Graphical workspace for idea management
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A machine-assisted method comprising:
- providing a graphical user interface (GUI) including an idea map window for displaying and editing a graphical representation of a hierarchical network of graphical nodes, the nodes graphically representing ideas, and graphical links between ones of the nodes, the links graphically representing relationships between the ideas, a particular node being capable of being associated with corresponding text and an associated image;
providing a word processor document window for displaying textual and image information, associated with respective nodes of the hierarchical network, in a word processor document;
automatically organizing the displayed textual information for the user into a textual sequence displayed in the word processor document window, wherein an image associated with the particular node is displayed in the word processor window together with text associated with the particular node; and
obtaining the textual sequence by automatically hierarchically processing the graphical representation of the hierarchical network of graphical nodes displayed in the idea map window, including, beginning with a graphically displayed root node, automatically hierarchically processing for a particular graphically displayed node any graphically displayed linked children nodes according to an ordering convention that uses only one of a clockwise manner or an anticlockwise manner as the linked children nodes are graphically displayed about their respective graphically displayed parent nodes in the hierarchical network of graphical nodes displayed in the idea map window, then proceeding to similarly automatically hierarchically process any linked children nodes according to the same ordering convention;
concurrently displaying the idea map window and the word processor document window; and
automatically updating the word processing document window with information from any changes in the idea map window, including automatically updating the text and image in the word processing window live, in real time, as the corresponding graphical nodes in the idea map window are being manipulated by the user.
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Abstract
This document discusses, among other things, a computer software program that implements a graphical workspace for idea management. This includes a graphical user interface (GUI) with an idea map window and a word processor document window. The idea map represents ideas as a hierarchical network of nodes and links. An interface automatically updates the word processor document using sequencing information from the hierarchical network. A routine automatically arranges nodes in the 2D representation. Another routine automatically generates virtual 3D representations of the idea map.
61 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A machine-assisted method comprising:
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providing a graphical user interface (GUI) including an idea map window for displaying and editing a graphical representation of a hierarchical network of graphical nodes, the nodes graphically representing ideas, and graphical links between ones of the nodes, the links graphically representing relationships between the ideas, a particular node being capable of being associated with corresponding text and an associated image; providing a word processor document window for displaying textual and image information, associated with respective nodes of the hierarchical network, in a word processor document; automatically organizing the displayed textual information for the user into a textual sequence displayed in the word processor document window, wherein an image associated with the particular node is displayed in the word processor window together with text associated with the particular node; and obtaining the textual sequence by automatically hierarchically processing the graphical representation of the hierarchical network of graphical nodes displayed in the idea map window, including, beginning with a graphically displayed root node, automatically hierarchically processing for a particular graphically displayed node any graphically displayed linked children nodes according to an ordering convention that uses only one of a clockwise manner or an anticlockwise manner as the linked children nodes are graphically displayed about their respective graphically displayed parent nodes in the hierarchical network of graphical nodes displayed in the idea map window, then proceeding to similarly automatically hierarchically process any linked children nodes according to the same ordering convention; concurrently displaying the idea map window and the word processor document window; and automatically updating the word processing document window with information from any changes in the idea map window, including automatically updating the text and image in the word processing window live, in real time, as the corresponding graphical nodes in the idea map window are being manipulated by the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26)
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6. A computerized system comprising:
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a graphical user interface (GUI), the GUI comprising; an idea map window configured for displaying and editing a graphical representation of a hierarchical network of graphical nodes, the nodes graphically representing ideas, and graphical links between ones of the nodes, the links graphically representing relationships between the ideas, a particular node being capable of being associated with corresponding text and an associated image; a word processor document window configured for displaying textual information, associated with respective nodes of the hierarchical network, in a word processor document; and an interface between the idea map window and the word processor document window, the interface automatically organizing textual information associated with respective nodes of the hierarchical network for the user into a textual sequence displayed in the word processor document window, wherein an image associated with the particular node is displayed in the word processor window together with text associated with the particular node, the interface configured to obtain the textual sequence by automatically hierarchically processing the graphical representation of the hierarchical network of graphical nodes displayed in the idea map window, beginning with a graphically displayed root node, the hierarchically processing including automatically locating and hierarchically processing any displayed linked children nodes according to an ordering convention that uses only one of a clockwise or an anticlockwise manner as the linked children nodes are graphically displayed about their respective parent nodes in the hierarchical network and then proceeding to automatically hierarchically process any linked children nodes according to the same ordering convention to automatically obtain from the hierarchical network of nodes the textual sequence displayed in the word processor document window, the interface configured to concurrently display the idea map window and the word processor document window and to automatically update the word processing document window with information from any changes in the idea map window, including automatically updating the text and image in the word processing window live, in real time, as the corresponding graphical nodes in the idea map window are being manipulated by the user. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 25, 27)
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7. A tangible machine-readable medium including instructions performable for:
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providing a graphical user interface (GUI) including an idea map window for displaying and editing a graphical representation of a hierarchical network of graphical nodes, the nodes graphically representing ideas, and graphical links between ones of the nodes, the links graphically representing relationships between the ideas, a particular node being capable of being associated with corresponding text and an associated image; and providing a word processor document window for displaying textual information, associated with respective nodes of the hierarchical network, in a word processor document, wherein an image associated with the particular node is displayed in the word processor window together with text associated with the particular node; automatically organizing the displayed textual information for the user into a textual sequence displayed in the word processor document window;
obtaining the textual sequence by automatically hierarchically processing the graphical representation of the hierarchical network of graphical nodes displayed in the idea map window, including, beginning with a graphically displayed root node, automatically hierarchically processing for a particular graphically displayed node any graphically displayed linked children nodes according to an ordering convention that uses only one of a clockwise manner or an anticlockwise manner as the linked children nodes are graphically displayed about their respective graphically displayed parent nodes in the hierarchical network of graphical nodes displayed in the idea map window, then proceeding to similarly automatically hierarchically process any linked children nodes according to the same ordering convention;concurrently displaying the idea map window and the word processor document window; and automatically updating the word processing document window with information from any changes in the idea map window, including automatically updating the text and image in the word processing window live, in real time, as the corresponding graphical nodes in the idea map window are being manipulated by the user. - View Dependent Claims (19, 24)
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Specification