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

Abstract

A 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 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium configured to present a control panel for display of base data of a computer document, the control panel comprising:
 an index for access and retrieval of a computer document for display;   a control apparatus configured to display data in layered slots; and   a smart graphics symbol displayable on displayed data that is configured to respond to user commands to annotate map layers and slots.   
     
     
         10 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the computer document is configured to be a product page with descriptions and access to an ordering system. 
     
     
         11 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to display data in an overlaid map. 
     
     
         12 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to display data in a gridded map. 
     
     
         13 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to include an image with identification and action information attached. 
     
     
         14 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to activate user-triggered scripts and data in a database in order to retrieve text or graphic data from the database in response to user input. 
     
     
         15 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to inform an intelligent agent to bring data similar to the displayed base data into the control panel. 
     
     
         16 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to inform an intelligent agent to transform the content of the computer document in the control panel based on the base data collected. 
     
     
         17 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the identification and action information of the smart graphics symbol is configured to denote a set of isolated representations. 
     
     
         18 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the identification and action information of the smart graphics symbol includes a collection notation configured to identify the set of isolated representations. 
     
     
         19 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the collection notation identification and action information is configured to fill the control panel with at least one of an image, name, or description of the isolated representations. 
     
     
         20 . Software code embodied on a computer readable storage medium configured to present a control panel, wherein the control panel is configured to include a control apparatus that is configured to display base data on a presentation of layered slots. 
     
     
         21 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to display data in an overlaid map. 
     
     
         22 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to display data in a gridded map. 
     
     
         23 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the control panel is configured to include a computer document. 
     
     
         24 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the computer document is configured as a page of images and text for collection in a slotted map presentation. 
     
     
         25 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the computer document is configured as a page of products with descriptions for collection in a slotted map presentation. 
     
     
         26 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the computer document is configured to be a page of search links for collection in a slotted map presentation. 
     
     
         27 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the base data comprises at least one of a smart graphics symbol, an image, text, or a link that is configured to respond to user commands to annotate map layers and slots. 
     
     
         28 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to include an image with identification and action information attached. 
     
     
         29 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to activate user-triggered scripts and data in a database in order to retrieve text or graphic data from the database in response to user input. 
     
     
         30 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to inform an intelligent agent to bring data similar to the displayed base data into the control panel. 
     
     
         31 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to inform an intelligent agent to transform the content of a computer document in the control panel based on the base data collected. 
     
     
         32 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 28 , wherein the identification and action information of the smart graphics symbol are configured to denote a set of isolated representations. 
     
     
         33 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 32 , wherein the identification and action information of the smart graphics symbol is configured to include a collection notation for identifying the set of isolated representations. 
     
     
         34 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 33 , wherein collection notation identification and action information is configured to fill the control panel with at least one of an image, name, or description of the isolated representations. 
     
     
         35 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to be presented in one or more layered slots. 
     
     
         36 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 35 , wherein at least one of symbols, images, or text of the control apparatus is configured to change in the layered slots in response to system events. 
     
     
         37 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 35 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to provide for the replacement of one block of at least one of symbols, images, or text with a second block of at least one of symbols, images, or text within the control panel. 
     
     
         38 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to provide for the organization of and access to an index for a data set. 
     
     
         39 . Software code embodied on a computer-readable storage medium as recited in  claim 37 , wherein the control apparatus is configured as at least one of: an arrow, a symbol, a segmented bar, a tabbed bar, a topical list, an alphabetical list, a numerical list, or a graphical line. 
     
     
         40 . A method for presenting a control panel for display of base data of a computer document, the method comprising:
 manipulating an index for access and retrieval of a computer document for display;   displaying data in layered slots, wherein at least one layer has a set of multiple elements; and   displaying a smart graphics symbol on displayed data, wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to respond to user commands to annotate map layers and slots by causing an intelligent agent to:
 determine a classification for the displayed data; 
 obtain additional data that has the determined classification; and 
 display the additional data in a subset of elements in a layer. 
   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the computer document is configured to be a product page with descriptions and access to an ordering system. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising displaying data in an overlaid map. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising displaying data in a gridded map. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to include an image with identification and action information attached. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising activating user-triggered scripts and data in a database in order to retrieve text or graphic data from the database in response to user input. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the intelligent agent is a first intelligent agent, and further comprising informing a second intelligent agent to bring data similar to the displayed base data into the control panel. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the intelligent agent is a first intelligent agent, and further comprising informing a second intelligent agent to transform the content of the computer document in the control panel based on the base data collected. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising denoting a set of isolated representations. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the identification and action information of the smart graphics symbol includes a collection notation configured to identify the set of isolated representations. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising filling the control panel with at least one of an image, name, or description of the isolated representations. 
     
     
         51 . The computer readable storage medium as recited in  claim 40 , further comprising presenting a control panel, wherein the control panel is configured to include a control apparatus that is configured to display base data on a presentation of layered slots. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to display data in an overlaid map. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to display data in a gridded map. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the control panel is configured to include a computer document. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the computer document is configured as a page of images and text for collection in a slotted map presentation. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the computer document is configured as a page of products with descriptions for collection in a slotted map presentation. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the computer document is configured to be a page of search links for collection in a slotted map presentation. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the base data comprises at least one of a smart graphics symbol, an image, text, or a link that is configured to respond to user commands to annotate map layers and slots. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to include an image with identification and action information attached. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the smart graphics symbol is configured to activate user-triggered scripts and data in a database in order to retrieve text or graphic data from the database in response to user input. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the intelligent agent is a first intelligent agent and the smart graphics symbol is configured to inform a second intelligent agent to bring data similar to the displayed base data into the control panel. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein the intelligent agent is a first intelligent agent and the smart graphics symbol is configured to inform a second intelligent agent to transform the content of a computer document in the control panel based on the base data collected. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the identification and action information of the smart graphics symbol are configured to denote a set of isolated representations. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the identification and action information of the smart graphics symbol is configured to include a collection notation for identifying the set of isolated representations. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein collection notation identification and action information is configured to fill the control panel with at least one of an image, name, or description of the isolated representations. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to be presented in one or more layered slots. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein at least one of symbols, images, or text of the control apparatus is configured to change in the layered slots in response to system events. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 66 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to provide for, the replacement of one block of at least one of symbols, images, or text with a second block of at least one of symbols, images, or text within the control panel. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the control apparatus is configured to provide for the organization of and access to an index for a data set. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the control apparatus is configured as at least one of: an arrow, a symbol, a segmented bar, a tabbed bar, a topical list, an alphabetical list, a numerical list, or a graphical line.