Hypermedia authoring and publishing system

Abstract

The present invention comprises a novel system for authoring and publishing hypermedia works. The present invention includes a scrollable contents map window in which a graphical representation of a hypermedia work is displayed. The contents map window contains graphical lexia symbols representing the lexia of the hypermedia work, empty space, and other graphical and text elements. Links between lexia are not ordinarily displayed. Selecting a lexia symbol causes the corresponding lexia to be displayed in a lexia display window. The lexia symbols representing lexia may be arranged in the window in any configuration. Freely movable text labels and other graphical elements may be placed anywhere in the contents map window. Additional special purpose graphical elements may be placed in the contents map window to create relationships among lexia. In one embodiment, a number of different modes of the contents map window can be displayed. One mode is a caricature mode. In caricature mode, lexia are represented by novel, information rich, dynamic lexia symbols with enhanced mnemonic features and visual cues called “caricatures”. The mnemonic features and visual cues of a caricature, together with its position with respect to other elements in the contents map, provide means for uniquely visually identifying the underlying lexia. One embodiment of the invention includes a search function that allows an author or a reader to search some or all of the lexia of a work for specific words, phrases, or other items such as links. Lexia symbols of each lexia containing the searched for text are highlighted in the contents map window.

1 . A display system for representing the content of sets of data comprising: 
 a display screen; and    a plurality of graphical elements representing sets of data displayed on said display screen, a first of said graphical elements comprising a caricature based upon a first parameter related to a first of said sets of data.    
   
   
       2 . The display system of  claim 1  wherein said sets of data comprise lexia of a hypermedia work.  
   
   
       3 . The display system of  claim 1  wherein said first set of data comprises formatted display data displayable on said display screen, and wherein said first parameter comprises a visual appearance of said display data when displayed on said display screen.  
   
   
       4 . The display system of  claim 3  wherein said caricature comprises a caricature of a first portion of said visual appearance of said display data.  
   
   
       5 . The display system of  claim 4  wherein said formatted display data comprises text data arranged in a plurality of paragraphs, and wherein said caricature comprises caricatures of a first portion of said plurality of paragraphs.  
   
   
       6 . The display system of  claim 4  wherein a size of said first portion of said visual appearance of said display data is dependent on a size of said first graphical element.  
   
   
       7 . The display system of  claim 1  wherein said caricature comprises a pseudo-randomly generated feature.  
   
   
       8 . The display system of  claim 7  wherein said pseudo-randomly generated feature comprises the location of a visual feature of said caricature.  
   
   
       9 . The display system of  claim 8  wherein said visual feature comprises a notch along a perimeter of said caricature.  
   
   
       10 . The display system of  claim 1  wherein a change to said first set of data that results in a change to said first parameter leads to a corresponding change to said caricature.  
   
   
       11 . The display system of  claim 1  wherein said first parameter comprises a time related to said first set of data.  
   
   
       12 . The display system of  claim 11  wherein said time related to said first set of data comprises a time of creation of said first set of data.  
   
   
       13 . The display system of  claim 11  wherein said time related to said first set of data comprises a time related to an access history of said first set of data.  
   
   
       14 . The display system of  claim 1  wherein said caricature based on said first parameter comprises a shape of said first graphical element.  
   
   
       15 . The display system of  claim 14  wherein said shape of said first graphical element comprises a rectangle, and wherein a degree of rounding of comers of said rectangle depends upon a value of said first parameter.  
   
   
       16 . The display system of  claim 15  wherein said first parameter comprises a count of a number of times that said first set of data is accessed.  
   
   
       17 . The display system of  claim 1  wherein said caricature based on said first parameter comprises a color.  
   
   
       18 . The display system of  claim 17  wherein said color depends upon a value of said first parameter.  
   
   
       19 . The display system of  claim 10  wherein said caricature is updated to reflect a change made to said first set of data.  
   
   
       20 . The display system of  claim 1  wherein a visual appearance of said first graphical element and a relative position of said first graphical element on said display screen distinguishes said first set of data from other sets of data.  
   
   
       21 . In a computer system, a method for creating a graphical element representing a set of data, said method comprising the steps of: 
 examining a set of data;    identifying a first parameter of said set of data;    generating a first representation corresponding to said first parameter; and    incorporating said first representation in a graphical element representing said set of data.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said set of data comprises a lexia of a hypermedia work.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said set of data comprises data displayable on a display device and wherein said first parameter comprises a visual appearance of a portion of said data when displayed on said display device.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the steps of: 
 reexamining said set of data after a triggering event has occurred;    identifying any change to said first parameter of said set of data;    if a change to said first parameter has occurred, revising said first representation corresponding to said first parameter according to said change; and    incorporating said revised first representation in said graphical element representing said set of data.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the steps of: 
 identifying a second parameter of said set of data;    generating a second representation corresponding to said second parameter; and    incorporating said second representation in said graphical element representing said set of data.    
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising the steps of: 
 identifying plurality of additional parameters of said set of data;    generating additional representations corresponding to said additional parameters; and    incorporating said additional representations in said graphical element representing said set of data.    
   
   
       27 . A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for creating a graphical element representing a set of data, said method comprising the steps of: 
 examining a set of data;    identifying a first parameter of said set of data;    generating a first representation corresponding to said first parameter; and    incorporating said first representation in a graphical element representing said set of data.    
   
   
       28 . The program storage device of  claim 27  wherein said set of data comprises a lexia of a hypermedia work.  
   
   
       29 . The program storage device of  claim 27  wherein said set of data comprises data displayable on a display device and wherein said first parameter comprises a visual appearance of a portion of said data when displayed on said display device.  
   
   
       30 . The program storage device of  claim 27  wherein said method further comprises the steps of: 
 reexamining said set of data after a triggering event has occurred;    identifying any change to said first parameter of said set of data;    if a change to said first parameter has occurred, revising said first representation corresponding to said first parameter according to said change; and    incorporating said revised first representation in said graphical element representing said set of data.    
   
   
       31 . The program storage device of  claim 27  wherein said method further comprises the steps of: 
 identifying a second parameter of said set of data;    generating a second representation corresponding to said second parameter; and    incorporating said second representation in said graphical element representing said set of data.    
   
   
       32 . The program storage device of  claim 27  wherein said method further comprises the steps of: 
 identifying a plurality of additional parameters of said set of data;    generating additional representations corresponding to said additional parameters; and    incorporating said additional representations in said graphical element representing said set of data.