Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-05
2001-07-17
Sax, Steven (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06262736
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to computer and microprocessor based systems for storing and manipulating data, and more particularly to a system for handling complex data relationships. The inventor anticipates that primary application of the present invention will be for operations on data traditionally handled in computerized text systems, spreadsheets, databases, and directory windows as well as in user menu based control of appliances using microprocessors. Examples of existing devices which may employ the invention include personal computers (PCs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), video cassette recorders (VCRs), and microwave ovens. However, the present invention is also well suited for use in other existing devices, and in many emerging and potential devices as well.
BACKGROUND ART
Software for use on personal computers and mainframe terminals today is often touted as providing user ease and as having component based simplification. Instead, the reality is that complexity in such is daunting and continues to escalate. In such systems there are many things to memorize, and great inconsistencies which complicate this. Further, the overall visualization of one's working circumstances and the interrelations of files and directories in such systems are difficult for everyone.
Attempts to unify (so-called “integrated software”) have been hampered by the difficulty of finding any kind of conceptual unification. One unifying visualization, the spreadsheet, has been greatly influential in this regard, partly because it brought a new overview of data. But because of spreadsheet's rectangular constraints—the idea that the data structure itself must somehow correspond to a rectangular array, itself on a sheet of paper—larger spreadsheets become less and less visualizable or useful, with more and more necessary empty space. Using such existing approaches, unified data thus becomes artificially disconnected, and forced into hierarchical structures and conventional files, which in turn become increasingly tangled.
At the operating system level, computer simplification has been pursued through such mechanisms as “icons” and “metaphors” in the much-praised interfaces of the MACINTOSH™ and WINDOWS™, but most of the functions in these systems must be reached in other ways, particularly through the memorization of many unrelated commands and functions.
At the applications level, the distinctions among software types, e.g., “word processing,” “spreadsheet,” “database,” etc., are more apparent than real. But despite this, software today is largely inconsistent and divided into dissimilar “applications,” meaning isolated areas of function. These have been built around what have become traditions and expectations of computer work and filing. But even within those traditions, the present inventor believes that what is needed is a consistent and principled basis for information work, allowing data to be connected according to its own real shape, and allowing it to be visualized as flexibly as possible.
The above discussion of personal computers and mainframe terminals is, however, just a small part of a very rapidly increasing problem today. As computers have been reduced to microprocessors, and as such microprocessors are increasingly integrated into appliances other than computers, the need to deal with information work in these contexts arises as well. Two very ready examples of microprocessor based appliances that need improved information work capability are video cassette recorders (VCRs) and microwave ovens. In these complex everyday appliances, navigating the control menus and inputting user data are forms of information work which large numbers of existing and potential users simply find impossible to master. These are tasks which are basically well within the intellectual capability of the users, put which existing systems have so complicated that the uses are overwhelmed.
While much work on the hardware of appliance interfaces needs to be done, and examples such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) are increasingly showing that such is possible, the problem will not be solved until users can visualize what they are doing within such interfaces. But today's large, and largely empty, rectangular data structures are not going to be able to do this, particularly not in small appliance interfaces.
Accordingly, what is needed today is a consistent structure for the rich visualization and easy manipulation of complex data.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for viewing and manipulating complex structures of data.
Another object of the invention is to provide a system for collecting data into complex structures, and for then viewing and working on such structures.
And, another object of the invention is to provide a system for viewing and manipulating complex structures of data in a very visually compact manner.
Briefly, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is a method for visualizing data on a display by placing the data in cells where each cell has at least one matched pair of negative to positive connectors. This defines dimensions in which the cells may connect with connectors on themselves or other cells. The cells are then placed into a tissue having a plurality of the dimensions which are orthogonal. One or more views of portions of the tissue are then displayed, having at least two of the dimensions displayed in a view. One cell is designated a current cell, and becomes the center of presentation in each respective view. Which cells appear in the views is controllably changed by selectively picking another cell to be the current cell, which accordingly moves the center of presentation within the various views and changes the portion of the tissue appearing in the views. Which dimensions appear in a particular view are controllably navigated to by selectively picking another dimension defined for the current cell, and rotating it to become a dimension in a view, thereby also changing the portion of the tissue appearing in that view.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a highly simplified and interactive means to collect, edit, view, and maneuver within arbitrarily complex structures of data.
Another advantage of the invention is that it avoids the limitations of traditional orthogonal grid-based data structures. The invention provides entirely new ways for users to visualize data and its relationships, yet to do so highly compactly, selectively, and customizably.
Another advantage of the invention is that it can be adjusted to represent connections of any complexity, but with the special advantage that the data may always be viewed orthogonally, as rows and columns, in table-like and spreadsheet-like ways.
And, another advantage of the invention is that it is widely, and consistently, applicable to a very wide range of “processor” based technology, ranging from complex multiprocessor computer systems to personalized computer systems to simple microprocessor based appliances.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5499330 (1996-03-01), Lucas et al.
patent: 5621874 (1997-04-01), Lucas et al.
patent: 5627980 (1997-05-01), Schilit et al.
patent: 5634062 (1997-05-01), Shimzu et al.
patent: 5644740 (1997-07-01), Kiuchi
patent: 5680619 (1997-10-01), Lumundson et al.
patent: 5701137 (1997-12-01), Kierman et al.
patent: 5980096 (1999-11-01), Thalhamner-Reyero
patent: 5986654 (1999-11-01), Alexander et al.
patent: 6097371 (2000-08-01), Siddilui et al.
patent: 6098453 (2000-07-01), Kayfer et al.
The Insight Group,Developing Visualization Software Applications, Course Notes, Arlington, VA., 1995.
Hickman Coleman & Hughes LLP
Sax Steven
LandOfFree
Interactive connection, viewing, and maneuvering system for... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Interactive connection, viewing, and maneuvering system for..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Interactive connection, viewing, and maneuvering system for... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2515389