The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 07, 1996
Filed:
Apr. 18, 1994
Phillip J Beaudet, Pickering, CA;
Eduardus A Merks, North York, CA;
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A method for selectively displaying portions of complex graphics including trees, directed acyclic graphics, and cyclic graphics on a computer display screen while retaining information concerning all nodes interconnections so that graphic information can be correctly recalled as required. Relevant interconnection information concerning a node or nodes to be collapsed or expanded are collected and analyzed. Elements of that interconnect information are displayed while retaining all information needed to display any obscured or hidden portions of the graphic when required. All nodes connected to each selected node are identified and each identified node is assigned to a first set of nodes. A second set of nodes is created that is initially empty. Each node is removed from the first set of nodes and assigned to the second set of nodes. All nodes connected to a remove node are identified and compared to nodes already stored in the first set of nodes. When nodes are not found in the first set of nodes, the nodes are added to the second set of nodes. This process of removing and identifying connected nodes are repeated until the first set of nodes is empty.