Patent Abstract:
When using graphical diagrams, cutting and pasting operations may take advantage of predefined relationships to intelligently insert and remove items from the diagram. A text data model may be interpreted sequentially or hierarchically to construct various diagrams. Pasting operations will bring new data into the diagram and data model while conforming the new data to the diagram definition. Cutting operations may cause the data model and diagram to be healed to conform to the diagram definition.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
     a. Technical Field 
     The present invention pertains generally to cutting and pasting of objects in a computer system and specifically to cutting and pasting of objects with predefined graphical diagrams. 
     b. Description of the Background 
     Graphical representation of objects and ideas is often required in computer systems. Many software applications are able to represent data in a myriad of different forms, and many of those software applications allow a user to create graphical representations such as graphs, diagrams, and other visual representations. In some cases, relationally defined diagrams may be used for displaying data. Relationally defined diagrams may include definitions of objects and relationships within the diagram that enables a computer application to construct the graphical representation. 
     Problems may arise when items from one application are copied and pasted into a pre-defined relational diagram. An object taken from one application or diagram may not be appropriate for the diagram into which it is being placed. Further, problems may arise when cutting an object from a diagram affects relationships established between other objects. 
     SUMMARY 
     When using graphical diagrams, cutting and pasting operations may take advantage of predefined relationships to intelligently insert and remove items from the diagram. A data model may be interpreted sequentially or hierarchically to construct various diagrams. Pasting operations will bring new data into the diagram and data model while conforming the new data to the diagram definition. Cutting operations may cause the data model and diagram to be healed to conform to the diagram definition. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing the creation of a sequential diagram. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing the creation of a hierarchical diagram. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a paste as child operation. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a cut operation. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a paste as parent operation. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustration of an embodiment showing a method for creating a diagram. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustration of an embodiment showing a method for modifying a diagram. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment showing a copy and paste operation from one diagram to another. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments of the invention are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In general, the embodiments were selected to highlight specific inventive aspects or features of the invention. 
     Throughout this specification, like reference numbers signify the same elements throughout the description of the figures. 
     When elements are referred to as being “connected” or “coupled,” the elements can be directly connected or coupled together or one or more intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when elements are referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled,” there are no intervening elements present. 
     The invention may be embodied as devices, systems, methods, and/or computer program products. Accordingly, some or all of the invention may be embodied in hardware and/or in software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, state machines, gate arrays, etc.) Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable or computer-readable storage medium having computer-usable or computer-readable program code embodied in the medium for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, device, or propagation medium. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. 
     Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. 
     Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can accessed by an instruction execution system. Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could be paper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, as the program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, of otherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then stored in a computer memory. 
     When the invention is embodied in the general context of computer-executable instructions, the embodiment may comprise program modules, executed by one or more systems, computers, or other devices. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Typically, the functionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial representation of an embodiment  100  showing the construction of a diagram. A diagram definition  102  is combined with data  104  to create a diagram  106  using a paste operation  107 . 
     The diagram definition  102  comprises a set of relationship definitions  108 , a data model  110 , and a pictorial view  112 . The data model  110  and pictorial view  112  both comprise several objects. 
     When combined with the data  104 , the diagram definition  102  may be used to create a diagram  106 . The diagram  106  comprises a data view  114 , a pictorial view  116 , and the diagram definition  102 . 
     The embodiment  100  illustrates a mechanism for creating diagrams using a predefined diagram definition  102 . Within the diagram definition  102 , a set of relationship definitions  108  are used to construct a data model  110  and further to describe a pictorial view  112 . Various objects may be placed in the data model  110 , and the same objects may also be represented in the pictorial view  112 . 
     The data model  110  may have rules in the relationship definitions  108  that describe the acceptable relationships between items or objects in the model. In some data models, the relationships between items may be a peer relationship, and such items may sometimes be treated as a sequential relationship. In other data models, the relationships between items may be a hierarchical relationship, and child items may be indented or otherwise displayed differently than the parent items. 
