Graphical Node Volume Control for Hierarchical Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling graphical elements on a display do not allow for easy and intuitive manipulation of parent node volumes without affecting the total volume of all parent nodes, and they fail to provide a clear visual representation of parent nodes with child nodes having specific volumes.
Innovation Solution
A method involving processors to receive input signals for selecting and manipulating parent nodes, determining possible volume ranges, and visually representing these changes on a display using graphical shapes, allowing users to adjust target volumes of parent nodes while maintaining the total volume, and to drill down into child nodes for detailed volume representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional methods are used to control graphical elements on a display, then the system structure is simple, but the ease of operation is poor because users cannot easily manipulate parent node volumes without affecting total volume
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical main shape is segmented into multiple graphical node shapes, each representing a parent node with its own controllable volume. This segmentation allows users to manipulate individual parent node volumes independently through separate graphical controls, preventing unintended changes to other nodes while maintaining the total volume constraint through systematic recalculation.
Solution Approach 2:
A processor acts as an intermediary between the user's manipulation of graphical node shapes and the underlying data structure. The processor receives input signals, determines possible volume ranges, calculates target volumes that maintain the total volume constraint, and updates the hierarchical data structure accordingly, thereby simplifying the user interface while preserving data integrity.
2Loss of information
If detailed volume information of all parent nodes is displayed, then the information completeness is high, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases due to the complexity of visualizing hierarchical relationships
Solution Approach 1:
The graphical interface implements a nested visualization where graphical node shapes representing parent nodes contain or are associated with graphical elements representing their child nodes. This nested structure allows users to visualize hierarchical relationships at multiple levels simultaneously, with each level's volume information clearly displayed within its containing shape, making it easy to understand both individual node volumes and their hierarchical context.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses area or volume of graphical shapes as a visual dimension to represent numerical volume data. By mapping parent node volumes to the size of their graphical node shapes and child node volumes to sizes within those shapes, the system transforms abstract numerical relationships into intuitive visual proportions, enabling users to easily detect and compare volume relationships across the hierarchical structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system allows flexible manipulation of parent node volumes, then the adaptability is high, but the reliability decreases because it may be difficult to maintain the constraint that volumes sum to total volume
Solution Approach 1:
The processor implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors the volumes of all parent nodes and automatically recalculates target volumes to maintain the total volume constraint. When a user manipulates one graphical node shape, the system provides feedback by adjusting the volumes of other nodes and updating their graphical representations accordingly, ensuring the invariant that all parent node volumes sum to the total volume is always maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
Before finalizing the volume adjustment, the processor determines the possible volume range for the selected parent node by calculating minimum and maximum values that satisfy the total volume constraint. This preliminary calculation prevents users from making invalid adjustments and ensures that any manipulation remains within feasible bounds that maintain data consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
The method according to the invention deals with controlling of graphical elements of a display having a plurality of pixels with one or more processors, the method including defining by said one or more processors a graphical main shape on the display representing a total volume of a root node, defining by said one or more processors within the graphical main shape a number of graphical node shapes on the display, the number of node shapes being at least one and each node shape representing a volume of a parent node, wherein the volumes of all parent nodes sum up to the total volume, controlling by said one or more processors the pixels of the graphical main shape to visually present the graphical main shape on the display, redefining the graphical node shapes in response to receiving an input signal from an input device indicating a selection of a parent node, indicating a manipulating of a volume of a selected node shape or indicating an opening of a particular parent node.