Hierarchical Grid for Structured Documents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current text document systems present information in a linear, flat structure, making it difficult for authors and readers to visualize relationships and organization, with limited transparency and structure, and existing tools either rely on linear narratives or graphical representations that lack flexibility in organizing and rearranging information.
Innovation Solution
A structured document system that utilizes a hierarchical grid structure, allowing rows and cells to be manipulated and rearranged through drag-and-drop operations, enabling users to create and edit information in a more organized and visually intuitive manner, with features like parent-child associations and multi-cell editing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If information is organized in a linear, flat text structure, then the document is simple to create and read sequentially, but the transparency and visualization of relationships and organization among ideas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from traditional linear one-dimensional text to a two-dimensional hierarchical grid structure. Information is organized in rows and columns where rows represent hierarchical levels and columns represent thematic categories. This dimensional change enables simultaneous visualization of both sequential flow and structural relationships, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and transparency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments information into discrete cellular units within the hierarchical grid. Each cell contains specific information elements that can be independently manipulated. This segmentation allows the document to maintain overall simplicity while revealing detailed structural relationships through the organized arrangement of individual cells across multiple hierarchical levels.
2Loss of information
If graphical representation tools like concept-mapping are used, then visualization of relationships improves, but the ability to handle long-form text and flexible organization deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The hierarchical grid structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides graphical visualization of relationships through its spatial arrangement, accommodates long-form text within cell contents, and enables flexible reorganization through drag-and-drop operations. The same structure that visualizes relationships also serves as the container and organizer for detailed textual information, eliminating the need to choose between graphical and textual tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic reorganization capabilities where users can drag and drop rows and cells to restructure the hierarchical grid. This dynamic flexibility allows the document to adapt its organization while maintaining visual clarity of relationships. The structure can be continuously reconfigured without losing the graphical representation benefit, unlike static concept-mapping tools.
3Ease of operation
If drag-and-drop manipulation of rows and cells is enabled, then ease of reorganization improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hierarchical grid system provides self-service reorganization through intuitive drag-and-drop operations. The structure automatically maintains its hierarchical integrity and visual organization during manipulation. Users can reorganize content without needing to understand or manage the underlying complexity of parent-child relationships, as the system handles these associations automatically during drag-and-drop operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for organizing information in a grid. Aspects of this grid may be easily manipulated via user interface operations. This grid may be easily manipulated to create or edit a hierarchy. Grid elements may be expanded or collapsed alternatively to show or hide hidden elements. A canvas may contain objects that may be easily moved and/or repositioned via user interface operations.