Visual Context in Dataflows for Node Relationship Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In dataflow builders, limited display sizes and large numbers of interrelated dataflow nodes make it difficult for operators to simultaneously view a dataflow node of interest and related nodes, requiring cumbersome navigation operations to ascertain relationships between them.
Innovation Solution
The dataflow builder application determines a visual context for a selected node, displaying associated nodes within the canvas using a visual layout that modifies node positions, sizes, and visibility to reduce the need for navigation, based on criteria such as data transformation steps, attributes, proximity, and historic designer activity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the display size is increased to show more dataflow nodes simultaneously, then the operator can view more nodes at once, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the traditional 2D canvas navigation problem into a 3D spatial arrangement by layering nodes based on their relationship distance. Related nodes are positioned in foreground layers while distant nodes are placed in background layers, creating a depth dimension that naturally organizes the layout without requiring additional display area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different visual properties to different regions of the canvas based on their relationship to the selected node. Nodes closer to the selected node receive enhanced visual treatment (larger size, different color, prominent positioning) while distant nodes have reduced visual emphasis, creating a focal point that guides operator attention without displaying all nodes equally.
2Ease of operation
If the number of dataflow nodes is reduced to simplify navigation, then the operator can navigate more easily, but the dataflow functionality and complexity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic layout system that automatically repositions nodes based on the selected node and their relationship distances. When a node is selected, the system dynamically calculates optimal positions for all other nodes based on their ancestral or descendant relationships, creating an adaptive view that adjusts to different dataflow configurations without requiring manual repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual canvas coordinate system that acts as an intermediary between the logical dataflow structure and the physical display. This coordinate system maps relationship distances to spatial positions, allowing the system to represent complex node relationships in a navigable visual format without reducing the actual number of nodes or their functional complexity.
3Loss of information
If the operator performs navigation operations to view related nodes, then the operator can ascertain relationships between nodes, but the time and operations required increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary layout calculations based on the dataflow's ancestral and descendant relationships before the operator needs to view them. When a node is selected, the system has already pre-computed the optimal positions for all related nodes based on their relationship distances, so the nodes are immediately displayed in their correct spatial relationships without requiring sequential navigation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an automatic feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors node selections and automatically repositions related nodes in response. When the operator selects a node, the system detects this input and immediately adjusts the layout to bring related nodes into view, providing real-time feedback that eliminates the need for manual navigation to discover relationships.
4Device complexity
If the canvas displays all nodes equally, then the layout is simple, but the nodes of interest are not prominently displayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different visual properties to different nodes based on their relationship to the selected node. Nodes with shorter relationship distances are displayed with enhanced properties (larger size, distinct colors, prominent positioning) while nodes with longer distances have reduced visual emphasis. This creates a visual hierarchy that naturally highlights important relationships without requiring complex manual layout adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, method, and device embodiments for implementing visual context in dataflows. A computing device may display a dataflow representation associated with a transformative process, receive selection of an individual node of the dataflow representation, and determine a visual context associated with the individual node based on a data transformation step associated with the individual node. Further, the computing device may determine a plurality of nodes associated with the visual context, and apply a graphical effect to the individual node and the plurality of nodes, the graphical effect modifying an attribute of the individual node and the plurality of nodes.