Method and apparatus for displaying data within a three-dimensional information landscape

An apparatus for increasing the number of objects displayed within a three-dimensional graphics display landscape in a display view on a computer graphics display, wherein said display view displays objects located within the three-dimensional graphics display landscape in a field of view extending from a viewpoint comprising:

• means for laying out objects within the three-dimensional graphics display landscape;
• means for compressing said objects laid-out within said three-dimensional graphics display landscape along at least one dimension, wherein said means for compressing compresses said objects at a magnitude which is a function of the location of said objects relative to a predetermined landscape base point along said three-dimensional graphics display landscape;
• and
• means for expanding at least said compressed objects located within the display view, wherein said means for expanding expands said compressed objects by a magnitude which is a function of the location of said viewpoint relative to said predetermined landscape base point;
• and
• means for applying a perspective transformation to said expanded objects based on said viewpoint to render the display view.

A computer-implemented method for increasing the number of objects displayed within a three-dimensional information landscape representation of data in a display view on a computer graphics display to increase contextual information regarding said data conveyed to a navigator, wherein said display view displays objects located within the three-dimensional information landscape in a field of view extending from a viewpoint, comprising the steps of:

• laying out objects in a graphics landscape in three-dimensional display space to create said three-dimensional information landscape representation of said data:
• compressing all of said objects laid-out within said three-dimensional information landscape in at least one dimension by a magnitude depending upon the location of said objects along said three dimensional information landscape relative to a landscape base point;
• expanding compressed objects within the display view by a magnitude depending upon the location of said viewpoint relative to said landscape base point;
• and
• applying a perspective transformation to said expanded objects based on said viewpoint to render the display view.

A computer graphics processor for increasing the number of objects displayed within a three-dimensional information landscape representation of data in a display view on a computer graphics display to increase contextual information regarding said data conveyed to a navigator, wherein said display view displays objects located within the three-dimensional information landscape in a field of view extending from a viewpoint, comprising:

• means for laying out objects in a graphics landscape in three-dimensional display space to create said three-dimensional information landscape representation of said data;
• means for compressing all of said objects laid-out within said three-dimensional information landscape in at least one dimension by a magnitude depending upon the location of said objects along said three dimensional information landscape relative to a landscape base point;
• means for expanding compressed objects within the display view by a magnitude depending upon the location of said viewpoint relative to said landscape base point;
• and
• means for applying a perspective transformation to said expanded objects based on said viewpoint to render the display view.