Information presentation system for a graphical user interface

• US 6,426,761 B1
• Filed: 04/23/1999
• Issued: 07/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kanevsky, Dimitri, Pickover, Clifford A., Zlatsin, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/298,016
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 345/762, 345/765, 345/744, 345/788, 345/764, 345/835, 345/968, 345/775, 345/839, 345/854
• US Class Current: 715/788
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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

Abstract

Information presentation system comprises a computer device having a display terminal for providing a graphical user interface (GUI), capable of generating a cluster of items comprising graphical or textual elements for display thereof according to a fractal appearance. Each item in a cluster represents information having a degree of relatedness with information represented by other items in a cluster. A control mechanism is provided for controlling the spatial extent, nesting and arrangement of items within a cluster according to a specified criteria, which spatial extent and arrangement is controlled to provide optimal display and conserve screen display space on the display terminal. Users may manually enter a criteria for organizing and adjusting the spatial extent of a cluster in order to provide continuous display space on the computer display terminal. The invention may be implemented in text editors to provide a multiresolution annotation feature for portable and lap/palm-top computer devices having pen-based or keyboard based inputs.

Claims

1. An information presentation system comprising:

a) computer system including display terminal for providing a graphical user interface (GUI);

b) means for generating a cluster of items comprising graphical or textual elements for display via said GUI size scales, each item in a cluster representing information having a degree of relatedness with information represented by other items in said cluster; and

c) means for automatically controlling the spatial extent of and arrangement of items within a cluster according to a specified criteria via said GUI, which spatial extent and arrangement is controlled to provide optimal display and conserve screen display space on said display terminal.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein a cluster is generated according to a fractal arrangement, said spatial extent and arrangement of items being controlled according to relatedness of information represented by said cluster items.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said spatial cluster includes icons representing text, said generating means enabling generation of multi-resolution annotations, including when said multi-resolution annotations are performed with pervasive computing style inputs, comprising textual information according to a fractal appearance.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said means for controlling includes means for entering said specified criteria via said GUI.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said specified criteria comprises a single spatial determination parameter for indicating said spatial extent of a cluster to be displayed.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said spatial determination parameter includes a fractal dimension for said cluster, said fractal dimension determining a size scaling behavior of said cluster.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein said spatial determination parameter includes a radius of gyration for qualifying spatial extent of a cluster.

8. The system according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined criteria includes an average creation date of information represented by items included in said cluster.

9. The system according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined criteria includes a frequency of use of items in said cluster.

10. The system according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined criteria includes a determination of how recent an item in said cluster was accessed.

11. The system according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined criteria includes a function specifying factors defining an association strength between items in a cluster, said system including means for accumulating data relating to factors specified in said association strength function.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein a factor includes determination of how recent an item in said cluster was accessed.

13. The system according to claim 4, wherein an item represents an element selected from the group consisting of text, and web-links, data, programs and information represented by iconic graphical elements.

14. The system according to claim 4, further including means for querying a value of said spatial determination parameter via said GUI.

15. The system according to claim 4, further including means for indicating via said GUI locations at or near a cluster where newly created items may be included.

16. The system according to claim 4, further including means for magnifying fractal item clusters for facilitating user viewing of spatially dense clusters scaled down in size.

17. The system according to claim 4, wherein said generating means includes means for automatically determining a depth of an icon in relation to a cluster, and initiating enlargement of an icon based on use of said icon.

18. The system according to claim 4, wherein said generating means includes means for automatically initiating exchange of a position of a first icon with another icon based on use of said first icon.

19. The system according to claim 4, The system according to claim 3, further including a password protection mechanism requiring a user to select one or more pre-determined items included within one or more clusters, change a magnification of a cluster, and perform one of manipulating said selected item for placement in a cluster at a different size scale, or selecting another item in a cluster at a different size scale without manipulating said selected item.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein said computer system supports web browser for www connectivity, said spatial cluster including icons representing a web-page link.

