System and method for simultaneous display of multiple object categories
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of displaying layered data, said method comprising:
- selecting one or more objects to be displayed in a plurality of layers;
identifying a plurality of non-spatially distinguishable display attributes, wherein one or more of the non-spatially distinguishable display attributes corresponds to each of the layers;
matching each of the objects to one of the layers;
applying the non-spatiafly distinguishable display attributes corresponding to the layer for each of the matched objects;
determining a layer order for the plurality of layers, wherein the layer order determines a display emphasis corresponding to the objects from the plurality of objects in the corresponding layers; and
displaying the objects with the applied non-spatially distinguishable display attributes based upon the determination, wherein the objects in a first layer from the plurality of layers are visually distinguished from the objects in the other plurality of layers based upon the non-spatially distinguishable display attributes of the first layer.
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Abstract
A system and method for displaying objects in a plurality of layers. The layers are distinguished from one another using a variety of display attributes in order to emphasize objects in upper layers and de-emphasize objects in lower layers. The display attributes may include use of color (hue, saturation, and value), three dimensional images, fill patterns, and other display techniques. The user is able to change the layering in order to emphasize a different group, or category, of objects and de-emphasize other groups. The layers can be predefined, for example a hardware and software layers, or may be defined by analyzing the attributes corresponding with the objects. Objects and their attributes are stored in a data store, such as a relational database. Predefined layers include one or more of these attributes to use for matching.
37 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of displaying layered data, said method comprising:
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selecting one or more objects to be displayed in a plurality of layers; identifying a plurality of non-spatially distinguishable display attributes, wherein one or more of the non-spatially distinguishable display attributes corresponds to each of the layers; matching each of the objects to one of the layers; applying the non-spatiafly distinguishable display attributes corresponding to the layer for each of the matched objects; determining a layer order for the plurality of layers, wherein the layer order determines a display emphasis corresponding to the objects from the plurality of objects in the corresponding layers; and displaying the objects with the applied non-spatially distinguishable display attributes based upon the determination, wherein the objects in a first layer from the plurality of layers are visually distinguished from the objects in the other plurality of layers based upon the non-spatially distinguishable display attributes of the first layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An information handling system comprising:
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one or more processors; a memory accessible by the processors; a nonvolatile storage area accessible by the processors; a display screen accessible by the processors; and a layered data display tool to display layered data on the display screen, the layered data display tool including; logic for selecting one or more objects to be displayed in a plurality of layers; identification logic to identify a plurality of non-spatially distinguishable display attributes, wherein one or more of the non-spatially distinguishable display attributes corresponds to each of the layers; matching logic for matching each of the objects to one of the layers; applicator logic to apply the non-spatially distinguishable display attributes corresponding to the layer for each of the matched objects; determination logic for determining a layer order for the plurality of layers, wherein the layer order determines a display emphasis corresponding to the objects from the plurality of objects in the corresponding layers; and display control logic to display the objects with the applied non-spatially distinguishable display attributes, wherein the objects in a first layer from the plurality of layers are visually distinguished from the objects in the other plurality of layers based upon the non-spatially distinguishable display attributes of the first layer. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium for displaying layered data, said computer program product comprising:
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means for selecting one or more objects to be displayed in a plurality of layers; means for identifying a plurality of non-spatially distinguishable display attributes, wherein one or more of the non-spatially distinguishable display attributes corresponds to each of the layers; means for matching each of the objects to one of the layers; means for applying the non-spatially distinguishable display attributes corresponding to the layer for each of the matched objects; means for determining a layer order for the plurality of layers, wherein the layer order determines a display emphasis corresponding to the objects from the plurality of objects in the corresponding layers; and means for displaying the objects with the applied non-spatially distinguishable display attributes, wherein the objects in a first layer from the plurality of layers are visually distinguished from the objects in the other plurality of layers based upon the non-spatially distinguishable display attributes of the first layer. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification