Computer system and method for analyzing information using one or more visualization frames

• US 6,075,530 A
• Filed: 04/17/1997
• Issued: 06/13/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics C4 Systems Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Maya Design Group
• Inventors: Roth, Steven, Stroffolino, Philip, Burks, Michael Blaine, Lucas, Peter, Senn, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/832,523
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 345/339, 345/348, 345/352, 345/353, 345/356, 345/357, 345/346, 345/349, 345/968, 345/433, 345/440, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5
• US Class Current: 715/804
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/287 Visualization; Browsing

Abstract

A computer program, which is a user interface for exploring and analyzing information in a plurality of analysis environments, comprises the steps of receiving information to be analyzed, generating data objects, each of which has a plurality of associated attributes, creating a first visualization frame that has a plurality of first elements. The first visualization frame is created by arranging each of the data objects according to at least one of its plurality of attributes, and the attributes remain associated with the respective data objects. The final step creates at least one second visualization frame by manipulating individual first elements of the first visualization frame according to a second one of the plurality of attributes and arranging the data objects according to a second one of the plurality of attributes. The attributes remain associated with the respective data objects.

Claims

1. A computer assisted method for analyzing information in a plurality of analysis environments, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the information to be analyzed;

generating data objects, each data object having a plurality of associated attributes;

creating a first visualization frame having a plurality of first elements, by organizing each of the data objects according to at least one of its plurality of attributes, wherein the attributes remain associated with the respective data objects; and

creating at least one second visualization frame having a plurality of second elements by manipulating individual first elements of the first visualization frame and organizing the data objects according to a second one of the plurality of attributes, wherein the attributes are persistent and remain associated with the respective data objects, and wherein when at least one of the first elements of the first visualization frame is highlighted, corresponding second elements of the at least second visualization frames are automatically highlighted.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein any one of the first and at least second visualization frames include a graph, calendars, web pages, bar chart, map, or outliner.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first elements of the first visualization frame can be manipulated by drill-down operations.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first elements of the first visualization frame can be manipulated by roll-up operations.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first elements of the first visualization frame can be manipulated by drag-and-drop operations.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the drag-and-drop operations are performed using a mouse.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein any one of the first and least second visualization frames is constructed dynamically by the computer using predetermined attributes associated with the data objects to be arranged therein.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein any one of the first and least second visualization frames is constructed dynamically by the computer using selected attributes associated with the data objects to be arranged therein.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the associated attributes are dynamically added to data objects.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data objects are generated according to an information-centric organization.

11. A computer system for providing visualized analysis of information in a plurality of analysis environments, the computer system comprising:

means for receiving information to be analyzed;

means for processing the information received; and

means for displaying the information in at least one visualization frame, wherein the information is organized into data objects with associated attributes, wherein the data objects are organized and displayed as elements in the at least one visualization frame, each of the data objects and associated attributes being persistent such that the elements can be further manipulated, and wherein when an element of the visualization frame is highlighted, corresponding elements of other visualizations are automatically highlighted.

12. The computer system according to claim 11, wherein the visualization frame includes a graph, calendars, web pages, bar chart, map, or outliner.

13. The computer system according to claim 11, wherein elements of the visualization frame can be manipulated by drill-down operations.

14. The computer system according to claim 11, wherein elements of the visualization frame can be manipulated by roll-up operations.

15. The computer system according to claim 11, wherein elements of the visualization frame can be manipulated by drag-and-drop operations.

16. The computer system according to claim 15, wherein the drag-and-drop operations are performed using a mouse.

17. The computer system according to claim 11, wherein the means for displaying includes means to construct dynamically at least one visualization frame from predetermined attributes associated with the data objects.

18. The computer system according to claim 11, wherein the means for displaying includes means to construct dynamically at least one visualization frame from user selected attributes associated with the data objects.

19. The computer system according to claim 11, wherein the means for displaying includes means to generate data objects according to an information-centric organization.

20. A computer assisted method for analyzing information in a plurality of analysis environments, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the information to be analyzed;

generating data objects, each data object having a plurality of associated attributes; and

creating at least one visualization frame having a plurality of elements by organizing each of the data objects according to at least one of its plurality of attributes, wherein each of the data objects attributes are persistent, wherein the attributes are persistent and remain associated with the respective data objects such that individual elements of the at least one visualization frame can be further manipulated, and wherein when at least one of the elements of the at least one visualization frames is highlighted, corresponding elements of another visualization frame are automatically highlighted.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the at least one visualization frame includes a graph, calendars, web pages, bar chart, map, or outliner.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the elements of the at least one visualization frame can be manipulated by drill-down operations.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the elements of the at least one visualization frame can be manipulated by roll-up operations.

24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the elements of the at least one visualization frame can be manipulated by drag-and-drop operations.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the drag-and-drop operations are performed using a mouse.

26. The method according to claim 20, wherein the at least one visualization frame is constructed dynamically by the computer using predetermined attributes associated with the data objects to be arranged therein.

27. The method according to claim 20, wherein the at least one visualization frame is constructed dynamically by the computer using user selected attributes associated with the data objects to be arranged therein.

28. The method according to claim 20, wherein the associated attributes are dynamically added to data objects.

29. The method according to claim 20, wherein the data objects are generated according to an information-centric organization.