Patent Document ID: 20050012743
Application ID: 10810680
Patent Status: 0

Claim One:
1. A method for creating a multidimensional visual representation of a group of data elements having integrated temporal and spatial properties, the data elements being included in the visual representation as corresponding visual elements, the data elements of the group linked by at least one association, the method comprising the steps of: assembling the group of data elements using the at least one association; generating a spatial domain of the visual representation to include a reference surface for providing a spatial reference frame having at least two spatial dimensions, the reference surface for relating a first visual element representing a first data element of the group to a first location of interest in the spatial reference frame and relating a second visual element representing a second data element of the group to a second location of interest in the spatial reference frame; generating a temporal domain of the visual representation operatively coupled to the spatial domain, the temporal domain for providing a common temporal reference frame for the locations of interest, the temporal domain including a first time track coupled to the first location of interest and a second time track coupled to the second location of interest, the first visual element positioned on the first time track and the second visual element positioned on the second time track, each of the time tracks configured for visually representing a respective temporal sequence of a plurality of the data elements at each of the locations of interest of the reference surface; and assigning a connection visual element in the visual representation between the first visual element and the second visual element, the connection visual element for representing a distributed association in at least one of the domains between the first visual element and the second visual element; wherein the visual representation is displayed on a user interface for subsequent interaction with user events.