Patent ID: 7685510

Claim:
A data display method of a data characterization display machine, comprising: for each of a plurality of datasets to be displayed, assigning to the dataset, by a processor of the data characterization display machine, one of four metadata values, and assigning the dataset to a main category, wherein datasets identified by metadata as being related to each other are assigned to a same main category; displaying, by the processor, the datasets, such that datasets assigned to a same main category are displayed adjacent to each other; for each of the datasets: for each of two sides of the dataset, determining, by the processor, which one of two graphical demarcations to display, the determination being made based on which of the four metadata values has been assigned to the dataset; and displaying, by the processor, the graphical demarcations; wherein the four metadata values include: (1) a first metadata value indicating that a dataset to which it is assigned is at a first end of the main category to which the dataset has been assigned, (2) a second metadata value indicating that a dataset to which it is assigned is at a second end of the main category to which the dataset has been assigned, (3) a third metadata value indicating that a dataset to which it is assigned is not at an end of the main category to which the dataset has been assigned, and (4) a fourth metadata value indicating that a dataset to which it is assigned is an only dataset of the main category to which the dataset has been assigned.