JPH08263255A - Hierarchical data display method and browser system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The overall structure of the hierarchical structure of a file system or database having a hierarchical structure can be intuitively grasped by displaying a Venn diagram, and data belonging to a child hierarchy is displayed in a reduced image without being hidden. A hierarchical data display method and a browser system that make it easy to find target data. [Structure] The display area is divided into an area 3 for displaying a data icon representing data belonging to one hierarchy and areas 4, 7, and 11 for displaying child hierarchies, corresponding to the depth of the hierarchy.
The size of the data icon is smaller as the layer is deeper, and the size of the data icon is simplified as the layer is deeper (R-
1 to E-2). The child hierarchy is displayed in the background 1 representing the parent hierarchy, and the background is displayed in a darker color as the hierarchy is deeper (1, 11, 17). By instructing a display area of a desired layer and performing a predetermined operation, the desired layer is zoomed up, and the layer zoomed up corresponding to the predetermined operation is zoomed out to the parent layer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a hierarchical data display method and a browser system for hierarchizing a plurality of data such as databases and file systems to retrieve managed data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In computer file management systems, database systems, etc., a method of hierarchically managing data is often used as a method of managing a large number of data. Particularly, in a file system, most operating systems (hereinafter referred to as OS) manage the entire file system by dividing it into a plurality of hierarchical directories. In recent OSs, a hierarchical structure such as a file system is displayed on a screen by a graphical user interface (hereinafter referred to as GUI), and data such as a file is accessed by instructing desired data with a pointing device such as a mouse. It is usual to adopt a browser system that does.

In a conventional browser system for displaying such a hierarchical structure to a user, the hierarchical structure is represented by a tree display as shown in FIG. 2 or a hierarchical list box display as shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is an example in which the hierarchical file system is represented by a tree structure, and the directory hierarchy is represented by folder icons (101, 103, 105, 10).
8, 110, 113), and the file is represented by a document icon (102, 104, 106, 107, 109, 11).
1, 112, 114), and their hierarchical relationship is represented by a tree structure.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 denotes a root directory, and the root directory (101) has a file R-1.
There is (102). Under the root directory (101) are directory-A (103) and directory-B.
(105) and directory-C (108). Under the directory-A (103), the file A-1 (10
4) and below the directory-B (105) there are a file B-1 (106) and a file B-2 (107). File C is under directory-C (108)
-1 (109) and a directory-D (110), and a file D- under the directory-D (110).
1 (111), file D-2 (112), and directory-E (113). Directory-E (11
There is a file E-1 (114) under 3).

Since the files of all layers are displayed in a tree structure in this manner, the target file can be selected. FIG. 3 is an example in which the same hierarchical file system as in FIG. 2 is represented by a hierarchical list box. FIG. 3A shows a state in which an attempt is made to access files and directories under the directory-C (116).
In the figure, reference numeral 115 is a list box for displaying files and directories in the first hierarchy. 117
Is a scroll bar used when there are more files or directories than the number of items that can be displayed in the list box 115, and 118 is an upward scroll button and 119.
Is the down scroll button. Reference numeral 116 indicates a directory-C.

When the directory-C (116) is selected from the list box (115) and clicked with the pointing device, the display of the directory-C (116) is highlighted and the directory-C (116) is displayed.
File C-1 and directory -D (1
21) is displayed in the list box (120) showing the files and directories in the second layer.

FIG. 3B shows a state in which the directory-D (121) is further selected from the list box (120) with the pointing device and clicked. In the same figure, when the directory-D (121) is clicked, a directory-E, a file D-1, and a file D-2 under the directory-D (121) are listed in a list box indicating files and directories in the third hierarchy. It is displayed at (122). In this way, the target file can be reached by selecting deeper layers one by one.

Although not shown, a system for displaying a hierarchical file system by a folder metaphor such as Macintosh OS by Apple Computer or OS / 2 by IBM (both are product names) is also common.

[0009]

However, when the hierarchical file system is represented by a tree structure like the conventional hierarchical file system shown in FIG. 2, when the number of files and directories increases, all the files and directories are displayed on the screen. It becomes impossible to display the directory icon, and means such as scrolling the entire screen to find the target directory or file becomes necessary, making it difficult to find the target directory or file. That is, the display becomes horizontal in the deep part of the hierarchy, and the display becomes vertical in the part with many files and directories in the same hierarchy. It has the disadvantage of requiring scrolling.

