Dynamic Hierarchical Data Display via Tree Spacing Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing user interfaces for viewing hierarchical data often lose context due to the size and complexity of the data, especially when navigating large trees with unbalanced structures, making it cumbersome to maintain relationships between elements.
Innovation Solution
A system using a tree spacing structure to dynamically display hierarchical data, where each node's position is calculated based on its descendants intersecting a focus line, allowing for intuitive navigation and context preservation through relative spacing adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If known user interfaces are used to view portions of hierarchical data using zoom in, zoom out, expand/contract functions, then the user can view different portions of the data, but the user loses the context of the data because of the size and complexity of the hierarchical data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional 2D tree views to a 3D spatial visualization where hierarchical data is arranged in three-dimensional space. Nodes are positioned based on their hierarchical relationships, allowing users to navigate and view data in multiple dimensions while maintaining context through spatial positioning and depth perception.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested visualization where parent containers are visually represented as enclosing structures that contain child elements. This nested doll approach allows users to see hierarchical relationships at multiple levels simultaneously, with each level nested within its parent, preserving context while enabling detailed exploration.
2Quantity of substance
If the hierarchical data is displayed in a large tree structure, then comprehensive data can be viewed, but navigating the large tree via expand and contract controls is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical expand/contract controls with direct manipulation of 3D spatial parameters. Users can navigate the hierarchical tree by manipulating camera position, rotation, and zoom in three-dimensional space, eliminating the need for repetitive clicking of expand/contract controls while displaying comprehensive data structures.
3Device complexity
If traditional 2D tree views are used, then the interface is simple, but the relationships between elements are difficult to understand in large and complex datasets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved and spherical visualization elements to represent hierarchical relationships. Nodes are displayed as spherical or curved objects in 3D space, where spatial proximity and geometric relationships visually encode hierarchical connections, making it easier to detect and understand relationships in complex datasets while maintaining interface simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for dynamic display of hierarchical data (e.g., a tree) are provided. Dynamic display enables a user to navigate the hierarchical data by dragging, without having to select expand/contract icons. The systems and methods use a tree spacing structure to determine relative spacing of nodes based on a focus line and to automatically expand and collapse visual representations of nodes in the tree. Nodes on the focus line may be evenly spaced along the focus line, and all of the other nodes in the hierarchy not on the focus line may be positioned based on their relationship to nodes on the focus line, using the tree spacing structure. Ancestor nodes of nodes on the focus line may be positioned between their direct first and last child and children of focus level nodes may be positioned directly behind the focus level node.