Controlling which part of data defining a node-link structure is in memory

A system comprising:

• a user interface including a display;
• memory for storing node-link data;
• and
• a processor for controlling which part of a body of node-link data defining a node-link structure is in the memory, where the body of node-link data defines the node-link structure, and the part of the body of node-link data that is in the memory is less than all of the body of node-link data, and receiving navigation signals;
• the processor displaying a representation of at least a subset of a current set of elements of the node-link structure in the display;
• performing a series of iterations, each iteration including automatically traversing a the current set of elements of the node-link structure;
• the processor, in performing at least one of the iterations and while automatically traversing the current set of elements, modifying, in response to the navigation signals, which part of the body of node-link data is in the memory to obtain a modified part of the body of node-link data in memory;
• the modified part being more likely to define a next set of elements that the processor will traverse in performing the next iteration.

An article of manufacture for use in a system that includes:

• a user interface including a display;
• memory for storing node-link data;
• a storage medium access device;
• and
• a processor for controlling which part of a body of node-link data defining a node-link structure is in the memory, where the body of node-link data defines the node-link structure, and the part of the body of node-link data that is in the memory is less than all of the body of node-link data, receiving navigation signals, and connected for receiving data accessed on a storage medium by the storage medium access device;
• the article of manufacture comprising:
• a storage medium;
• and
• instruction data stored by the storage medium;
• the instruction data indicating instructions the processor can execute;
• the processor, in executing the instructions, displaying a representation of at least a subset of a current set of elements of the node-link structure in the display;
• performing a series of iterations, each iteration including automatically traversing the current set of elements of the node-link structure;
• the processor, in performing at least one of the iterations and while automatically traversing the current set of elements, modifying, in response to the navigation signals, which part of the body of node-link data is in the memory to obtain a modified part of the body of node-link data in memory;
• the modified part being more likely to define a next set of elements that the processor will traverse in performing the next iteration.

A method of transferring data between first and second machines over a network, the second machine including a user interface including a display, memory and a processor connected for accessing the memory;

• the memory being for storing instruction data and for storing node-link data;
• the processor being for controlling which part of a body of node-link data defining a node-link structure is in the memory, where the body of node-link data defines the node-link structure, and the part of the body of node-link data that is in the memory is less than all of the body of node-link data, and receiving navigation signals;
• the method comprising:
• establishing a connection between the first and second machines over the network;
• and
• operating the first and second machines to transfer instruction data from the first machine to the memory of the second machine;
• the instruction data indicating instructions the processor can execute;
• the processor, in executing the instructions, displaying a representation of at least a subset of a current set of elements of the node-link structure in the display;
• performing a series of iterations, each iteration including automatically traversing the current set of elements of the node-link structure;
• the processor, in performing at least one of the iterations and while automatically traversing the current set of elements, modifying, in response to the navigation signals, which part of the body of node-link data is in the memory to obtain a modified part of the body of node-link data in memory;
• the modified part being more likely to define a next set of elements that the processor will traverse in performing the next iteration.