Concentric Segment Visualization for Information Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex information navigation in business applications is cumbersome due to dispersed information across systems and lack of explicit interdependencies, with existing visualization methods failing to effectively utilize metadata for seamless navigation across system boundaries.
Innovation Solution
A method and graphical user interface that categorize and generalize information into concentric segments on a display, allowing users to focus on specific items and adjust the layout dynamically based on user input, while maintaining an organized and interactive browsing experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If information is dispersed across multiple systems and formats, then comprehensive information availability is improved, but navigation and browsing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the information collection into categories and generality levels, organizing dispersed information into a structured hierarchical framework that reduces navigation complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a unified visualization interface as an intermediary that bridges multiple systems and formats, presenting information from various sources through a common categorical framework without requiring users to navigate between different systems
2Ease of manufacture
If metadata is available in business systems, then information organization is improved, but utilization for navigation across system boundaries is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal visualization framework that adapts metadata from multiple different systems and formats into a unified categorical structure, enabling the same organizational mechanism to work across diverse information sources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms metadata from various systems into standardized category and generality level parameters, changing the representation of information to enable consistent navigation and visualization across system boundaries
3Loss of information
If graphical rendering is used to visualize interrelated representations, then information relationships are improved, but interactive browsing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic visualization where the view automatically adjusts based on user interactions, allowing flexible exploration of information relationships without requiring complex manual navigation operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates user feedback mechanisms where selections and interactions automatically update the visualization to show relevant information relationships, reducing the need for users to manually navigate through complex graphical representations
4Ease of operation
If hyperbolic tree layout is used to map large graphs, then focus on relevant nodes is improved, but distortion effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the visualization into segments organized by categories and generality levels, providing a structured approach to displaying information that reduces distortion while maintaining the ability to focus on specific nodes through hierarchical organization
Data Source
AI summary
Information is visually presented to a computer user by receiving, in a computer system, a request to present a first visual item representing a first information portion selected from an information collection available in the computer system. It is determined, in response to the request: (i) which of several predefined categories the first information portion is associated with, and (ii) which of several predefined generality levels the first information portion has. A presentation that includes an area divided into segments extending between a center and a periphery of the area is generated on a display device. The segments correspond to the respective predefined categories and the area is concentrically divided into levels corresponding to the respective predefined generality levels. The first visual item is placed in one of the segments and at one of the levels according to its determined category and generality level. Item distribution effectively uses available space.