专利内容由知识产权出版社提供
专利名称：METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING A
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FORREPRESENTING AND NAVIGATINGHIERARCHICAL NETWORKS
发明人：FREDERICK H. MITCHELL,DAVID K.
BAINBRIDGE
申请号：US09208554申请日：19981209
公开号：US20020113816A1公开日：20020822
专利附图：
摘要：A method and apparatus are provided which present hierarchical data to a uservia a graphical user interface. A preferred embodiment represents hierarchical datarelated to a computer network and is provided to a user as part of a network
management software application. In the interface, hierarchical data is represented bynodes, beginning with one or more top nodes and extending into lower hierarchical levelsby the display of child nodes, child's child nodes, and so forth. The arrangement of nodeson 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 pointa zoom-in or zoom-out view to the selected node as a centrally located node on theinterface is performed. Child nodes at lower hierarchical levels that were not visiblebefore selection are then made visible up to a predetermined number of levels within thehierarchy. A map is provided on the interface which allows a user to graphicallycomprehend the present location of all nodes displayed on the interface in relation totheir position within the overall hierarchy. As applied to network management, theinterface allows errors in low level devices within a network to be visually propagated upto the upper levels of the hierarchy, for display to a user viewing only the top levels. Theinterface and computing system configured according to the invention overcomesproblems of prior art systems which obscure a user location within a large hierarchy andthe invention overcomes significant navigation problems of prior art systems.
申请人：MITCHELL FREDERICK H.,BAINBRIDGE DAVID K.
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