Technique for visualizing large web-based hierarchical hyperbolic space with multi-paths

• US 6,377,287 B1
• Filed: 04/19/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hsu, Meichun, Dayal, Umeshwar, Hao, Ming C., Krug, Adrian
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/294,542
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 345/839, 345/841, 345/781, 345/744, 345/804, 345/853, 345/854, 345/734
• US Class Current: 715/853
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957

Abstract

A system and a method in accordance with the invention utilize hidden links, mapping and unmapping to enable single-screen visualization of hyperbolic space with multiple path links. In the preferred embodiment, the hyperbolic space is a display of a tree structure having nodes in which each child node has a single primary parent that is linked to the child node by a primary path. The nodes also include secondary paths. The system includes a multi-path processor that is used to manage three basic processing elements. As a first element, a multi-path property is added to each child node to indicate whether the child node has at least one secondary path in addition to its primary path. As a second element, an examiner checks each child node'"'"'s multi-path property when a user focuses on that child node. If the node has at least one secondary path, the multi-path processor invokes the proper actions, such as mapping and unmapping. A third processing element is the mapper/unmapper which simultaneously maps and unmaps the secondary sub-tree nodes that are associated with the secondary path. Following the navigation of the secondary path, the multi-path processor reverses the operations, unmapping the sub-tree nodes and restoring the nodes to the original tree structure, simultaneously restoring the nodes.

Claims

1. A method of navigating nodes comprising steps of:

providing data that defines a tree structure in which said nodes are organized according to primary paths that form tree links, said data further defining secondary paths among said nodes, nodes having both primary and secondary paths being multi-path nodes;

displaying said tree structure as a plurality of currently displayed nodes in a format that enables navigation of said currently displayed nodes, including revealing said primary paths and concealing said secondary paths among said currently displayed nodes; and

selectively revealing said secondary paths among said currently displayed nodes in response to identifying one of said multi-path nodes during said navigation of said currently displayed nodes, including revealing those secondary paths that extend from said identified multi-path nodes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said steps of displaying and selectively revealing include defining an idle state in which said secondary paths are concealed and an activate state in which selected said secondary paths are revealed, said activate state being triggered by identifying one of said multi-path nodes.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising a step of remapping said tree structure subsequent to defining said tree structure in response to selecting to navigate one of said secondary paths, said remapping including mapping at least one of said currently displayed nodes to a displayed position that is indicative of a secondary parent-child relationship which includes said at least one currently displayed node, thereby forming a modified tree structure in which said currently displayed nodes are organized according to a combination of said primary and secondary paths.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of remapping further includes unmapping said at least one currently displayed node from a position in said tree structure simultaneously with said mapping in order to form said modified tree structure, thereby defining a map/unmap state for navigation of said currently displayed nodes.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising a reset step in which said mapping and unmapping are reversed to return said tree structure to a condition in which said currently displayed nodes are organized according to said primary paths, said reset step being executed following navigation of said at least one currently displayed node that was involved in said mapping and unmapping.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of displaying includes presenting a hierarchical hyperbolic space.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing data is implemented for nodes that represent documents of the World Wide Web.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of providing data is implemented for nodes in a question-and-answer hierarchy.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising steps of:

compiling statistical usage data regarding accesses to said currently displayed nodes; and

embedding said usage data into said displaying of said tree structure.

10. A method of enabling navigation through a plurality of nodes comprising steps of:

displaying a plurality of visible nodes in an idle state within a currently active space in which each said visible node has a maximum of one primary parent linked to another said visible node by a primary path;

concealing secondary paths among said visible nodes within said currently active space when said display is in said idle state, said secondary paths being links among said visible nodes having relationships that are not represented by said primary paths;

revealing selected secondary paths within said currently active space when said display is changed to an activate state by a selection of a visible hidden-link node having both a primary path and at least one secondary path to other visible nodes in said display;

remapping at least one said visible node to link to said visible hidden-link node when said display is changed from said activate state to a map state by selection of a secondary path for navigation;

navigating said at least one remapped visible node, thereby defining a navigation state; and

resetting said display to show only said primary paths and to conceal said secondary paths in response to triggering a reset state following said step of navigating said at least one remapped visible node.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of remapping includes unmapping said at least one visible node from connection via a primary parent.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of displaying involves forming a hyperbolic space for a hierarchical tree structure.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of remapping includes unmapping a visible parent node and its visible child nodes from being linked to said hierarchical tree structure via a primary path and further includes mapping said visible parent nodes and said visible child nodes to said hierarchical tree structure via a secondary path.

14. A system for navigating nodes comprising:

a data source having a stored tree structure of nodes organized according to primary paths that form tree links, said stored tree structure further having secondary paths among nodes, nodes having both primary and secondary paths being multi-path nodes;

a multi-path processor in communication with said data source for manipulating a visual display of currently displayed nodes within said tree structure, said multi-path processor being enabled to establish an idle state in which said primary paths are revealed and said secondary paths are concealed;

navigation means for selectively accessing said currently displayed nodes in said visual display, said multi-path processor being responsive to said navigation means to establish an activate state upon identification of one of said multi-path nodes of said currently displayed nodes, said activate state being one in which at least one secondary path is revealed; and

remapper means connected to said multi-path processor for modifying said tree structure in response to an indication via said navigation means that secondary sub-tree nodes are to be accessed, said secondary sub-tree nodes being currently displayed nodes that are linked to said identified one of said multi-path nodes by one of said secondary paths, each of said secondary sub-tree nodes being uniquely associated with one of said currently displayed nodes, said modifying of said tree structure being in accordance with a relationship between said secondary sub-tree nodes and said identified one of said multi-path nodes.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said remapper means includes an unmapper enabled to conceal linking of said secondary sub-tree nodes to said tree structure via a primary path when said tree structure is modified.

16. The system of claim 14 further comprising an examiner that is enabled to distinguish said multi-path nodes as said currently displayed nodes are accessed by said navigation means.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said multi-path processor is configured to reset said tree structure to said idle state in response to termination of navigation of said secondary sub-tree nodes.