Method and apparatus for organizing and processing information using a digital computer

Abstract

An effect method and apparatus for organizing and processing chunks of interrelated information (or “thoughts”) using a digital computer is disclosed. The invention utilizes highly flexible, associative thought networks to organize and represents digitally-stored thoughts. A thought network specifies a plurality of thoughts, as well as network relationship among the thoughts. A graphical representation of the thought network is displayed, including a plurality of display icons corresponding to the thoughts, and a plurality of connecting lines corresponding to the relationships among the thoughts. Each of the thought is associated with one or more software application programs, such as a word processing or spreadsheet utility. Users are able to select a current thought conveniently by interacting with the graphical representation, and the current thought is processed by automatically invoking the application program associated with the current thought in a transparent manner. Users can conveniently modify the thought network by interactively redefining the connecting lines between thoughts. In another aspect of the invention, attribute values are associated with the various thoughts of the network, and the network is searched to identify a subset of the thoughts having attribute values equal to a desired set of values. Further aspects of the invention include techniques for scheduling selected thoughts of the network for desired operations at specified times, and storing timing and usage statistics in order to preserve a history of the processing tasks performed on each thought.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for navigating a group of information in a computer system, comprising the steps of: 
 identifying said group of information associated with a selected data item;    converting certain pieces of said group information into generated data items;    associating unilateral and multilateral display relationships with said generated data items, each unilateral display relationship representing a direct relationship between two of said generated data items, and said multilateral relationships also representing an indirect relationship with other generated data items;    associating unilateral and multilateral display relationships with said generated data items and said selected data item, each unilateral display relationship representing a direct relationship between said selected data item and one of said generated data items, and said multilateral relationships also representing an indirect relationship between said selected data item and said generated data items; and    forming a display associated with said selected data item, including said generated data items, wherein said display distinguishes between said selected data item and said generated data items.