Interactive timeline visualization

• US 6,392,651 B1
• Filed: 04/03/1998
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hexagon Technology Center GmbH (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: Intergraph Corporation (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Stradley, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Razavi, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Good-Johnson, Motilewa
• Application Number:
  US09/054,629
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 345/302, 345/355, 345/328, 345/473, 345/474
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 13/00 Animation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2210/04 Architectural design, interior design
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2219/028 Multiple view windows (top-side-front-sagittal-orthogonal)

Abstract

A system for graphically displaying an item (having a plurality of elements) on a display device as the item appears at a preselected time in a timeline first determines which of the plurality of elements are later in the timeline than the preselected time. Once this is determined, first and second sets of elements are defined, in which the elements in the first set each have a respective associated time that is no later than the preselected time. The second set of elements, however, includes each of the elements not in the first set of elements. The number of elements in each of the first set and the second set can range from no elements to many elements. The elements in the first set are drawn on the display device in a first format, and the elements in the second set are drawn on the display device in a second format. The second format, however, graphically indicates that the elements in the second set have respective times that each are later than the preselected time. As such, the first format and second format preferably are different.

Claims

1. A computer program product for use on a computer system for graphically displaying an item on a display device as the item appears at a preselected time in a timeline, the item having a plurality of elements, each of the elements having an associated time in the timeline, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:

program code for determining which of the plurality of elements that are later in the timeline than the preselected time;

program code for defining first and second sets of elements, the elements in the first set of elements each having a respective associated time that is no later than the preselected time, the elements in the second set of elements each having the elements not in the first set of elements;

program code for drawing the elements in the first set in a first format on the display device; and

program code for drawing the elements in the second set in a second format on the display device, the second format graphically indicating that the elements in the second set have respective times that each are later than the preselected time.

2. The computer program product as defined b claim 1 wherein the elements in the second set are transparent.

3. The computer program product as defined by claim 1 wherein the elements in the second set are in wire frame.

4. The computer program product as defined by claim 1 wherein the elements in the first set are in a first color and further wherein the elements in the second set are drawn in a second color, the first color being different from the second color.

5. The computer program product as defined by claim 1 further including:

program code for displaying a user input message requesting the preselected time.

6. The computer program product as defined by claim 1 wherein the program code for determining includes:

program code for accessing a data storage medium having the timeline.

7. The computer program product as defined by claim 1 further including:

program code for displaying a user viewpoint on the display device.

8. The computer program product as defined by claim 1 further including program code or simultaneously displaying a first window having a first view of the item, a second window having a second view of the item, and a third window having a third view of the item.

9. The computer program product as defined by claim 8 wherein the first view is a plan view, the second view is a perspective view, and the third view is an elevational view.

10. The computer program product as defined by claim 1 further including:

program code for graphically associating a document with at least one of the elements of the item.

11. The computer program product as defined by claim 10 wherein the program code for associating includes:

program code for displaying an icon representing the document; and

program code for graphically connecting the icon to the element associated with the document.

12. The computer program product as defined by claim 11 further including:

program code for executing an application program in response to selection of the icon.

13. The computer program product as defined by claim 1 wherein each of the elements in the item have attributes, the computer program product further comprising:

program code for selecting an attribute;

program code for defining a third set of elements having the selected attribute; and

program code for displaying the elements in the third set of elements in a third format.

14. The computer program product as defined by claim 13 wherein the third format includes displaying the elements in the third set in a preselected color.

15. An apparatus for graphically displaying an item on a display device as the item appears at a preselected time in a timeline, the item having a plurality of elements, each of the elements having, an associated time in the timeline the apparatus comprising:

means for determining which of the plurality of elements that are later in the timeline than the preselected time;

means for defining first and second sets of elements, the elements in the first set of elements each having a respective associated time that is no later than the preselected time, the elements in the second set of elements each having the elements not in the first set of elements;

means for drawing the elements in the first set in a first format on the display device; and

means for drawing the elements in the second set in a second format on the display device, the second format graphically indicating that the elements in the second set have respective times that each are later than the preselected time.

16. The apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein the elements in the second set are transparent.

17. The apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein the elements in the second set are in wire frame.

18. The apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein the elements in the first set are in a first color, and further wherein the elements in the second set are drawn in a second color, the first color being different from the second color.

19. The apparatus as defined by claim 15 further including:

means for displaying a user input message requesting the preselected time.

20. The apparatus as defined by claim 15 wherein the means for determining includes:

means for accessing a data storage medium having the timeline.

21. The apparatus as defined by claim 15 further including means for simultaneously displaying a first window having a first view or the item, a second window having a second view of the item, and a third window having a third view of the item.

22. The apparatus as defined by claim 21 wherein the first view is a plan view, the second view is a perspective view, and the third view is an elevational view.

23. The apparatus as defined by claim 15 further including:

means for graphically associating a document with at least one of the elements of the item.

24. The apparatus as defined by claim 23 wherein the means for associating includes:

means for displaying an icon representing, the document; and

means for graphically connecting the icon to the element associated with the document.

25. The apparatus as defined by claim 24 further including:

means for executing an application program in response to selection of the icon.

