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 - 133 . (canceled) 
     
     
         134 . 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 have a common symbol or 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 corresponding to the selected individual user element over one or more base elements, the details layer comprising further information regarding the selected element; and 
 the base elements and user elements are each given a slot in the visual representation, wherein the slot is designated by coordinates representing multiple real or symbolic relationships to other elements; and 
   hiding subsets of the user elements or base 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 the subset of elements to be hidden from the visual representation.   
     
     
         135 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the base elements or user elements are displayed relative to each other in an interactive two-, three-, or four-dimensional map. 
     
     
         136 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the base elements form an atlas, encyclopedia, text book, natural history guide, travel guidebook listing, yellow pages directory, product catalogue, machine manual, or land-use planning report. 
     
     
         137 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the visual display comprises information forming an 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, represented by the base elements and user elements. 
     
     
         138 . The method of  claim 134 , 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 on, or otherwise signaling, a segmented bar or other symbol linked to the block. 
     
     
         139 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the coordinates represent an x and y coordinate system. 
     
     
         140 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the coordinates represent an x, y, and z coordinate system. 
     
     
         141 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the command from the automatic updating component is triggered by a user event. 
     
     
         142 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the further information comprises annotation data associated with the selected element including at least one of: an identifier of a location, an offer, or a slogan. 
     
     
         143 . The method of  claim 134 , wherein the details layer comprises at least one of: a photograph, animation, and video footage. 
     
     
         144 . A computer readable storage media storing instructions configured to, in response to being executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations 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 have a common symbol or 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 corresponding to the selected individual user element over one or more base elements, the details layer comprising further information regarding the selected element; and 
 the base elements and user elements are each given a slot in the visual representation, wherein the slot is designated by coordinates representing multiple real or symbolic relationships to other elements; and 
   hiding subsets of the user elements or base 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 the subset of elements to be hidden from the visual representation.   
     
     
         145 . The computer readable storage media of  claim 144 , wherein the base elements or user elements are displayed relative to each other in an interactive three-dimensional map. 
     
     
         146 . The computer readable storage media of  claim 144 , wherein the further information comprises annotation data associated with the selected element including at least one of: an identifier of a location, an offer, or a slogan. 
     
     
         147 . The computer readable storage media of  claim 144 , wherein the visual display comprises information forming an 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, represented by the base elements and user elements. 
     
     
         148 . The computer readable storage media of  claim 144 , 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 on, or otherwise signaling, a segmented bar or other symbol linked to the block. 
     
     
         149 . The computer readable storage media of  claim 144 , wherein the coordinates represent an x and y coordinate system. 
     
     
         150 . A system comprising:
 a user input device configured to receive a first user input indicating a set of user elements;   a display configured to display a visual representation effective to enable comparison between the user elements and a set of base 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; 
 the base elements and user elements are each given a slot on a display, wherein the slot is designated by coordinates representing multiple real or symbolic relationships to other elements; and 
 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. 
   
     
     
         151 . The system of  claim 150 , wherein the command from the automatic updating component is triggered by a user event. 
     
     
         152 . The system of  claim 150 , wherein the further information comprises annotation data associated with the selected element including at least one of: an identifier of a location, an offer, or a slogan. 
     
     
         153 . The system of  claim 150 , wherein the visual display comprises information forming an 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, represented by the base elements and user elements.