Method and apparatus for displaying and navigating a graph

A method for navigating a graph of data items in a graphical format on a visual display, comprising the steps of:

• representing a first current data item in a central portion of said visual display;
• and
• representing at least one additional data item related to the first current data item in an outer portion of said visual display surrounding the central portion of the visual display, where the outer portion shows optional paths for navigating the graph from the first current data item;
• representing successive data items related to the at least one additional data item in successive outer portions surrounding the central portion of the visual display,
• where the successive outer portions show additional optional paths for navigating the graph from a data item represented in an outer portion,
• wherein a data item represented in a first successive outer portion is related to the first current data item,
• wherein a data item represented in a second successive outer portion is related to at least one data item represented in the first successive outer portion, and
• wherein each data item represented in further successive outer portions is related to at least one data item represented in an immediate adjacent inner successive outer portion;
• partitioning each of the successive outer portions into successive outer sectors if a successive outer portion represents more than one data item, but if the successive outer portion represents only one data item, then the partitioned successive outer sector being equivalent to the successive outer portion, wherein each of the successive outer sectors is associated with a corresponding data item represented by the successive outer portions;
• selecting one of the successive outer sectors;
• displaying the selected successive outer sector as a new central portion, wherein the new central portion represents a new first current data item;
• representing successive data items related to the new first current data item in new successive outer portions surrounding the new central portion of the visual display,
• where the new successive outer portions show additional optional paths for navigating the graph from a data item represented in a new successive outer portion,
• wherein a data item represented in a first new successive outer portion is related to the new first current data item,
• wherein a data item represented in a second successive outer portion is related to at least one data item represented in the new first successive outer portion, and
• wherein data items represented in further new successive outer portions are related to at least one data item represented in an immediate adjacent inner new successive outer portion;
• redisplaying the new successive outer portions surrounding the new central portion;
• partitioning each of the redisplayed new successive outer portions into new successive sectors if a redisplayed new successive outer portion represents more than one data item, but the redisplayed new successive outer portion represents only one data item, then the partitioned new successive outer sectors being equivalent to the new successive outer portions, wherein each of the new successive outer sectors is associated with a corresponding data item represented by the new successive outer portions;
• redisplaying the new successive outer sectors of the redisplayed new successive outer portions.

A method for navigating a graph of data items in a graphical format on a visual display, comprising the steps of:

• representing a first current data item in a central portion of said visual display;
• and
• representing at least one additional data item related to the first current data item in an outer portion of said visual display surrounding the central portion of the visual display, where the outer portion shows optional paths for navigating the graph from the first current data item;
• partitioning the outer portion surrounding the central portion into outer sectors, if the outer portion representing more than one data item, and if the outer portion represents only one data item, then the partitioned outer sector being equivalent to the outer portion, wherein each outer sector is associated with a corresponding data item represented by the outer portion;
• selecting an outer sector of the outer portion the corresponding data item of the selected outer sector being a new first current data item in a new central portion of the visual display;
• and
• representing at least one additional data item related to the corresponding data item of the selected outer sector in a new outer portion of the visual display surrounding the new central portion,
• wherein data items represented by the central portion, the outer portion and the new outer portion are related harmonic chords.

A data processing system for navigating a graph of data items in a graphical format on a display, comprising:

• central portion means for displaying a central portion representing a first current data item;
• and
• outer portion surrounding means for displaying at least one outer portion surrounding the central portion of the visual display, a first outer portion representing at least one data item related to the first current data item, and successive outer portions representing at least one data item related to at least one data item represented by an inner adjacent outer portion, the central portion and the at least one surrounding outer portion forming an outwardly nested geometrical shape, wherein each of the at least one outer portion shows optional paths for navigating the graph from the first current portion;
• selecting means for selecting the at least one outer portion relating to the central portion;
• selective displaying means for no longer displaying the central portion in response to the selecting means selecting the at least one outer portion;
• and
• redisplaying means for redisplaying the selected at least one outer portion as a new central portion representing a new first current data item in response to the selecting means selecting the at least one outer portion.

A method of indicating to a user a current portion or portions of graph information within a presentation space, wherein the graph information comprises data items and relationships among the data items, the data items being graph nodes and the relationships among the data items being graph arcs between corresponding nodes, said method comprising the steps of:

• displaying a central portion representing a first a current data item of the information graph data;
• displaying at least one concentric nested shape surrounding the central portion, the at least one concentric nested shape partitioned into sectors where each sector reflects an arc relationship of the information graph data, wherein the at least one concentric nested shape surrounding the central portion shows optional paths for navigating the graph from the first current data item;
• displaying within each sector at least one indicia for indicating a graph node of interest;
• selecting a graph node;
• and
• rendering and displaying a new central portion identified with the selected graph node representing a new first current data item.

A method for navigating a graph of data items in a graphical format on a visual display, comprising the steps of:

• representing a first current data item in a central portion of said visual display;
• and
• representing at least one additional data item related to the first current data item in an outer portion of said visual display surrounding the central portion of the visual display, where the outer portion shows optional paths for navigating the graph from the first current data item;
• partitioning the outer portion surrounding the central portion into outer sectors, if the outer portion represents more than one data item, and if the outer portion represents only one data item, then the partitioned outer sector being equivalent to the outer portion, wherein each outer sector is associated with a corresponding data item represented by the outer portion;
• selecting an outer sector of the outer portion;
• and
• displaying the selected outer sector as a new central portion, wherein the corresponding data item associated with the selected outer sector is a new first current data item.

A method for navigating a graph of data items in a graphical format on a visual display, comprising the steps of:

• representing a first current data item in a central portion of said visual display;
• and
• representing at least one additional data item related to the first current data item in an outer portion of said visual display surrounding the central portion of the visual display, where the outer portion shows optional paths for navigating the graph from the first current data item;
• representing successive data items related to the at least one additional data item in successive outer portions surrounding the central portion of the visual display,
• where the successive outer portions show additional optional paths for navigating the graph from a data item represented in an outer portion,
• wherein a data item represented in a first successive outer portion is related to the first current data item,
• wherein a data item represented in a second successive outer portion is related to at least one data item represented in the first successive outer portion, and
• wherein data items represented in further successive outer portions are related to at least one data item represented in an immediate adjacent inner successive outer portion;
• partitioning each of the successive outer portions into successive outer sectors if a successive outer portion represents more than one data item, but if the successive outer portion represents only one data item, then the partitioned successive outer sector being equivalent to the successive outer portion, wherein each successive outer sector is associated with a corresponding data item represented by the successive outer portion;
• selecting an outer sector of one of the successive outer portions;
• and
• displaying the selected outer sector as a new central portion, wherein the corresponding data item associated with the selected outer sector becomes a new first current data item.