System and method for visualizing relationships between objects

Abstract

A graphical user interface transforms objects into nodes and relationships that are shared between the objects into edges. The edges are labeled with the relationship types. Multiple edges are ordered automatically or manually. Multiple edges are collapsed onto a single line and labels applied to the single line for each collapsed edge. The labels applied to the single line are ordered along the line according to relationship type. When there are multiple types of relationships within the same class, each class is collapsed onto a single line and ordered accordingly. A user selects the objects that are displayed by he GUI. The user can add additional objects or relationships and filter the results.

1 . A system for visualizing relationships between objects, comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor;   wherein the processor is configured to
 receive a request to generate a graph that displays at least two relationships between at least two objects; 
 retrieve the at least two objects from the memory; 
 transform the objects into nodes; 
 transform a first of the relationships connecting two of the nodes into a first edge; 
 label the first edge with a relationship type of the first relationship; 
 transform a second of the relationships connecting two of the nodes into a second edge; 
 label the second edge with a relationship type of the second relationship; 
 collapse the first and second edges onto a single line; 
 apply a label to the single line for each edge that was collapsed onto the single line; 
 order each label applied to the single line along the single line according to any of
 an ordering of the relationship types, or 
 instructions received from a user; and 
 
 generate a graph that displays a visualization of the single line and the ordered labels. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the relationships are selectable from a preloaded list. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to receive the request via a client device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to generate the graph for display via a client device. 
     
     
         5 . A system for visualizing relationships between objects, comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor;   wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a request to generate a graph that displays at least two relationships between at least two objects; 
 retrieve the at least two objects from the memory; 
 transform the objects into nodes; 
 transform a first of the relationships connecting two of the nodes into a first edge; 
 label the first edge with a relationship type of the first relationship; 
 transform a second of the relationships connecting two of the nodes into a second edge; 
 label the second edge with a relationship type of the second relationship; 
 collapse the first and second edges onto a single line; 
 apply a label to the single line for each edge that was collapsed onto the single line; 
 group each of the relationship types within a relationship class; 
 collapse all edges with the same relationship class onto a single line; 
 order each label applied to the single line along the single line according to an ordering of the relationship types within the relationship class; and 
 generate a graph that displays a visualization of the single line and the ordered labels. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the relationships are selectable from a preloaded list. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system is configured to receive the request via a client device. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system is configured to generate the graph for display via a client device. 
     
     
         9 . A system for visualizing relationships between objects, comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor;   wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a request to generate a graph that displays at least two relationships between at least two objects; 
 retrieve the at least two objects from the memory; 
 transform the objects into nodes; 
 transform a first of the relationships connecting two of the nodes into a first edge; 
 label the first edge with a relationship type of the first relationship; 
 transform a second of the relationships connecting two of the nodes into a second edge; 
 label the second edge with a relationship type of the second relationship; 
 order the first and second edges according to any of
 an ordering of the relationship types, or 
 instructions received from a user; and 
 
 generate a graph that displays a visualization of the ordered edges. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the ordering of the relationship types is an ordering within a relationship class. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the relationships are selectable from a preloaded list. 
     
     
         12 . The system of Cairn  9 , wherein the system is configured to receive the request via a client device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system is configured to generate the graph for display via a client device. 
     
     
         14 . A system for visualizing relationships between objects, comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor;   wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a request to generate a graph that displays at least two relationships between at least two objects; 
 retrieve the at least two objects from the memory; 
 transforming the objects into nodes; 
 transform a first of the relationships connecting two of the nodes into a first edge; 
 label the first edge with a relationship type of the first relationship; 
 transform a second of the relationships connecting the two of the nodes into a second edge; 
 label the second edge with a relationship type of the second relationship; 
 collapse the first and second edges onto a single line; 
 apply a label to the single line for each of the edges that was collapsed onto the single line; and 
 generate a graph that displays a visualization of the single line and the applied labels. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the relationships are selectable from a preloaded list. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the system is configured to receive the request via a client device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the system is configured to generate the graph for display via a client device. 
     
     
         18 . A method for visualizing relationships between objects, implemented by a computer including a memory and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor performs the method comprising:
 receiving a request to generate a graph that displays at least two relationships between at least two objects;   retrieving the at least two objects from the memory;   transforming the objects into nodes;   transforming a first of the relationships connecting two of the nodes into a first edge;   labeling the first edge with a relationship type of the first relationship;   transforming a second of the relationships connecting the two of the nodes into a second edge;   labeling the second edge with a relationship type of the second relationship;   collapsing the first and second edges onto a single line;   applying a label to the single line for each of the edges that was collapsed onto the single line; and   generating a graph that displays a visualization of the single line and the applied labels.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the relationships are selected by a user from a preloaded list. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the request is received via a client device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the processor generates the graph for display via a client device. 
     
     
         22 . A system for visualizing relationships between objects, comprising:
 a memory; and   a processor;   wherein the processor is configured to:
 receive a request to generate a graph that displays at least two relationships between at least two objects; 
 retrieve the at least two objects from the memory; 
 transforming the objects into nodes; 
 transform a first of the relationships connecting two of the nodes into a first edge; 
 label the first edge with a relationship type of the first relationship; 
 transform a second of the relationships connecting the two of the nodes into a second edge; 
 label the second edge with a relationship type of the second relationship; 
 order the first and second edges; and 
 generate a graph that displays a visualization of the ordered edges. 
   
     
     
         23 . The system of Cairn  22 , wherein the relationships are selectable from a preloaded list. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the system is configured to receive the request via a client device. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the system is configured to generate the graph for display via a client device. 
     
     
         26 . A method for visualizing relationships between objects, implemented by a computer including a memory and a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor performs the method comprising:
 receiving a request to generate a graph that displays at least two relationships between at least two objects;   retrieving the at least two objects from the memory;   transforming the objects into nodes;   transforming a first of the relationships connecting two of the nodes into a first edge;   labeling the first edge with a relationship type of the first relationship;   transforming a second of the relationships connecting the two of the nodes into a second edge;   labeling the second edge with a relationship type of the second relationship;   ordering the first and second edges; and   generating a graph that displays a visualization of the ordered edges.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the relationships are selected by a user from a preloaded list. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the request is received via a client device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the processor generates the graph for display via a client device.