Hierarchical Chart Node View Level Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional graphical user interfaces (GUIs) are inadequate for effectively displaying hierarchical information, as they only allow for enlargement or reduction of text and graphics without showing different levels of information at varying view levels.
Innovation Solution
A GUI that allows users to select nodes and change the content displayed by altering the view level, with each level associated with specific information, enabling the display of different amounts of information based on user input, such as name, title, address, and hobbies at different view levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional GUI techniques are used to display hierarchical information, then the display can be enlarged or reduced, but different levels of information cannot be shown at varying view levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic view levels that allow the GUI to adapt its information display based on user selection. Each node in the hierarchical chart can be individually selected to change its view level, transforming the static display into a dynamic one that reveals different amounts of information (summary vs. detailed) based on user interaction needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to the display by introducing multiple view levels (e.g., view level 1, view level 2, view level 3) beyond the traditional zoom-in/zoom-out approach. This allows information to be displayed in different depths of detail within the same spatial framework, enabling users to toggle between summary views and detailed views without changing the physical display size.
2Loss of information
If all nodes display the same level of information, then the interface is simple to operate, but users cannot selectively view different amounts of information for specific nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different view levels to be assigned to different nodes within the same hierarchical chart. Instead of forcing a uniform view level across all nodes, the system enables each node to have its own view level setting, allowing users to customize the information display for specific nodes based on their local needs while maintaining overall system coherence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by introducing a view level parameter that can be independently adjusted for each node. This parameter controls the amount of information displayed (e.g., summary information at view level 1, detailed information at view level 3), allowing users to modify the display parameters without changing the underlying data structure or node hierarchy.
3Loss of information
If multiple levels of information are displayed for each node, then users can view different detail levels, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by creating a multi-functional view level control system that serves multiple purposes: it displays hierarchical relationships, controls information detail levels, and provides selective node expansion/collapse functionality. This single mechanism handles multiple user needs without requiring separate controls for each function, thereby managing complexity while delivering versatile information display capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and system for providing graphical user interface for displaying hierarchical charts. According to various embodiments, the present invention provides a graphical user interface where relational data are displayed as one or more hierarchical charts. A hierarchical chart includes a plurality of nodes that are organized according to the hierarchical chart. Each of the nodes is associated with a data record that contains multiple level of information. At different view level, different amount of information for the nodes are displayed. A view control function is provided for the graphical user interface. If none (or all) of the nodes are selected, each nodes display the same level of information based associated with a particular view level. If only few of the nodes are selected, only the selected nodes responds changes in view level when being displayed.