US 8,185,824 B1Granted

Method and apparatus providing a graphical user interface for representing and navigating hierarchical networks

AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.

InventorsFrederick H. Mitchell, David K. Bainbridge

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided which present hierarchical data to a user via a graphical user interface. In the interface, hierarchical data is represented by nodes, beginning with one or more top nodes and extending into lower hierarchical levels by the display of child nodes, child's child nodes, and so forth. The arrangement of nodes on the graphical user interface is such that scaling portrays the various hierarchical levels, and nodes do not spatially interfere with one another. Navigation through the hierarchical data is provided by allowing the user to select any visible node, at which point a zoom-in or zoom-out view to the selected node as a centrally located node on the interface is performed.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A computer system comprising:

at least one input device;
an output device;
a memory device;
a processing unit coupled to the input device, the output device and the memory device, the processing unit executing a computer program stored in the memory device, the computer program controlling the output device to display a graphical user interface and controlling the at least one input device to accept input to manipulate a view of objects displayed within the graphical user interface;
the graphical user interface displaying objects derived from hierarchically arranged data wherein each object displayed is graphically scaled in size, proportion, and relative position according to a hierarchical level of each object, and wherein the number of objects displayed are limited to within a predetermined number in which, if the data exceeds the predetermined number, at least one object represents multiple objects.

2 more elements

A computer system comprising:

at least one input device;
an output device;
a memory device;
a processing unit coupled to the input device, the output device and the memory device, the processing unit executing a computer program stored in the memory device, the computer program controlling the output device to display a graphical user interface and controlling the at least one input device to accept input to manipulate a view of objects displayed within the graphical user interface;
the graphical user interface (i) displaying objects derived from hierarchically arranged data, wherein each object displayed is graphically scaled in size, proportion, and relative position according to a hierarchical level of each object, (ii) is adapted to accept zoom-in and zoom-out requests from a user to view the objects in selectable scales, and (iii) applies animation in changing scales.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/880,853Filed 23 Jul 2007 · continuation
Priority: 9 Dec 1998
Granted: 22 May 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H04L 41/044
Network management architectures or arrangements: comprising hierarchical management structures
G06F 3/0481
Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a…
H04L 41/20
Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks: network management…
H04L 41/22
Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks: comprising specially…

Family

Application09/208,554Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Dec 1998
Application10/629,811Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Jul 2003
US 6,628,304 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2002/0113816 A1Published application
US 8,185,824 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.