# US 10,120,959 B2 · Apparatus and method for displaying a node of a tree structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,959 B2 - Document ID: US10120959B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/140,897 - Filed: 2016-04-28 - Published: 2017-11-02 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-28 - Assignees: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Jonathan D. Walter; Timothy J. Menge; David W. Comeau; Lawrence C. Bradley; Cheney Chengquan Shi; Winson Guangwen Sun; Ronald E. Bliss; David A. Snyder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120959B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/904: Browsing; Visualisation therefor (for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957) - G06F 16/9027: {Trees} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract For displaying a node of a tree structure, a processor receives an anchor node creation command for a given node of a tree structure of nodes. The given node has one or more branches of parent nodes. The processor further removes the one or more branches of parent nodes and branches of sibling nodes of the given node from a display of the tree structure. In addition, the processor displays the given node as a topmost node of the tree structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory storing code executable by the processor to: receive an anchor node creation command from a user for a given node of a tree structure of nodes, wherein each node represents one of an electronic device and a network and the given node has one or more branches of parent nodes; remove the one or more branches of parent nodes and branches of sibling nodes of the given node from a display of the tree structure; display the given node as a topmost node of the tree structure; display a compact listing of icons of the one or more branches of parent nodes of the given node organized as a horizontal dependency diagram comprising an anchor position symbol that indicates a relationship of the given node to the one or more branches of parent nodes; display anchor controls comprising an anchor node command, a refresh command, an add link command, and a menu command; display an anchor node save option that receives an anchor name for the anchor node; receive a save control from the user that stores the anchor name with anchor data; and display an anchor name list with the anchor name, wherein the anchor name is organized as a folder that expands into a tree of nodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor further navigates to one or more branches of child nodes of the given node in response to navigation commands. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein branches of two of more sibling child nodes of the given node are displayed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein receiving the anchor node creation command comprises: displaying an anchor option in response to a selection of the given node in the tree structure; and receiving a selection of the anchor option. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor further performs: receiving a selection of a given parent node from the compact listing; and displaying the given parent node as a topmost node of the tree structure. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor further performs: receiving an anchor node termination command; and displaying the one or more branches of parent nodes, the given node, the branches of sibling nodes, and displayed child nodes of the given node in the tree structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor controls comprise a settings option that modifies the display settings for the given node and all branches of child nodes of the given node. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: receiving, by use of a processor, an anchor node creation command from a user for a given node of a tree structure of nodes, wherein each node represents one of an electronic device and a network and the given node has one or more branches of parent nodes; removing the one or more branches of parent nodes and branches of sibling nodes of the given node from a display of the tree structure; displaying the given node as a topmost node of the tree structure; displaying a compact listing of icons of the one or more branches of parent nodes of the given node organized as a horizontal dependency diagram comprising an anchor position symbol that indicates a relationship of the given node to the one or more branches of parent nodes; displaying anchor controls comprising an anchor node command, a refresh command, an add link command, and a menu command; displaying an anchor node save option that receives an anchor name for the anchor node; receiving a save control from the user that stores the anchor name with anchor data; and displaying an anchor name list with the anchor name, wherein the anchor name is organized as a folder that expands into a tree of nodes. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, the method further comprising navigating to one or more branches of child nodes of the given node in response to navigation commands. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein branches of two of more sibling child nodes of the given node are displayed. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein receiving the anchor node creation command comprises: displaying an anchor option in response to a selection of the given node in the tree structure; and receiving a selection of the anchor option. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, the method further comprising: receiving a selection of a given parent node from the compact listing; and displaying the given parent node as a topmost node of the tree structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, the method further comprising: receiving an anchor node termination command; and displaying the one or more branches of parent nodes, the given node, the sibling nodes, and displayed child nodes of the given node in the tree structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the anchor controls comprise a settings option that modifies the display settings for the given node and all branches of child nodes of the given node. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, the method further comprising displaying the given node as the topmost node of the tree structure in response to receiving the anchor name from the anchor name list. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution, cause a system comprising a processor to perform operations comprising: receiving an anchor node creation command from a user for a given node of a tree structure of nodes, wherein each node represents one of an electronic device and a network and the given node has one or more branches of parent nodes; removing the one or more branches of parent nodes and branches of sibling nodes of the given node from a display of the tree structure; displaying the given node as a topmost node of the tree structure; displaying a compact listing of icons of the one or more branches of parent nodes of the given node organized as a horizontal dependency diagram comprising an anchor position symbol that indicates a relationship of the given node to the one or more branches of parent nodes; displaying anchor controls comprising an anchor node command, a refresh command, an add link command, and a menu command; displaying an anchor node save option that receives an anchor name for the anchor node; receiving a save control from the user that stores the anchor name with anchor data; and displaying an anchor name list with the anchor name, wherein the anchor name is organized as a folder that expands into a tree of nodes. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor further displays the given node as the topmost node of the tree structure in response to receiving the anchor name from the anchor name list. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the anchor name list is separate from the tree structure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the anchor name list is separate from the tree structure. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the anchor name list is separate from the tree structure.