Layered and vectored graphical user interface to a knowledge and relationship rich data source

• US 7,292,243 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2003
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Burke
• Original Assignee: James Burke
• Inventors: Burke, James
• Primary Examiner(s): YANG, RYAN R
• Application Number:
  US10/611,822
• Time in Patent Office: 1,590 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/441, 345/700, 345/733, 345/734, 345/735, 345/736, 345/762, 345/764, 345/419, 345/420, 345/474, 715/700, 715/733, 715/734, 715/735, 715/736, 715/762, 715/764, 715/713, 715/715, 715/836
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

A graphical user interface provides a series of nested spherical surfaces representing a surface and/or human development at differing times in history and prehistory. An embodiment of the present invention, a knowledge web (K-Web), comprises a new, “multiple-intelligences” learning tool aimed at encouraging depth of thinking and understanding in numerous content areas. The K-Web optionally does this by presenting content in a dynamic, webbed structure that is readily accessible in many different ways to many different intelligences and cognitive styles.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI comprising:

a plurality of nested spherical surfaces, wherein each surface represents a time period;

a plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes comprising a first node and a second node, and each node associated with a location on at least one of the plurality of spherical surfaces;

a plurality of lines, at least one line having a first endpoint associated with the first node and a second endpoint associated with the second node; and

a graphical user interface control.

2. The GUI of claim 1, wherein more than one line can be associated with a first node and a second node.

3. The GUI of claim 1, further comprising a web-control.

4. The GUI of claim 3, wherein the web-control is a turn/zoom web-control.

5. The GUI of claim 1, further comprising a help avatar.

6. The GUI of claim 5, wherein the help avatar is a semi-translucent hologram head and shoulders of an individual.

7. The GUI of claim 1, further comprising a globe icon.

8. The GUI of claim 1 wherein the time period is selected from the group consisting of a time period in the future, a time period in the present, and a time period in the past.

9. The GUI of claim 1 wherein the time period is selected from the group consisting of the time periods of history and prehistory.

10. The GUI of claim 1 wherein the nested spherical surfaces are selected from the group consisting of concentric globes and non-concentric globes.

11. The GUI of claim 1, wherein the line represents a relationship between the nodes.

12. The GUI of claim 11, wherein the relationship is selected from the group consisting of a social relationship, an historical relationship, a geographical relationship, a temporal relationship, a cultural relationship, a linguistic relationship, a genetic relationship, a familial relationship, a technological relationship, and a mathematical relationship.