Patent ID: 7359904

Claim:
A computer implemented method for displaying user-selected knowledge nodes within a set of knowledge nodes, stored as a set of linked pairs of nodes, comprising the steps of: a) providing a set of knowledge nodes each configured for being selectable as at least one of a root node, an antecedent node and a descendent node; and b) choosing interactively any knowledge node within said set of knowledge nodes as a root node; c) selecting any knowledge node within said set of knowledge nodes as a second of said nodes to form a linked pair of said nodes, wherein said second node is distinct from said root node; d) determining if a relationship between said root and second nodes is directionless or directional; e) determining whether said second node is antecedent or descendent of said root node; f) selecting a third node from any knowledge node within said set of knowledge nodes; g) determining if a relationship between said third node and either of said root and second nodes is directionless or directional; h) determining whether said third node is antecedent or descendent of either of said root or said second nodes, said third node forming a separately arranged linked pair with either of said root or said second nodes; i) repeating steps f-h with additional nodes from said set of knowledge nodes; and j) displaying a knowledge map developed from said separately arranged linked pairs, each of said linked pairs individually sharing a common node.