     The pictorial view  112  may likewise have rules in the relationship definitions  108  that define the layout, positioning, and other pictorial relationships between the various items. The pictorial view  112  defines the items  118 ,  120 , and  122  in a series of arrows arranged in a circle. The relationship between the items is sequential, such that item  120  follows item  118 , and item  122  follows item  120 . 
     The paste operation  107  adds the data  104  into the data model  110  to create the diagram  106 . The data  104  has four items, “rain”, “water”, “evaporation”, and “clouds”. The data model  110  in this case handles the data items as peers or as sequential, the data view  114  shows all four items at an equal hierarchical level. The relationship definitions  108  may create relationships between each data item. In the present example, the relationships may be sequential. 
     The pictorial view  116  shows all four items displayed on a diagram per the diagram definition  102 . Each item is shown in sequence in a set of arrows arranged in a circle. The pictorial view  116  may be defined using rules that allow for many different numbers of items. For example, if another item were added to the data, the pictorial view  116  may then include five arrows arranged in a circle. In some cases, the pictorial view may be created to be independent of the number of data items, while in other cases, the pictorial view may require a specific number or a maximum and/or minimum number of items. 
     In a graphical user interface (GUI), the pictorial view  116  and/or the data view  114  may be displayed. In some embodiments, a user may be permitted to manipulate the graphical elements of the pictorial view  116 , and further may be able to edit, add, and remove items directly in the pictorial view. Some embodiments may enable a user to edit, add, and remove items from the data view  114 . In some embodiments, a user may be able to have both the data view  114  and pictorial view  116  shown on the GUI at the same time. 
     When items are added or removed from the data view  114  or pictorial view  116 , the relationships between the remaining items after a change must be reestablished. For example, if an item “ocean” were added after the existing item “water”, the sequential relationship between “water” and “evaporation” would be dissolved, and new sequential relationships would be established between “water” and the newly added “ocean” as well as between “ocean” and “evaporation”. 
     In many embodiments, the diagram definition  102  may include default settings for various display characteristics for the items in the pictorial view  112 . Such default settings may include characteristics about the shape, border, fonts, color, shading, or other settings that may affect the appearance. Additionally, the default settings may include a spatial orientation of the items. In some embodiments, a user may be able to change, alter, or manipulate one or more of such settings. 
     After the paste operation  107 , the diagram definition  102  is contained within the diagram  106 . As changes are made to the diagram  106 , the diagram definition  102  may be referenced to coordinate changes to the diagram  106 . In some cases, changes to the diagram  106  may include overriding a default or other setting of the diagram definition  102 . In other cases, changes to the diagram  106  may include reapplying the rules and relationships contained with the diagram definition  102  to the diagram  106 . Although not a comprehensive list of operations, several examples of such actions are illustrated in the following embodiments. 
       FIG. 2  is a pictorial representation of an embodiment  200  of a construction of a hierarchical diagram. The diagram definition  204  may be combined with data  206  to create a diagram  208  using a paste operation  210 . 
     The diagram definition  204  may include some relationship definitions  212 , a data model  214 , and a pictorial representation  216 . The data model  214  depicts a hierarchical data model, where item  222  is at the highest level of the data model  214 , and items  224  and  226  are children of item  222 . When illustrated in the pictorial representation  216 , the item  222  is at the top of an organizational chart, with items  224  and  226  on a secondary level from item  222 . 
     The diagram  208  that results form the paste operation  210  contains a data view  218  and a pictorial view  220 . The diagram  208  also includes the diagram definition  204 . 
     In the data  206 , data is presented in a hierarchical or indented format that is three layers deep. “911 Monitoring Dept” is a child of “Ambulance Chasing Dept”, which is a child of “Managing Attorney”. The relationship definitions  212  of the diagram definition  204  may include provisions for handling many layers of hierarchical relationships. 
