Navigation Tree Display With Expandable Nodes and Reduced Branches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation systems face challenges in allowing users to navigate complex navigation trees without losing the overall view due to the abundance of information, making it difficult to focus on relevant information during navigation.
Innovation Solution
A navigation apparatus and method that allows for easy navigation in complex trees by providing a display unit with nodes in both expanded and reduced forms, where selection of a node automatically converts its superordinate node to a reduced form, hiding unnecessary information and links, and enabling users to select and display only relevant nodes and links, thus simplifying the navigation tree.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the navigation tree displays all nodes and links in expanded form, then complete information is available, but the display becomes complex and overwhelming, making it difficult for users to focus on relevant information
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation tree is segmented into different display modes: expanded form showing all nodes and links, and reduced form showing only relevant nodes and links. The control unit automatically segments the display based on the currently selected node, presenting comprehensive information when needed while filtering out irrelevant content during navigation, thus resolving the contradiction between information completeness and display complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The display dynamically transitions between expanded and reduced forms based on user interaction. When a node is selected, the system automatically converts the display from showing all information to showing only relevant information, making the navigation tree adaptive to the user's current navigation context rather than static
2Adaptability or versatility
If the navigation tree shows all links and nodes, then all navigation options are visible, but the user loses the overall view and becomes overwhelmed by abundance of information
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary filtering of navigation options based on the currently selected node before presenting information to the user. The control unit pre-processes the navigation tree to identify and display only the relevant subset of nodes and links needed for the current navigation context, so users are presented with simplified options in advance rather than overwhelming comprehensive lists
3Loss of information
If the display shows complete navigation tree with all branches, then all possible paths are visible, but it becomes difficult to discern the current position and relevant navigation path
Solution Approach 1:
The display applies different quality levels to different parts of the navigation tree based on their relevance to the current selection. Nodes and links on the current navigation path are displayed with high visibility and detail, while unrelated branches are reduced or hidden, creating local quality variations that help users easily detect their current position and relevant paths without being overwhelmed by irrelevant information
Data Source
AI summary
A navigation apparatus displays nodes of a navigation tree stored in a storage device in a manner that one selected node is displayed in an expanded display form and further nodes are displayed in a reduced display form on a display unit. In response to a selection of a subordinate node, the previously selected node is converted into the reduced display form and the newly selected node is converted into an expanded display form.