Method and apparatus for animating transition among dynamic graph series

An apparatus for animating transitions among a dynamic graph series which includes a preceding graph and a succeeding graph that are temporally sequentially displayed, wherein the graph has at least one unchanged node, removed node, and added node, wherein the apparatus comprises:

• a node removal animation unit configured to select an unchanged node which is the nearest to a removed node and to merge through animation the removed node with the unchanged node, thereby animating removal of the removed node;
• and
• a node addition animation unit configured to select an unchanged node which is the nearest to an added node and to split through animation the added node from the unchanged node, thereby animating addition of the added node.

A computer readable article of manufacture tangibly embodying computer readable instructions which, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of a method for animating transitions among graphs in a dynamic graph series having at least one preceding graph and at least one succeeding graph which are temporally sequentially displayed, wherein the graph has at least one unchanged node, removed node, and added node, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

• selecting an unchanged node which is the nearest to a removed node and merging through animation the removed node with the unchanged node, thereby animating removal of the removed node;
• and
• selecting an unchanged node which is the nearest to an added node and splitting through animation the added node from the unchanged node, thereby animating addition of the added node.