     Embodiment  200  is an example of a hierarchical data model. A hierarchical data model may include several data items that have a peer or sequential relationship. For example, the items “Ambulance Chasing Dept”, “Quick Settlement Dept”, and “TV Ad Dept” are all peers of each other. In some diagrams, such items may be displayed in a sequential manner, such as with arrows between successive items. In some embodiments, hierarchical data may be used in a purely sequential diagram. In such a case, some data may be constructed in an indented outline form, but separate pictorial items may be allocated only for the highest level items. Where text is displayed in the pictorial view of the item, several indented layers of items may be displayed within a single pictorial item. 
     Many types of diagrams may be constructed using relationships defined between items in a data model. Hierarchical or sequential relationships may be established in addition to more complex relationships. Complex relationships may include rules for sorting or other manipulation of data, and may depend on the type of diagram envisioned. 
     The data  206  is presented in textual form. In many embodiments, plain text data may be applied to a diagram definition to create a new diagram. In some embodiments, the data may contain additional elements, such as font, style, color, shading, or other visual enhancement information. Further, some embodiments may use data other than text, such as numerical, image, or shape data. Various diagram definitions may handle additional or other data differently. In some cases, additional or other data may be discarded entirely or otherwise ignored. In other cases, a subset of the additional or other data may be included, while in still other cases, all of the additional or other data may be used to construct the diagram. In some embodiments, the raw data may not include any text data at all and may consist of graphical elements, numerical data, color types, or other types of data. 
       FIG. 3  is a pictorial representation of an embodiment  300  of a paste as child operation. The data  302  is added to the diagram  208  to produce the diagram  304  using the paste-as-child operation  306 . In the diagram  208 , the item  308  is selected, “Quick Settlement Dept”. The data  302  contains two items, “Word Twisting Dept” and “Fast Talking Dept”, which are added as children. In the diagram  304 , the items  314  and  316  correspond to the data  302  items “Word Twisting Dept” and “Fast Talking Dept”, respectively. 
     The diagram  304  contains an updated data view  310 , containing the items  314  and  316 , as well as an updated pictorial view  312  with items  314  and  316 . The organizational chart of pictorial view  312  shows the two new items  314  and  316  as below the “Quick Settlement Dept”. 
     The embodiment  300  is one illustration of a method for adding or pasting items into a hierarchical diagram. A user may select the item  308  from either the data view  218  or pictorial view  220 , and paste the data  302  beneath the item  308 . The user may change the resultant diagram  304  by editing either the pictorial view  310  or data view  312 . Because the pictorial view  312  and data view  310  can be representations of the same underlying data, the user may manipulate the data using editing tools for either representation. 
     When the new data  302  are added to the data used in the diagram  304 , relationships between the existing data and new data are formed. Because the new data  302  were added as children of item  308 , child relationships were formed between item  308  and each item in data  302 . A peer or sequential relationship between “Quick Settle Dept” and “TV Ad Dept” already existed, and was kept in tact even after adding the data  302  as children to item  308 . 
       FIG. 4  is a pictorial illustration of an embodiment  400  of a cut operation. The item  402 , or “Quick Settlement Dept” was selected by a user in either the data view  310  or pictorial view  312  of diagram  304 . After the cut operation  404 , diagram  406  is created. Diagram  406  contains a data view  408 , a pictorial view  410 , as well as the diagram definition  204 . In embodiment  400 , the item  402  was removed from diagram  304 . Item  402  had relationships to items  412  and  414  which were severed during the cut operation. In diagram  406 , the severed relationships of items  412  and  414  were healed or reestablished with the other items, consistent with the diagram definition  204 . 
     The diagram definition  204  may contain rules, logic, or other definitions that do not allow child items to exist without a parent item. If the item  402 , “Quick Settlement Dept” was removed, the items  412  and  414 , “Word Twisting Dept” and “Fast Talking Dept” would be parent-less children. After the item  402  was removed, the logic of the diagram definition  204  was applied and the items  412  and  414  were promoted to the next higher level of the hierarchy. Such promotion kept the data model consistent with the logic. 
