Patent ID: 7036085

Claim:
A data processing system of organizing, retrieving, and displaying data within a computer system to enable repeated viewing of different, user-selected subsets of elements, comprising: a. a database and associated software for storing, organizing, and retrieving data about elements and their attributes; b. a display for displaying a visual representation of selected subset elements for comparison, with:, 1. each of the different, user-selected subsets given its own symbol, text, or common image format; and 2. each element's symbol, text or image given a slot on the display; this slot may be: i. designated by x, y, and z locations representing its real or symbolic relationship to other elements; or ii. within a grid; and c. a control apparatus for showing and hiding subsets on the visual representation which include display control panel(s) with selectors that, in response to user events or automatic updating systems, call to the database to determine subset elements to be added and subtracted from the visual representation.