26. A method of graphically displaying an item on a display device as the item appears at a preselected time in a timeline, the item having a plurality of elements, each of the elements having an associated time in the timeline, the method comprising the steps of:

determining which of the plurality of elements that are later in the timeline than the preselected time;

defining first and second sets of elements, the elements in the first set of elements each having a respective associated time that is no later than the preselected time, the elements in the second set of elements each having the elements not in the first set of elements;

drawing the elements in the first set in a first format on the display device; and

drawing the elements in the second set in a second format on the display device, the second format graphically indicating that the elements in the second set have respective times that each are later than the preselected time.

27. The method as defined by claim 26 wherein the elements in the second set are transparent.

28. The method as defined by claim 26 wherein the elements in the second set are in wire frame.

29. The method as defined by claim 26 wherein the elements in the first set are in a first color, and further wherein the elements in the second set are drawn in a second color, the first color being different from the second color.

30. The method as defined by claim 26 further including the step of:

displaying a user input message requesting the preselected time.

31. The method as defined by claim 26 wherein the step of determining includes the step of:

accessing a data storage medium having the timeline.

32. The method as defined by claim 26 wherein the display device simultaneously displays a first window having a first view of the item, a second window having a second view of the item, and a third window having a third view of the item.

33. The method as defined by claim 32 wherein the first view is a plan view, the second view is a perspective view, and the third view is an elevational view.

34. The method as defined by claim 26 further including the step of:

graphically associating a document with at least one of the elements of the item.

35. The method as defined by claim 34 wherein the step of associating includes the steps of:

displaying an icon representing the document; and

graphically connecting the icon to the element associated with the document.

36. The method as defined by claim 35 further including the step of:

executing an application program in response to selection of the icon.

37. The method as defined by claim 26 wherein the item is drawn in 3D.

38. The method as defined by claim 26 wherein each of the elements in the item have attributes, the method further comprising the steps of:

selecting an attribute;

defining a third set of elements having the selected attribute; and

displaying the elements in the third set of elements in a third format.

39. The method as defined by claim 36 wherein the third format includes displaying the elements in the third set in a preselected color.

40. The method as defined by claim 26 wherein each element in the first set of elements has a start time that is no later than the preselected time.

41. A system for displaying an item as it is to appear at a preselected time, the item having a plurality of elements, the system comprising:

a scheduler for managing a timeline having an associated time for each element, the associated time for each element being the time that each element is to be added to the item;

a designer for drawing the item in a three-dimensional space on a display device, the designer defining the spatial relationship of each of the elements of the item; and

a linker for accessing the timeline and responsively controlling the designer to draw each of the elements that have an associated time that is no later than a preselected time.

42. The system as defined by claim 41 further comprising:

an animator for accessing the timeline and responsively controlling the designer to draw a motion picture of the item between first and second selected times.

43. The system as defined by claim 42 wherein the first selected time is earlier than the second selected time.

44. The system as defined by claim 42 wherein the first selected time is later than the second selected time.

45. A computer program product for use on a computer system for displaying an item as it is to appear at a preselected time, the item having a plurality of elements, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:

program code for managing a timeline having an associated time for each element, the associated time for each element being the time that each element is to be added to the item;

program code for drawing the item in a three-dimensional space on a display device, the program code for drawing defining the spatial relationship of each of the elements of the item; and

program code for accessing the timeline and responsively utilizing the program code for drawing, to draw to draw each of the elements that have an associated time that is no later than a preselected time.

46. The computer program product as defined by claim 45 further comprising:

program code for accessing the timeline and responsively controlling the program code for drawing to draw a motion picture of the item between first and second selected times.

47. The computer program product as defined by claim 45 wherein each of the elements in the item have attributes, the computer program product further comprising:

program code for selecting an attribute; and

program code for controlling the program code for drawing to display each of the elements having the attribute in a preselected format, the preselected format being different than a format used by those elements that do not have the attribute.

48. A computer program product for use on a computer system for displaying an item as it is to appear at a preselected time, the item having a plurality of elements that each have a start time and an end time, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:

program code for managing a timeline having the start time and end time for each element;

program code for drawing the item in a three-dimensional space on a display device, the program code for drawing defining the spatial relationship of each of the elements of the item; and

program code for accessing the timeline and responsively utilizing the program code for drawing to draw each of the elements having a start time that is no later than a preselected time.

49. The computer program product as defined by claim 48 wherein each element having a start time that is no later than a preselected time are members of a first set, the program code for accessing includes:

program code for adding to a second set each element in the first set having an end time that is later than the preselected time;

program code for utilizing the program code for drawing to draw in a first format each element in the first set that is not in the second set; and

program code for utilizing the program code for drawing to draw in a second format each element in the second set, the first format being different than the second format.

50. A system for displaying an item as it is to appear at a preselected time, the item having a plurality of elements that each have a start time and an end time, the system comprising:

a manager for managing a timeline having the start time and end time for each element, a displayer for drawing the item in a three-dimensional space on a display device, the displayer defining the spatial relationship of each of the elements of the item; and

a linker for accessing the timeline and responsively controlling the displayer to draw each of the elements having a start time that is no later than a preselected time.

51. The system as defined by claim 50 wherein each element having a start time that is no later than a preselected time are members of a first set, the linker including:

means for adding to a second set each element in the first set having an end time that is later than the preselected time;

means for controlling the displayer to draw in a first format each element in the first set that is not in the second set; and

means for controlling the displayer to draw in a second format each element in the second set, the first format being different than the second format.