     Different diagram definitions may incorporate different sets of logic that define the diagram. Some diagram definitions may allow child items to be unattached to a parent item on the immediately higher level, while other diagram definitions may not. In some diagram definitions, the sequence of the items may be significant and rules may be enforced to ensure compliance, for example. Each diagram definition may or may not have rules or logic that define certain minimum criteria for the relationships between data items. Whatever the rules or logic are for a particular diagram, the rules or logic may be enforced at changes to the data structure. 
       FIG. 5  is a pictorial illustration of an embodiment  500  of a paste-as-parent operation. The item  502 , or “Word Twisting Dept” was selected by a user in either the data view  408  or pictorial view  410  of diagram  406 . The data  504  “Contracts Dept” was added to the diagram  406  through the paste as parent operation  506  to create the diagram  508 . Diagram  508  contains a data view  510 , a pictorial view  512 , and the diagram definition  204 . 
     Embodiment  500  illustrates another operation that changes the relationships between the various items in a diagram. The data  504  “Contracts Dept” was added as a parent to item  502 , “Word Twisting Dept”. A new set of relationships was established for “Word Twisting Dept”, which included being a child of the newly added “Contracts Dept”. The previous parent/child relationship between “Managing Attorney” and “Word Twisting Dept” were severed. The relationships for “Contracts Dept” included being a child of “Managing Attorney”, a parent to “Word Twisting Dept”, and peers of “Ambulance Chasing Dept”, “Fast Talking Dept” and “TV Ad Dept”. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustration of an embodiment  600  of a method for creating a diagram. The diagram definition is defined in block  602 . Data is added to the diagram definition in block  604 . The incoming data is organized per the relationship definitions of the diagram definition in block  606 , and the data are assigned to items in block  608 . Relationships between the items are established in block  610 . 
     The pictorial view is constructed using the relationships and diagram definition in block  612 , after which formatting and styles may be applied to the pictorial view in block  614 . The new pictorial view is displayed in block  616  and the new data view is displayed in block  618 . The process finishes in block  620 . 
     The embodiment  600  illustrates a method by which a predefined diagram definition may be used to create a diagram. Incoming data may be first checked and organized to be consistent with the data model of the diagram definition. Relationships between the items may be established so that changes, additions, and deletions of items in the diagram may be readily incorporated into the pictorial view of the diagram. The relationships may help keep the pictorial view of the diagram to be consistent and intuitive to the user when changes are made. 
     The relationships described in this specification may be express relationships that may be individually assigned to each item, or the relationships may be implied in a larger definition or organization of the data. For example, when the data are presented in a list format, such as a series of text items separated by a delimiter such as a carriage return, an implied sequential and peer relationship may exist. Within such a data model, the implied relationships may be sufficient for the diagram definitions to properly function. In another embodiment, the individual text items may be separated into discrete objects or items, each with an expressly defined relationship between that item and another item. Various implementations or embodiments may handle the data definitions and relationship definitions in different manners. Some embodiments may be more simply defined yet require less processing or data storage overhead. Other embodiments may be defined in a more complex but more powerful manner, enabling more complex control over the items. 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustration of an embodiment  700  showing a method for changing the data structure of a diagram. In an existing diagram, one or more items are selected in block  702 . The data structure is changed in block  704 . The relationships of the items in the data structure are healed in the procedure  706 . The healing process comprises for each item in block  708 , the relationships of that item are evaluated in block  710 . If the relationships are not proper in block  710 , new relationships are established per the diagram definition in block  712 . After all the relationships are healed, a new pictorial view is generated and displayed in block  714 , and a new data view is generated and displayed in block  716 . The process ends in block  718 . 
     The embodiment  700  may be used for any modification of the data in a diagram. For example, an item may be selected in block  702  and cut in block  704 . In another example, an item may be selected in block  702  and replaced by a different item in block  704 . In yet another example, an item may be selected in block  702  and additional data may be added in block  704 . 
