Systems and methods for visualization of data sets containing interrelated objects

• US 7,268,791 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Moon Glow, Series 82 of Allied Security Trust I (Allied Security Trust)
• Original Assignee: Napster Incorporated (MelodyVR Group Plc)
• Inventors: Jannink, Jan F.
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, JIN CHENG
• Application Number:
  US09/698,195
• Time in Patent Office: 2,507 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 345/440, 707 3- 5, 707/206, 707/531, 707/2
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A visualization of a set of related data items is accomplished by ranking a plurality of secondary data items with respect to their relationship to a principal data item. The set of related data items may be stored in any form, including, for example, as a relational database, an object database, or an XML document. The related items display names can be formatted and ranked according to the properties of the item, so as to avoid duplication and information overload for the user. The ranked data can be displayed along curved segments in a graphical chart, so as to allow convenient visualization of the data and the data'"'"'s relationship to the principal item that may be prominently displayed at the center of the chart.

Claims

1. A method for providing graphic visualization of data sets containing a large number of items from said data sets, the method comprising:

employing continuous curves including spiral segmentation in order to connect items relating to a primary item at different intensity levels;

adjusting the graphic visualization to avoid information overlap and overload, the items related to said primary item grouped by strength of affinity;

providing an affinity chart, and spacing each related item individually with each item placed in a non-overlapping position;

presenting items with large numbers of related items with multiple affinity charts, and in the case of multiple affinity charts, providing a first affinity chart to visually represent a set of most strongly related items and providing next or subsequent related affinity charts to visually represent less strongly related items;

using curves to represent a relationship of items related to a particular item positioned at a starting point for the curve, with distance along the curve representing a strength of affinity to the item at the starting point of the curve; and

selectively employing color and shading gradations and curve thickness gradations are to emphasize the curve'"'"'s role in conveying affinity strength, while placing items so they do not overlap or crowd each other.