Method and apparatus for displaying data stored in linked nodes

• US 6,714,936 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Iii, Rocky Harry W. Nevin
• Inventors: Nevin, III, Rocky Harry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Homere, Jean R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US09/578,127
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-6, 707/8, 707/10, 707/100-104, 705/8, 705/40, 717/100, 717/310, 709/202, 709/217, 709/250, 345/700, 345/853-854, 345/581, 345/968, 345/821-822
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2425 Iterative querying; Query formulation based on the results of a preceding query
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/20 Drawing from basic elements, e.g. lines or circles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A computer implemented method of storing, manipulating, assessing, and displaying data and its relationships, and a computer system (with memory) programmed to implement such method. The data are stored as linked nodes, and can be visualized as a displayed sea of node representations. Interactions with the user organize the data from a defined, and then refined, point of view, with relevant data preferably brought to the user'"'"'s attention by smooth changes in the displayed appearance of the data. The data (stored as linked nodes) can be queried by establishing a first point of view and displaying representations of the nodes as a sea of node representations whose point of view is the first point of view, and responding to a command (which determines a query) by displaying a changed sea of node representations which emphasizes information having greater relevance, and deemphasizes information having less relevance, to the query.

Claims

1. A method for creating a highly connected network of nodes indicative of computer-readable data, including the steps of:

capturing data contained in at least one legacy database;

structuring the captured data as a set of linked nodes, wherein each of the nodes includes at least one link to another one of the nodes, and the set of linked nodes is structured such that when one of the nodes is designated as a point of view, representations of the nodes can be displayed as a sea of node representations; and

implementing a query, said step of implementing the query including the steps of;

(a) establishing a first point of view and displaying said representations of the nodes as a first sea of node representations whose point of view is said first point of view;

(b) invoking a command which determines the query; and

(c) in response to the command, displaying a changed sea of node representations which emphasizes information having greater relevance to the query and deemphasizes information having less relevance to the query, wherein step (c) includes the step of displaying a smoothly changing sea of node representations which changes from the first sea of node representations to the changed sea of node representations with smooth changes in visual state, so as to provide information to a user regarding speed at which displayed node representations change and regarding which parameters of displayed node representations change.