigates to the topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces and presents the information in the field of relevance utilizing multimedia presentation techniques.

22. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display as recited in claim 12, including code that maps the content representative of the topic in the field of relevance on a plurality of projection surfaces of a polyhedron on the display and code that traverses the polyhedron to navigate to the topic in the field of relevance.

23. An apparatus for navigating in a multi-dimensional topic space on a display, comprising:

a processor with an attached memory;

a display coupled to the processor that displays information;

logic that determines at least one topic in the relevant field;

logic that retrieves content representative of the at least one topic;

logic that assigns a vector to the at least one topic;

logic that determines a focal point based on the at least one topic;

logic that maps the content representative of the at least one topic on a display as a multi-dimensional topic space based upon the vector as the vector correlates with the focal point; and

logic that navigates amongst the content representative of the at least one topic.