     After the data structure is modified, the relationships may be healed in the method  706 . Relationships may be expressly defined for each item, or may implicit in the structure of the data. In either case, the items are individually scanned to ensure that they comply with the diagram definition. Each diagram definition may contain its own particular rules or definitions for acceptable data structures. 
     The relationships and data structures, once checked by the process  706 , may be used to create a new pictorial view in block  714 . The data relationships, such as sequential or hierarchical, may be used by the pictorial definition to create, organize, and layout a pictorial view. 
       FIG. 8  is a pictorial illustration of a copy and paste operation from one diagram to another diagram. A first diagram  802  contains a data view  804 , a pictorial view  806 , and diagram definitions  810 . An item  812  may be selected from either the data view  804  or pictorial view  806  and copied  814  into a buffer  816 . 
     A second diagram  820  may contain a data view  822 , a pictorial view  824 , and diagram definitions  826 . An item  828  may be selected in either the data view  822  or pictorial view  824 , and a paste as child operation  830  may be performed. The paste operation  830  may include an option to keep any customization parameters. 
     Diagram  832  may result from the paste operation. A modified data view  834  and pictorial view  836  incorporate the changes from the paste operation, and the diagram  832  keeps the same diagram definitions  826 . 
     The item  812  in diagram  802  may be have some customization parameter settings, such as being shaded. Such settings may be caused by the user selecting the item  812  and modifying some default settings that change the appearance of the item  812 . When the item is copied into the buffer  816 , which may be a clipboard or other such tool, the entire definition of the item may be copied. For example, the shape of the item  812 , as well as the customized shading, are copied. 
     When the item  812  is pasted into the diagram  820 , some of the parameters that define the item are kept, while others are discarded. For example, the original shape of item  812 , which is round, is discarded and the new item  838  is created in a rectangular shape. However, the customized shaded setting of item  812  is applied to the item  838 , which is similarly shaded. 
     The diagram definition  826  may define the type of parameters that may be imported into the diagram  820 , such as the customized shading, and the type of parameters that cannot be imported, such as the shape. In some cases, a customized parameter from another diagram may be imported, but a non-customized parameter may not. For example, the item  812  may have a default text style applied to the entire diagram  802 . When the item  812  is imported into the diagram  820 , the default text style of diagram  820  may be applied. However, if the text style of  812  is altered from the default setting, the customized style may override the default settings of the destination diagram  820 . Any parameter that can be applied to the item  812  may be optionally imported into diagram  820 . 
     In some cases, a user may have an option for which parameters from the source diagram  820  and item  812  will be applied to a newly created item that results from a paste or other import operation into a destination diagram  820 . For example, the user may be presented with a dialogue box or have other settable options that enable the user to select specific parameters to import. 
     In other cases, a diagram definition  826  of the destination diagram  820  may have a filter or other type of rules that define how a new item will be created when imported from another diagram  802 . The rules may specify that some parameters will not be imported, some parameters will optionally be imported, and/or some parameters will always be imported. In some cases, a parameter may be imported but changed to comply with a style or rule of the destination diagram. 
     The parameters that may be imported or changed may encompass any variable or value that may be assigned to an item in a diagram. Each embodiment or implementation may have different parameters with different settings, depending on the design of the system, conventions, compatibility with other systems, or any other reason. 
     The diagram  802  is an example of a purely sequential diagram that allows a hierarchical data structure. The items in pictorial view  806  are defined as three items, corresponding to the highest level items in the data view  804 . The items happen to be arranged in a sequential manner, with arrows from one item to another. The first item  840  includes hierarchical data in the form of a parent “A” with children “B” and “C”. This hierarchical information is displayed as a top level “A” with indented children “B” and “C” in the pictorial view  806 . In the diagram  802 , the hierarchical information is allowed and treated in a specific way, even though the pictorial view  806  is a purely sequential or peer-type graphical representation. 
     The foregoing description of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6