Computer user interface including lens-based navigation of graphs

摘要

In one embodiment, a movable area, referred to as a “lens,” on a graph display allows the user to preview the zoom level of the graph. When a node, line or other item in the graph is in the area of the lens, then the item can be shown at a different zoom level than rest of the graph. In particular embodiments, a heuristic algorithm can be used to dynamically determine the visual representation of a node when in the lens as unique from the depiction of the node when the node is outside of the lens. Operations can be made to the graph items within the lens such as adding, moving, deleting, or connecting items, etc. Other features are described.

主权项

1. A method for viewing a node-edge graph displayed to a user, wherein the node-edge graph includes nodes, the method comprising:
generating a first display of at least a portion of the node-edge graph; accepting a first signal from a user input device to move a lens area over the displayed node-edge graph; determining a portion of the displayed node-edge graph that is within the lens, wherein the portion of the displayed node-edge graph that is within the lens includes at least one node; showing a scaled portion of the determined portion within the lens, wherein the scaled portion includes at least a portion of a scaled node; and providing information associated with the scaled node, according to a size of the scaled node, in the scaled portion of the displayed node-edge graph.