Simultaneous visual presentation of hierarchical and non-hierarchical data object information

Abstract

Devices, methods, and computer-readable media for use in visually presenting a hierarchy of data objects, while simultaneously visually presenting non-hierarchical type information in an organized and visually distinct manner. Data objects in a hierarchy are each associated by a computer with a node type from a set of node types. A graphical representation of the hierarchy is created, with a plurality of tree nodes representing the data objects. The visual representation includes a plurality of visually distinct strata corresponding to the plurality of node types, with each stratum corresponding to a single node type. The visual representation also includes hierarchical connectors extending between pairs of tree nodes, representing hierarchical relationships between the respective pairs of data objects represented by the tree node pairs.

1 . A computer-implemented method for automatically visually presenting, simultaneously in the same visual representation, both hierarchical relationships among, and non-hierarchical type information for, a plurality of data objects, the method comprising:
 determining for each data object an associated non-hierarchical node type, thereby populating a plurality of non-hierarchical node types;   creating a tree node for each data object, each tree node identifying the non-hierarchical node type of the associated data object; and   visually presenting in the visual representation non-hierarchical information associated with the tree nodes, said tree nodes organized into a set of visually recognizable and distinguishable strata, each stratum encompassing a distinct region in the visual representation corresponding to a single non-hierarchical node type irrespective of a node's hierarchical position, said visual representation simultaneously presenting the hierarchical relationships among the tree nodes.   
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising in the visual representation a plurality of hierarchical connectors extending between tree node pairs, wherein the hierarchical connectors represent hierarchical relationships between the data objects represented by the tree node pairs. 
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the strata are arranged along an axis, said method further comprising:
 determining a minimum child position associated with each depicted tree node, the minimum child position representing a minimum position on the axis at which a child tree node of the depicted tree node is positioned;   determining a maximum child position associated with each depicted tree node, the maximum child position representing a maximum position on the axis at which a child tree node of the depicted tree node is positioned;   determining a target position associated with each depicted tree node, wherein the target position falls between the minimum child position and the maximum child position associated with the depicted tree node; and   positioning each depicted tree node at its associated target position.   
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the step of determining a target position associated with each depicted tree node comprises determining a position that is centered between the minimum child position and the maximum child position associated with the depicted tree node. 
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising evenly spacing the tree nodes within each stratum. 
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented method for visually presenting, simultaneously in the same visual representation, both hierarchical relationships among, and non-hierarchical type information for, a plurality of data objects, the method comprising:
 determining for each data object an associated node type, thereby populating a plurality of node types, each node type corresponding to a single non-hierarchical type;   creating a tree node for each data object, each tree node identifying the node type of the associated data object; and   visually presenting in the visual representation non-hierarchical information associated with the tree nodes, said tree nodes organized into a set of visually recognizable and distinguishable strata, each stratum encompassing a distinct region in the visual representation corresponding to a single node type irrespective of a node's hierarchical position, said visual representation simultaneously presenting the hierarchical relationships among the tree nodes;   wherein the visual representation includes a boundary perpendicular to an axis along which at least some of the strata are arranged, said method further comprising positioning each tree node from each stratum at a predetermined distance from the boundary.   
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising visually distinguishing the strata from each other based upon the node types associated with the strata, respectively. 
     
     
         8 . A computing device comprising:
 a memory for storing a hierarchy of data objects, wherein each data object has a non-hierarchical node type from among a set of non-hierarchical node types; and   a processor coupled to said memory and programmed to visually display automatically a plurality of visually identifiable and distinguishable strata corresponding to the non-hierarchical node types, each stratum encompassing a distinct region in the visual display corresponding to a single non-hierarchical node type irrespective of a node's position in the hierarchy, while simultaneously preserving and visually displaying on the same visual display hierarchical relationships between pairs of data objects, said visual display comprising:
 a plurality of tree nodes representing the data objects, each tree node corresponding to one data object and visually portraying the non-hierarchical node type associated with the corresponding data object; 
 a plurality of strata visually displaying the tree nodes organized by non-hierarchical node type; and 
 a plurality of hierarchical connectors extending between pairs of tree nodes, wherein the hierarchical connectors represent hierarchical relationships between the respective pairs of data objects represented by the tree node pairs. 
   
     
     
         9 . A device in accordance with  claim 8 , further comprising an input interface coupled to said processor and configured to receive a selection of a classification strategy, wherein said processor is programmed to determine the node type associated with each data object based upon the selected classification strategy and upon one or more attributes of each data object. 
     
     
         10 . A device in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said processor is programmed to depict at least one stratum as curved. 
     
     
         11 . A device in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said processor is further programmed to acquire the data objects from one or more pre-existing databases. 
     
     
         12 . A device in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said processor is programmed to:
 determine a position for a group of tree nodes in a sub-hierarchy of the hierarchy, thereby forming a sub-tree; and   after creating the sub-tree, determine positions of tree nodes representing data objects superior to the sub-hierarchy in the hierarchy.   
     
     
         13 . A device in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said processor is programmed to determine positions of the tree nodes representing data objects superior to the sub-hierarchy at least in part by determining positions at which hierarchical connectors extending from the tree nodes do not intersect the sub-tree. 
     
     
         14 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executable instructions cause the processor to:
 determine a non-hierarchical node type associated with each data object in a hierarchy of data objects, thereby populating a plurality of non-hierarchical node types;   display automatically a visual representation comprising a plurality of visually identifiable and distinguishable strata corresponding to the plurality of non-hierarchical node types, while simultaneously preserving and visually displaying on the same visual representation hierarchical relationships between pairs of data objects, said visual representation comprising:   a plurality of tree nodes representing the data objects, each tree node representing one data object and visually identifying the non-hierarchical node type corresponding to the associated data object;   a plurality of strata visually displaying the tree nodes organized by non-hierarchical node type, each stratum encompassing a distinct region on the visual representation corresponding to a single non-hierarchical node type irrespective of a node's position in the hierarchy; and   a plurality of hierarchical connectors extending between pairs of tree nodes, wherein the hierarchical connectors represent hierarchical relationships between the respective pairs of data objects represented by the tree node pairs.   
     
     
         15 . One or more computer-readable media in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein at least some strata are arranged along an axis, and the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
 determine a minimum child position associated with each tree node displayed in the visual representation, the minimum child position representing a minimum position on the axis at which a child tree node of the displayed tree node is positioned;   determine a maximum child position associated with each tree node displayed in the visual representation, the maximum child position representing a maximum position on the axis at which a child tree node of the displayed tree node is positioned;   determine a target position associated with each tree node displayed in the visual representation, wherein the target position falls between the minimum child position and the maximum child position associated with the displayed tree node; and   position each displayed tree node at its associated target position.   
     
     
         16 . One or more computer-readable media in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to visually distinguish the strata based upon the node types associated with the strata, respectively. 
     
     
         17 . One or more computer-readable media in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
 receive a selection of a classification strategy; and   determine the node type associated with each data object based upon the selected classification strategy and upon one or more attributes of the data object.   
     
     
         18 . One or more computer-readable media in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to:
 determine a position for a group of tree nodes arranged in a sub-hierarchy of the hierarchy, thereby creating a sub-tree; and   after creating the sub-tree, determine the positions of tree nodes representing data objects superior to the sub-hierarchy in the hierarchy.