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Method and system for generating and displaying an interactive dynamic graph view of multiply connected objects

  • US 8,711,147 B2
  • Filed: 10/01/2008
  • Issued: 04/29/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for generating a graph view on a user interface in a computing environment, comprising:

  • at a server;

    generating graph objects with coordinate data for a graph representing multiply connected objects, wherein the multiply connected objects comprise graphical representations based on object type, and connections between the multiply connected objects comprise graphical representations for graphically representing directional relationships between connected objects;

    retrieving data units and data unit relationships from a data source, then generating the graph objects with coordinate data for a graph including data objects representing the data units, and connections between the objects representing the corresponding data unit relationships, wherein each graphical representation of a relationship between the multiply connected objects are rendered by the client as originating from a source object and connecting to a target object, wherein the connections between objects representing the corresponding data unit relationships are minimized and connection crossings are reduced for reducing graph density and complexity, wherein if particular data unit relationships exist that cause a cycle in the graph, reversing the particular data unit relationships, and reversing direction of a pointing element;

    transforming the graph objects into lightweight objects; and

    transmitting the lightweight objects to a client by the server; and

    at the client;

    based on the lightweight objects, rendering an interactive dynamic graph view of the multiply connected objects on a user interface, wherein the pointing element is displayed with a reversed direction in the interactive dynamic graph view on the user interface, wherein the rendered graph view includes graphical representations of a plurality of the multiply connected objects and graphical representations of relationships between the multiply connected objects, wherein the rendered graph view includes visual elements connected by edges, such that the visual elements represent the objects and the edges represent relationships between the objects;

    receiving user input for navigating through the multiply connected objects in the graph while maintaining a viewing history comprising a navigation context to return to previously visited objects of focus in the graph;

    displaying the overall structure of the graph in a viewing window;

    providing a moveable view port in the viewing window superimposed on a portion of the graph structure; and

    displaying said portion of the graph structure in a graphical view window on the user interface, wherein hovering a pointer over a connection between objects results in displaying relationship information.

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