Patent ID: 7792868
Filing Date: 2010-09-07
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for navigating a data collection containing a plurality of data objects, said method comprising: (i) displaying one or more categorical selection elements associated with one or more primary selection elements, wherein each primary selection element is associated with a selected group of data objects contained in the data collection, said primary selection element including a primary selection element identifier for identifying the selected group of data objects; (ii) receiving a selection of one or more categorical selection elements; (iii) displaying the one or more primary selection elements associated with the one or more selected categorical selection elements; (iv) determining at least one other group of data objects contained in the data collection linked with the selected group of data objects based upon the data objects of the selected group and the data objects of the other group, wherein said determining comprises comparing metadata associated with the data objects of the selected group with metadata associated with other data objects contained in the data collection to determine relative associations between the data objects of the selected group associated with the second selection element and the data objects of the selected group associated with the primary selection element; (v) displaying a secondary selection element associated with the other group of data objects linked with the selected group of data objects, said secondary selection element including a secondary selection element identifier for identifying the other group of data objects, said secondary selection element being displayed in a manner visually depicting a relative strength of the association of the data objects of the other group with the data objects of the selected group, wherein the relative strength of the association is visually depicted via the displayed size of the secondary selection element, wherein the second selection element identifier and the primary selection element identifier indicate a relationship between the selected group of data objects and the other group of data objects; (vi) displaying links between groups of data objects in a manner visually depicting at least one of a relative strength of the links, a rationale for the links between the groups of data objects, and a parameter independent of the basis for the links, said links being representative of the relative associations between the groups of data objects; (vii) receiving a selection for the primary selection element or for the secondary selection element; (viii) upon receiving the selection for the primary selection element, displaying data associated with the contents of the selected group of data objects, and (ix) upon receiving the selection for the secondary selection element,