Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Computer graphics processing – Graph generating
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-03
2001-04-24
Zimmerman, Mark (Department: 2671)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Computer graphics processing
Graph generating
C345S111000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06222559
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a display method for hierarchical structures which show the hierarchical structure of a sequence of nodes using a node which shows the apparatus or function corresponding to a branch point, a junction point, or a nodal point, and a link showing the connection relationships between nodes, and in particular, relates to a method of display for a hierarchical structure with an improved operability and visual simplicity when displaying on one surface a large scale hierarchical structure composed of a plurality of nodes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventionally, as shown in
FIG. 2
, for this type of display method, a hierarchical structure is graphically displayed using what is termed a “tree display”. That is, the higher layers are arranged on the upper part of the screen, and the lower layers are arranged on the lower part of the screen. For example, in a communication network, generally, when there are connection relationships between nodes on the same layer, as is shown in
FIG. 3
, the nodes are arranged on the screen using a plane to show the one layer, and by connecting the nodes with links, the hierarchical structure is displayed.
However, when displaying a hierarchical structure on the display screen of a computer using, for example, this kind of tree display, the problem arises that when the numerous lower layer nodes are arranged on the lower part of the screen, the number of nodes that can be displayed is restricted because of the limitation of the display area. In addition, the problem arises that when displaying, for example, a large scale hierarchical structure having hundreds or thousands of nodes, the lower nodes of the same layer in particular will frequently overlap, and it is difficult to distinguish the links connecting the nodes. Additionally, manipulating the nodes and links on the screen by direct command becomes difficult. In particular, in the case of a complex hierarchical structure having connection relationships between nodes on the same layer, or lower layer connection nodes having a connection relationship with a plurality of upper layer nodes, the ease of viewing and the operability are seriously degraded.
The object of the present invention is to resolve the above-described tree display problems by presenting a method and apparatus for graphic display of multi-layered structures which improves the ease of viewing and operability of large scale hierarchical structures comprising a plurality of nodes on the same screen by spatially arranging the nodes of the same layer using a circles generated according to preset rules.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In a method which graphically displays the hierarchical structure of nodes according to the connection relationships between nodes which are apparatuses or functions that correspond to a branch point, a junction pint, and a nodal point, the present invention arranges on one ellipse nodes of the same layer which are subordinate to the same node, and arranges the centers of subordinate ellipses of the same layer on a concentric ellipse larger then the ellipse of the upper layer. In this manner, the vertical layers of the ellipses place the lower ellipses on the outside of the upper ellipses, and the vertical relationships of a large scale hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of nodes can be displayed on the same screen in a manner which is easy to view. By arranging the nodes of the same layer on an ellipse, nodes can be spatially arranged within a limited display area efficiently while maintaining the regularity of the structural representation.
The present invention also may carry out the graphical display of the hierarchical structure using circles instead of the above-described ellipses. In this manner, by using a circle, the arithmetic processing is simplified, and even in a large scale hierarchical structure having from hundreds to about a thousand nodes, the spaces between the nodes and links are increased and are easy to see, in addition to being able to use direct commands easily to manipulate the nodes and links on the screen.
Further, the present invention calculates the radii of the circles on which the above-described nodes are arranged based on the number of lower layer nodes. In this manner, even in large scale hierarchical structures having hundreds or thousands of nodes, or structures having an asymmetrical number of layers or number of nodes, along with spreading the space between nodes and links to facilitate viewing, the nodes and links on the screen are easily manipulated by direct command.
Additionally, the present invention calculates the radii of the circles on which the above-described nodes are arranged based on the number of lower layers. In this manner, even in large scale hierarchical structures having hundreds or thousands of nodes, or structures having an asymmetrical number of layers or number of nodes, along with increasing the space between nodes and links to make them easy to view, the nodes and links on the screen are easily manipulated by direct command.
In addition, when a node and its two lower layer nodes are directly connected in the above-described graphical display of the hierarchical structure, the present invention arranges on one ellipse the nodes of the same layer subordinate to the same upper node, and arranges the middle layer nodes having a part in which the upper and lower layer nodes are directly connected but there is no node corresponding to that layer, on an ellipse generated within the ellipse arranging the lower layer nodes. In this manner, along with eliminating overlapping of the link display showing the connection relations between nodes, the relationships between the connections of the layers of nodes can be displayed so as to be easily discriminated.
Furthermore, in the graphical display of hierarchical structures described-above, when a plurality of hierarchical structures are connected, the present invention partitions the display area of the display according to the number of the multi-layered structures in units of the highest independent layer of nodes, and arranges the nodes included in the highest layer of each hierarchical structure on the circumference of an ellipse drawn in the center of each display area. The present invention arranges the centers of the ellipses on which the layers subordinated to the same node are arranged on concentric circles which are larger than the upper layers, and arranges the nodes of the part connected with different hierarchical structures at adjacent positions. In this manner, by making the nodes of the connected parts of two hierarchical structures adjacent to each other, the overlap of links can be avoided, and nodes and links on the screen can be easily manipulated by direct command.
Finally, in the graphic display of the above-described hierarchical structure, the present invention branches the links showing vertical relationships between nodes at a position which does not overlap with other links issuing from the highest layer nodes, and connects them to each node of the lower layer. In this manner, the present invention can branch links showing vertical relationships between nodes arranged radially corresponding with layers at a position where one line issuing from an upper layer node branches where it does not overlap with the display of another link, and connects them with each node of the lower layer. Even in a large scale hierarchical structure having from hundreds to about a thousand nodes, the space between the links can be spread out and displayed in an easily viewed manner, and the links can be easily manipulated by direct command on the screen.
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Asano et al., “A Presentation Method for Large-scale Telec
Asano Yoko
Hamada Hiroshi
Okazaki Tetsuo
Tonomura Yoshinobu
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
Pennie & Edmonds LLP
Sealey Lance W.
Zimmerman Mark
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