System and method for browsing node-link structures based on an estimated degree of interest

A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of displaying a representation of an entire collection of linked information using a visualization technique in a display area, the linked information comprising a plurality of nodes each having one or more links to other of the plurality of nodes, the method comprising:

• a) identifying one or more focus nodes from plurality of nodes;
• b) assigning a highest degree of interest (DOI) value to each of the focus nodes;
• c) for each sibling of the focus nodes assigning a DOI value less than the highest DOI value and based upon an order of the sibling node:
• d) for all remaining nodes, assigning a DOI value less than that of the parent node:
• e) assigning a node display size from to each of the plurality of nodes in response to the DOI values to each of the plurality of nodes, the assigned node display size being a one of a limited set of node display size, nodes with a higher DOI being assigned a larger node display size;
• f) generating a first lay out of the plurality of nodes according to the visualization technique so that the representation of the linked information is displayed completely in said display area;
• g) displaying the first lay out of linked information in the display area.