Visually exploring implicit features of hierarchical graphs based on attributes of nodes of the graphs

A computer program product comprising:

• one or more computer readable storage media having computer-readable program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, said program instructions executes a computer-implemented method comprising:
• accessing a data structure capturing a connected graph having nodes connected through edges, wherein the nodes are associated with attributes containing human-readable data;
• performing a subroutine comprising:
• receiving a user interaction of selecting a node from the connected graph and an attribute associated with the selected node, wherein the user interacts with a graphical user interface to select the node and the attribute;
• using the selected node as a focal node and the selected attribute as a pivot attribute to determine a layout of an arborescence extending from the focal node;
• identifying other nodes connected to the focal node by walking the connected graph;
• comparing the pivot attribute with attributes associated with the other nodes connected to the starting node to obtain corresponding distance-dependent quantities for each of the other nodes;
• comparing the distance-dependent quantities to a predetermined threshold, respectively, and assigning, based on the comparing to the predetermined threshold, each of the other nodes to one of two distinct regions relative to the starting node, wherein the two distinct regions are complementary three-dimensional regions;
• computing layout data that includes coordinates of the other nodes connected to the starting node, wherein the coordinates are determined in accordance with the distance-dependent quantities and based on the region assignment;
• and
• displaying, on the graphical user interface, the arborescence according to the layout data as a three-dimensional presentation;
• receiving a user interaction of selecting a new attribute associated with the focal node on the graphical user interface, wherein the user interacts with the graphical user interface to select the new attribute;
• updating the layout data by determining new distance-dependent quantities and new region assignments for the other nodes based on the new attribute;
• and
• displaying, on the graphical user interface, the arborescence according to the updated layout data.