Method and apparatus for dynamically grouping a plurality of graphic objects

A method for dynamically grouping a plurality of graphic objects displayed on a graphic input display device, comprising:

• initially grouping each of the plurality of graphic objects as its own cluster;
• determining at least one pairwise distance, each pairwise distance being between a pair of the clusters and based on a combination of a time distance between creation of the pair of clusters and a spatial distance between the pair of clusters;
• and
• merging the pair of clusters closest to each other based on the at least one pairwise distance to form a single cluster and a cluster level.

A system for dynamically grouping a plurality of graphic objects, comprising:

• a graphic input display device for at least displaying the plurality of graphic objects;
• a control system communicating with the graphic input display device, the control system forming a cluster tree of the plurality of graphic objects by combining different types of distance measures between at least one pair of graphic objects to form each level of the cluster tree;
• and
• a memory for storing the graphic objects and the cluster tree.