Patent ID: 6874123
Filing Date: 2005-03-29
Classification: G06F,G06N

Abstract:
1. A method of accessing selected information from a body of knowledge stored in a computer system, the body of knowledge stratified into a plurality of levels of abstraction, the method comprising: (a) concurrently displaying first and second information elements in first and second lenses on a computer display, respectively, the first and second information elements respectively associated with first and second levels of abstraction in the body of knowledge; (b) visually linking the first and second information elements displayed on the computer display in a three dimensional workspace to represent a hierarchical arrangement of the first and second levels of abstraction, wherein visually linking the first and second information elements includes orienting the first and second lenses along an abstraction axis, the abstraction axis oriented generally perpendicular to the first and second lenses; (c) applying a first filter criteria associated with the first lens to the plurality of information elements to generate a first set of filtered information elements; (d) applying a second filter criteria associated with the second lens to the plurality of information elements to generate a second set of filtered information elements; (e) displaying the first set of filtered information elements in the first lens; and (f) displaying the second set of filtered information elements in the second lens.