Graphic-information flow method and system for visually analyzing patterns and relationships

Abstract

A novel display control and information management system seamlessly integrates layered and slotted formatted data from local and remote sources to provide a highly versatile information display. The system permits selective control of display and display features so that complex data and data flows can be seamlessly accessed with enhanced cognition of salient information by a user.

1 - 114 . (canceled) 
     
     
         115 . A method comprising:
 receiving an indication of a set of base elements;   receiving a first user input indicating a set of user elements;   displaying a visual representation effective to enable comparison between the base elements and the user elements wherein:
 the user elements are displayed in layers over the base elements, the user elements each have their own symbol or common image format, and the user elements are further actionable by a user such that selection of an individual user element causes display of a details layer over one or more base elements, the details layer comprising further information regarding the selected element; and 
 the base elements and user elements are given a slot on a display, wherein the slot is designated by coordinates representing multiple real or symbolic relationships to other elements; and 
   showing or hiding subsets of elements on the visual representation, wherein the visual representation includes one or more display control panels with graphic and text-list selectors that, in response to a second user input or a command from an automatic updating component, are configured to call to a database to determine a subset of elements to be added or subtracted from the visual representation.   
     
     
         116 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the base elements or user elements relate to an interactive two-, three-, or four-dimensional map or diagram of a place, topic, or thing. 
     
     
         117 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the base elements or user elements comprise an alternative to reference documents, including atlases, encyclopedias, text books, natural history guides, travel guidebook listings, yellow pages directories, product catalogues, machine manuals, or land-use planning reports. 
     
     
         118 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the elements comprise information forming a computer or online specialty store configured to receive consumer queries to see and compare available offerings for a particular category of product from one or more manufacturers and distributors. 
     
     
         119 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the visual representation further comprises alternatives to scroll bars which enable graphic and text-list selectors to be displayed in discrete, layered blocks, such that any identified block of the various layered blocks can be called forward by clicking, or otherwise signalling, on a segmented bar or other symbol linked to the block. 
     
     
         120 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the coordinates represent an x and y coordinate system. 
     
     
         121 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the coordinates represent an x, y, and z coordinate system. 
     
     
         122 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the command from the automatic updating component is triggered by a user event. 
     
     
         123 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the further information comprises annotation data associated with the selected element including at least one of: an identifier of a location, an offer, an image, a title, or a slogan. 
     
     
         124 . The method of claim  1 , wherein the details layer comprises at least one of: a photograph, animation, sound, and video footage. 
     
     
         125 . A method comprising:
 presenting one or more display control panels configured to receive user commands relative to a rendered base presentation;   responsive to one or more user commands, causing retrieval of one or more data elements from a database; and   using the one or more data elements to selectively layer data in the form of graphics, text or images onto the base presentation in accordance with a pre-programmed hierarchy, such that a subset of the graphics, text or images are actionable by a user wherein selection of one or more of the actionable graphics, text or images causes display of a details layer over a portion of the previously displayed layers, the details layer comprising additional information regarding the selected element;   wherein the one or more display control panels comprise control icons and text lists configured to manipulate content of selective data layers in accord with user defined objectives.   
     
     
         126 . The method of claim  11 , wherein using the one or more data elements to selectively layer data comprises presenting a two-dimensional matrix of pixel elements characterizing the data elements. 
     
     
         127 . The method of claim  11 , wherein the additional information comprises annotation data associated with the selected actionable graphics, text or images including at least one of: an identifier of a location, an offer, an image, a title, or a slogan. 
     
     
         128 . The method of claim  11 , wherein the control panels comprises alternatives to scroll bars which enable graphic and text-list selectors to be displayed in discrete, layered blocks, such that any identified block of the various layered blocks can be called forward by clicking, or otherwise signalling, on a segmented bar or other symbol linked to the block. 
     
     
         129 . The method of claim  11 , wherein the one or more data elements are configured to support slotted map data to be incorporated into selectively layered data. 
     
     
         130 . The method of claim  11 , wherein the details layer comprises at least one of: a photograph, animation, sound, and video footage. 
     
     
         131 . A method comprising:
 maintaining a first database having a plurality of data elements on a subject and associated graphic information, the data elements being stored in volatile memory and the first database being capable of being refreshed with current data from a second database;   automatically refreshing the first database with current data from the second database;   receiving user commands generated from individually hideable control icons that are mappable to data elements in the first database;   responsive to receiving the user commands, returning one or more data elements configured to be layered in a multi-dimensional presentation such that the data elements are actionable by a user selection, wherein selection of an actionable data element causes display of a details layer over a portion of the previously displayed layers, the details layer comprising additional information regarding the selected element.   
     
     
         132 . The method of claim  17 , wherein automatically refreshing the first database is performed using a public access network. 
     
     
         133 . The method of claim  17 , wherein the additional information comprises annotation data associated with the selected data element including at least one of: an identifier of a location, an offer, an image, a title, or a slogan. 
     
     
         234 . The method of claim  17 , wherein the details layer comprises at least one of: a photograph, animation, sound, and video footage.