21. Method for presenting information on a computer display device comprising the steps of:

a) generating a cluster of items comprising graphical or textual elements for display via a GUI each item in a cluster representing information having a degree of relatedness with information represented by other items in said cluster; and

b) accessing criteria for automatically controlling a spatial extent and arrangement of items within a cluster; and

c) automatically controlling the spatial extent of and arrangement of items within a cluster according to said accessed criteria, which spatial extent and arrangement is controlled to provide optimal display and conserve screen display space on said display terminal.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein prior to said generating step, a step of indicating via said GUI one or more potential locations for receiving one or more items to be organized within a said cluster.

23. The method according to claim 21, further including controlling said spatial extent and arrangement of items in a cluster according to relatedness of information represented by said items.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein said controlling step includes step of entering said specified criteria via said GUI.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said criteria comprises a single spatial determination parameter for indicating said spatial extent of a cluster to be displayed.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein said criteria includes an average creation date of information represented by items included in said cluster.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein said criteria includes a frequency of use of items in said cluster.

28. The method according to claim 24, wherein said criteria includes a determination of how recent an item in said cluster was accessed.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein said criteria includes a function specifying factors defining an association strength between items in a cluster, said method further including step of accumulating data relating to factors specified in said association strength function, and storing said data in a memory storage device.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein a factor includes determination of how recent an item in said cluster was accessed.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein said accessing step further includes querying said memory storage device for ascertaining accumulated data of factors specified in said association strength function.

32. The method according to claim 23, further including the step of enabling user requests of criteria implemented for controlling said spatial cluster via said GUI, and displaying said criteria via said GUI.

33. The method according to claim 23, further including the step of magnifying said clusters in said GUI to generate display of items at different fractal dimensions.

34. The method according to claim 23, wherein said generating step further includes the step of automatically determining a depth of an icon in relation to a cluster, and initiating enlargement of an icon based on use of said icon.

35. The method according to claim 23, further including the step of implementing a password protection mechanism requiring a user to select one or more pre-determined items included within one or more clusters, change a magnification of a cluster, and perform one of manipulating said selected item for placement in a cluster at a different size scale, or selecting another item in a cluster at a different size scale without manipulating said selected item.

36. The method according to claim 23, further including the step of enabling generation of multi-resolution annotations in a document to be displayed, said multi-resolution annotations comprising textual information according to a fractal appearance.

37. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for presenting information on a computer display device presenting a graphical user interface (GUI), said method steps comprising:

a) generating a cluster of items comprising graphical or textual elements for display via a GUI each item in a cluster representing information having a degree of relatedness with information represented by other items in said cluster; and

b) accessing criteria for automatically controlling a spatial extent and arrangement of items within a cluster; and

c) automatically controlling the spatial extent of and arrangement of items within a cluster according to said accessed criteria, which spatial extent and arrangement is automatically controlled to provide optimal display and conserve screen display space on said display terminal.

38. The program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 37, wherein prior to said generating step, a step of indicating via said GUI one or more potential locations for receiving one or more items to be organized within a said cluster.

39. The program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 38, wherein said criteria comprises a single spatial determination parameter for indicating said spatial extent of a cluster to be displayed.

40. The program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 37, further including controlling said spatial extent and arrangement of items in a cluster according to relatedness of information represented by said items.

41. The program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 37, wherein said controlling step includes step of entering said specified criteria via said GUI.

42. The program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 41, wherein said criteria includes an average creation date of information represented by items included in said cluster.

43. The program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 41, wherein said criteria includes a frequency of use of items in said cluster.

44. The program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 41, wherein said criteria includes a determination of how recent an item in said cluster was accessed.

45. The program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 41, wherein said criteria includes a function specifying factors defining an association strength between items in a cluster, said method further including step of accumulating data relating to factors specified in said association strength function, and storing said data in a memory storage device.

46. The program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 41, wherein a factor includes determination of how recent an item in said cluster was accessed.

47. The program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 41, wherein said accessing step further includes querying said memory storage device for ascertaining accumulated data of factors specified in said association strength function.

48. The program storage device readable by a machine according to claim 41, further including the step of enabling user requests of criteria implemented for controlling said spatial cluster via said GUI, and displaying said criteria via said GUI.