Research and investigation systems incorporating graph databases

A computer-implemented system for data visualization that permits users to investigate, understand, and communicate information represented by complex graphs, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• a graph database configured to store a plurality of graphs, each graph comprising a plurality of graph elements comprising nodes, edges, and related properties;
• and
• a non-transitory memory that stores programming instructions that are configured to cause the processor to:
• provide a user interface configured to provide an interactive visual workspace for the user in connection with the graph database, wherein the interactive visual workspace is configured to receive user input allowing a user to interactively add to the interactive visual workspace a subject graph comprising one or more nodes and edges from the graph database, whereby the interactive visual workspace allows the user to explore relationships among the nodes displayed in the user-added subject graph;
• wherein the interactive visual workspace is configured to provide the user with an opportunity to interactively select, from the current interactive visual workspace, displayed nodes and edges to specify the selected displayed nodes and edges to be a displayed segment of the displayed nodes and edges shown in the displayed user-added subject graph, and to allow the user to repeat the interactive selection of displayed nodes and edges to specify the selected displayed nodes and edges to be additional displayed segments from the current interactive visual workspace;
• and wherein the processor is further configured, using the non-transitory memory, to:
• in response to the selection of the displayed nodes and edges that specifies the displayed segment of the displayed nodes and edges shown in the displayed user-added subject graph, store the corresponding displayed segment comprising the selected displayed nodes and edges;
• configure the user interface to allow the user, after the selection of one or more of the displayed segments, to set a parameter that controls a sequence interrelationship among the selected displayed segments;
• display a series of separate display regions in a panel display area adjacent to the interactive visual workspace, the series of separate display regions arranged in a sequence determined by the parameter and are rearrangeable by the user, wherein each display region provides a visual representation of a corresponding single one of the selected displayed segments;
• and
• export the selected displayed segments in an output form.