System and method for creating customizable nodes in a network diagram

• US 20040196310A1
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Snapkauskas, Darius, Sourov, Alexander A., Aamodt, Jeffrey R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,458,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

The present invention permits customization of shapes, sizes, and layout for data of nodes within a network diagram based upon node category or nodes selected by the user. The invention also permits a user to create his or her own data template for the layout of data within a certain category of nodes. The invention further provides a filter that highlights nodes in a network diagram according to parameters selected by a user. The invention can include a graphical user interface that permits rapid and easy selection of various options for nodes displayed within a network diagram. The system and method of the present invention also organizes and generates a network diagram that permits a user to display one or more nodes at one magnification level while displaying other nodes at a different magnification level.

Claims

1-14. -14 (Cancelled).

15. A method for generating a network diagram with nodes at different magnification levels comprising the steps of:

displaying one or more nodes of a network diagram;

determining whether a mouse pointer is positioned in a predefined region containing a node;

determining whether node data is visible to a user;

in response to a mouse pointer intersecting the predefined region, displaying one or more of the nodes at a different magnification level relative to other nodes in a network diagram; and

in response to a mouse pointer leaving the predefined region, displaying the one or more nodes at a magnification level that is substantially the same for nodes within the network diagram that are not traversed by the mouse pointer.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining whether node data is visible to a user further comprises the step of determining if a zoom factor is less than a predetermined threshold.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining whether node data is visible to a user further comprises the step of determining if a predetermined layout has been selected for a network diagram.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of displaying one or more nodes at a different magnification level relative to other nodes in a network diagram further comprises the step of displaying the one or more nodes at an increased magnification level relative to the other nodes within the network diagram.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining whether a magnified node has been displayed for a predetermined length of time.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the predetermined layout comprises an ID only display mode.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the predefined region comprises a drawing area containing a plurality of nodes.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein determining whether node data is visible to a user further comprises determining whether the network diagram is being scaled for display.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising determining whether the mouse pointer has been positioned in the predefined region containing the node for a predetermined period of time.

24. A computer graphics system for customizing nodes of a network diagram comprising:

a computer-readable medium; and

a computer-program encoded in the computer-readable medium,

the computer program further comprising;

means for determining whether a mouse pointer is positioned over a node within the network diagram; and

means for enlarging the node in which the mouse pointer is positioned.

25. The computer graphics system of claim 24, wherein the computer-program comprises means for determining if a mouse pointer is positioned over a node for predetermined amount of time.

26. The computer graphics system of claim 24, wherein the computer-program comprises means for determining if the network diagram is being scaled for display so that the entire network diagram is displayed on a display drawing.

27. The computer graphics system of claim 24, wherein the computer program comprises means for determining if a magnified node has been displayed for a predetermined period of time.

28. A computer graphics program for generating a plurality of nodes in a network diagram and operable to:

monitoring a position of a screen pointer;

determining if the screen pointer is within a predetermined distance of a node; and

if the screen pointer is within the predetermined distance of the node, enlarging the node relative to other nodes in the network diagram.

29. The computer graphics program of claim 28, further operable to determining if a magnified node has been displayed for a threshold period of time.

30. The computer graphics program of claim 28, further operable to determining if a screen pointer is inside a boundary region defined by a node.

31. The computer graphics program of claim 28, further operable to determining if the network diagram is being displayed at a scale below a threshold that permits node enlargement.

32. The computer graphics program of claim 28, further operable to permitting enlargement of node only if the network diagram is being scaled for display.

33. The computer graphics program of claim 28, further operable to displaying a node at a standard size relative to other nodes displayed at a size smaller than the standard size.

34. The computer graphics program of claim 28, wherein monitoring a position of a screen pointer further comprises monitoring a position of a screen pointer that is moveable with a mouse.