METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING AND DISPLAYING DATA

摘要

The present invention comprises a novel method and apparatus for displaying and managing relationships between data elements of a database, including, without limitation, relationships between data elements representing or associated with members of a social network in a social network database. In one or more embodiments, attributes or values of data elements of a database are interpreted as unique locations in a multidimensional environment. Data elements are graphically displayed from the perspective of a point within the multidimensional environment. Attributes and relationships between data elements are displayed by visual characteristics of the displayed data elements (e.g. location, color, shape, animation) and by graphical elements connecting related displayed elements (e.g. similar colors, shapes, or connecting lines or areas).

主权项

1. A data transformation method for transforming relationship data for a plurality of members of a social media network stored in a social media database system into graphical user interface data for display on a display screen of an internet access device by a server system comprising the steps of:
retrieving by said server system of first coordinate values for a first member of said social media network from a coordinate value database; transmitting by said server system of a query to said social media database system for obtaining first data from said social media database system, said first data comprising said relationship data, said relationship data comprising data identifying a second member of said social media network having a first social media relationship with said first member; retrieving by said server system of second coordinate values for said second member from said coordinate value database; transforming by said server system of said relationship data into said graphical user interface data by performing the steps of: generating by said server system of a first image element for said first member; generating by said server system of a second image element for said second-member; generating by said server system of a first linking image element indicating said first social media relationship between said first and second members; generating by said server system of a first graphical user interface comprising said first and second image elements and said linking image element; said first image element being located on said graphical user interface at a first location determined by said server system by transforming said first coordinate values into first user interface coordinate values; said second image element being located on said graphical user interface at a second location e determined by said server system by transforming said second coordinate values into second user interface coordinate values; transmitting by said server system of said graphical user interface to said internet access device.