Dynamic Tree Node Vertical Alignment for Hierarchical Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for visually presenting hierarchical organizations in graphical form often make it difficult for users to quickly comprehend the relationships between different levels of positions, leading to inefficient navigation within complex organizational structures.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based method and apparatus that aligns nodes within a tree structure relative to a vertical axis in a graphical user interface, allowing users to easily understand and navigate through hierarchical organizations by transforming the display based on user inputs, thereby aligning direct linkages from the topmost to the bottommost levels with a vertical alignment axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional tree structure visualization methods are used to represent hierarchical organizations, then the complete organizational structure can be displayed, but users cannot quickly comprehend the relationships between different levels of positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic repositioning of nodes within the tree structure. When a user selects a node, the system automatically adjusts the horizontal positions of nodes in that level to align the selected node with a vertical reference line, creating a dynamic visualization that adapts to user interaction and highlights hierarchical relationships.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual highlighting through color changes to emphasize the selected node and its hierarchical connections. The selected node and its ancestor nodes are highlighted with distinct visual styling, making it easier for users to comprehend the hierarchical relationships quickly.
2Ease of operation
If nodes are displayed in fixed horizontal positions in a tree structure, then the layout is stable and easy to render, but users cannot easily navigate through the hierarchical organization
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains fixed horizontal positions for most nodes to ensure stable rendering, but introduces dynamic repositioning capability when nodes are selected. This allows the system to switch between stability and navigability as needed, improving ease of operation without requiring complete restructuring of the tree layout.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-establishes a vertical reference line and defines the alignment mechanism in advance. When a node is selected, the alignment action is immediately executed based on pre-configured rules, enabling quick navigation without complex real-time calculations or user effort.
3Loss of information
If all nodes in a level are displayed horizontally aligned, then the tree structure maintains visual consistency, but the relationships between specific nodes and vertical hierarchical levels are not emphasized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the horizontal alignment of nodes based on user selection. Normally, nodes maintain their fixed horizontal positions for visual consistency. When a node is selected, the system repositions nodes in that level to align with a vertical reference line, emphasizing the vertical hierarchical relationship while temporarily modifying the horizontal arrangement.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for visually presenting a hierarchical organization for an entity. A tree structure that represents the hierarchical organization for the entity is displayed by a computer system in a graphical user interface on a display system. A sequence of user inputs is received by a computer system through the graphical user interface. A plurality of levels of the tree structure in the graphical user interface is transformed, by the computer system, based on the sequence of user inputs such that a series of direct linkages from a topmost level of the plurality of levels to a bottommost level of the plurality of levels is aligned with a vertical alignment axis.