Graphic-information flow for visually analyzing patterns and relationships

Abstract

A display control and information management system seamlessly integrates layered and slotted formatted data from local and remote sources to provide a highly versatile information display. The system permits selective control of display and display features so that complex data and data flows can be seamlessly accessed with enhanced cognition of salient information by a user.

Description

RELATED DOCUMENT INFORMATION[0001]This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 549,950 filed on Aug. 28, 2009, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 329,419 filed on Jan. 11, 2006, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 8,397,177, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 117,387 filed on Oct. 22, 2001, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,036,085, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 642,537 filed on Jan. 11, 2005, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 644,987 filed on Jan. 21, 2005. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 117,387 is also a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09 / 359,544 filed on Jul. 22, 1999, now issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,307,573. The entire disclosures of the above-referenced documents are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties in this application.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention generally relates to computer controlle...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]It is an object of the present invention to provide an interactive data flow and display system for viewing complex information in a simplified and intuitive process.

[0020]It is still another object of the present invention to provide a network-based browsing scheme that provides common layering formats and layout and navigation conventions for simplified orientation and operation.

[0023]It is another object of the present invention to provide the ability to establish standard or common database formats whereby content-providers and users can submit data for display and comparison with other data. The data may be entered on a traditional database interface or with editing tools on an interface showing the relevant map or diagram.

[0024]It is further object of the present invention to provide an interactive display system that is connected to a network so that remote data sources may be accessed and displayed in a seamless manner.

[0026]The above and other objects of the present invention are realized in a program-controlled interactive data processor, such as a personal computer, connected to and in communication with a server and linked to a plurality of databases and associated software. These databases, either locally or remotely located, comprise a vast amount of diverse information on select topics. The personal computer includes local programming to control the layout of information displayed on the user display. The display includes multiple, context-sensitive control panels or palettes for manipulating the information (symbols, text, drawings, photographs, etc.) presented on the user display in accordance with a selection protocol. This protocol implements a data layering process, wherein information is formatted and displayed in response to user control inputs and stored instructions, optimizing the display layout so that information is quickly presented in a form that is readily comprehended despite its complexity. Only information necessary for current assessment is presented without superfluous data elements. Relevant information is thus presented in a seamless, streamlined manner.

Problems solved by technology

Paper drawings and maps are representations of the real world; but often the viewer must struggle to see only what is relevant amidst too much information.

Transparent overlays can separate graphic information, but are cumbersome and restrictive.

However, they have not as yet enabled viewers to smoothly call forth sets of graphic data to inform and stimulate a sustained, multi-faceted, analytical thought process.

However, non-technicians—the public, executives, and experts in non-computer fields—cannot use them to easily access and manipulate selections of layered materials.

Nor can they easily create or assemble their own sets of interactive, layered data.

Drop-down menus, graphics tools, and palettes are used for customized map production; this slow, unwieldy process is of very limited use for multi-faceted analysis.

However, current GIS does not provide for seamless access to subset combinations from extensive data sets.

In some cases, entire themes may be shown or hidden by clicking a check box next to the theme title on the legend; however, a particular subset within a theme cannot be shown or hidden.

Current online GIS interfaces rely on the scrolling of palette scroll bars to extend the legend and to view selections for queries; this scrolling breaks the flow of data selection and severely limits the organization and amount of data that can be accessed.

Annotational information, when available, is provided by going to a separate Web page or window; and thereby the material is not viewed smoothly, in direct association with the map feature.

However, the layers were then fused together, so the map could not be used to aid a flowing analytical thought process.

The software had several significant limitations: (1) the map features were not objects and could not have data or scripts attached to them, (2) map graphics could only be in black and white which reduced legibility and appeal, (3) the software was dependent on APPLE's MACINTOSH operating system having limited distribution, (4) users tended not to have or be able to afford base map data, and (5) the large amounts of graphic data generated could not be stored on most personal computers or shared easily with others.

Current reference CD-ROMs are organized to incrementally access graphic and text information on a single subject, but are not presently designed to enable comparison and to enhance prolonged, dynamic visual analysis.

While searchable GIS maps and ecommerce shopping sites are growing to be among the popular image-intensive applications on the Web, the quality of their interactivity and usefulness for visual analysis and comparison is extremely low.

A complex quest is constrained by the slow speed of the Web's current infrastructure and its standard presentation methods.

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