Method and system for generating and displaying an interactive dynamic graph view of multiply connected objects
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for generating and displaying an interactive dynamic graph view of multiply connected objects, is provided. One implementation involves a process implemented in a system for generating a graph view on a user interface in a computing environment, including: at a server, generating coordinate data for a graph representing multiply connected objects; transmitting the coordinate data to a client as lightweight object data; and at the client, based on the lightweight object data, rendering an interactive dynamic graph view of the multiply connected objects on a user interface such as a browser client using vector graphics.
51 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for generating a graph view on a user interface in a computing environment, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computer program product for generating a graph view on a user interface in a computing environment, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium including a computer readable program including program instructions, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computer system causes the computer system to:
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at a server; generate 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 representation for graphically representing directional relationships between connected objects; retrieving data units and data unit relationships from a data source, then generating coordinate data for a graph including data objects representing the data units, and connections between the objects representing the corresponding data unit relationships, wherein the connections between objects representing the corresponding data unit relationships are minimized and connection crossings are reduced for reducing graph density and complexity, and 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; transform the graph objects into lightweight objects; and transmit the lightweight object data to a client by the server; and at the client; based on the lightweight objects, render an interactive dynamic graph view of the multiply connected objects on a user interface at a client, 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, and wherein the rendered interactive dynamic graph view includes visual elements connected by edges, such that the visual elements represent the objects and the edges represent relationships between the objects, 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; receiving user input for selecting a graph object as an object of focus, and displaying content of the selected object on the user interface at the client, wherein the graphical representations based on object type comprise different representations displayed based on type of object content; 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 at the client; 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 at the client. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A system for generating a graph view on a user interface in a computing environment, comprising:
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a server function employing a first hardware processor for; 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 graphic 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, and 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 rendering function; and the client rendering function employing a second hardware processor for; dynamically rendering an interactive dynamic graph view of the multiply connected objects on a user interface at the client, based on the lightweight objects, wherein the pointing element is displayed with a reversed direction in the interactive dynamic graph view on the user interface; receiving user input for dynamically interacting with the graph, 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 interactive dynamic graph view includes visual elements connected by edges, such that the visual elements represent the objects and the edges represent relationships between the object, 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 rendering function is further configured for receiving user input for selecting a graph object as an object of focus, and displaying content of the selected object on the user interface, and the graphical representations based on object type comprise different representations displayed based on type of object content, wherein the rendering function further employs the second hardware processor for receiving user input for navigating through the multiply connected objects in the graph while maintaining 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. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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Specification