Further, in the conventional browser system using a list box as shown in FIG. 3, hierarchical browsing is possible even on a narrow screen, but the directory and files below it are not displayed until a certain directory is selected. Therefore, it is difficult to grasp what the overall hierarchical structure is and it is difficult to find the target file.

Further, in the conventional system that uses a folder metaphor to represent a hierarchical structure, it is not known what kind of data is contained in the folder until the folder is opened. Further, it is impossible to grasp the whole picture of the hierarchical structure extending over two or more layers. Also, since a new window is opened each time the folder is opened, the window showing the opened folder clutters the desktop screen, which makes it easy to lose target data.

These drawbacks were the same when the same display system was applied to a database browser system that hierarchically classifies data. The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, makes it possible to intuitively grasp the overall structure of a hierarchical structure of a file system or database having a hierarchical structure by displaying a Venn diagram, and the data belonging to the child hierarchy is not hidden but is displayed in a reduced image. (EN) Provided are a hierarchical data display method and a browser system in which target data can be easily found by displaying.

Further, a deep hierarchical structure can be displayed on a screen having a limited area, and by providing a means for zooming up, detailed information of a target hierarchy can be quickly seen and zoomed out. By providing the means, a hierarchical data display method and a browser system capable of easily knowing the outline of the hierarchical structure viewed from the upper hierarchy are provided.

Further, a hierarchical data display method and a browser system are provided, which can intuitively grasp at which depth when navigating by displaying which hierarchical depth the hierarchical layer is currently zoomed up. To do.

[0015]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the hierarchical data display method of the present invention is a hierarchical data display method for displaying hierarchically managed data, in which one display area is provided. It is characterized in that it is divided into an area for displaying a data icon representing data belonging to a hierarchy and an area for displaying child hierarchies, and the size of the data icon is changed and displayed according to the depth of the hierarchy. .

Here, the size of the data icon is reduced as the hierarchy is deeper. In addition, the data icon is simplified as the hierarchy is deeper. Further, the size of the separated area is determined based on the number of data belonging to the one layer and the number of data included in the child layer. Also,
When there are a plurality of child hierarchies, the display area of each child hierarchy is determined corresponding to the number of lower hierarchy data included in the child hierarchy. The child hierarchy is displayed in a background representing the parent hierarchy, and the background is selected and displayed so that the depth of the hierarchy can be identified. Further, the background is displayed in a darker color as the hierarchy is deeper. Further, the method further comprises a step of zooming up the desired layer by designating a display area of the desired layer and performing a predetermined operation. Further, the method further includes a step of displaying detailed contents of the desired layer by designating a display area of the desired layer and performing a predetermined operation. Further, a step of zooming out from the layer zoomed up in response to a predetermined operation to the parent layer is further provided. Further, the method further includes a step of grouping a plurality of desired data icons and displaying the top data icon so that the grouping can be identified. Further, it further comprises a step of displaying a list of a plurality of grouped data icons. The method further includes a step of changing the arrangement of the plurality of grouped data icons, a step of canceling the grouping, and a step of deleting a desired data icon from the plurality of grouped data icons.

The hierarchical data browser system of the present invention is a hierarchical data browser system for displaying hierarchically managed data. In the hierarchical data browser system, the display area is divided into an area for displaying data icons representing data belonging to one hierarchy and a child area. It is characterized by further comprising display area separating means for separating the hierarchy into areas for displaying, and data icon displaying means for changing and displaying the size of the data icon according to the depth of the hierarchy.

Here, the data icon display means is
The size of the data icon becomes smaller as the hierarchy gets deeper. Further, the data icon display means simplifies the data icon as the hierarchy is deeper. Further, the display area separating means determines the size of the separated area based on the number of data belonging to the one layer and the number of data contained in the child layer. Further, when there are a plurality of child hierarchies, the display area separating means determines the display area of each child hierarchy corresponding to the number of lower hierarchy data included in the child hierarchy. Further, the data icon display means includes a background display means for displaying the same hierarchy with the same background, the child hierarchy is displayed in a background representing the parent hierarchy, and the background is selected so that the depth of the hierarchy can be identified. To be done. Further, the background is displayed in a darker color as the hierarchy is deeper. Further, it further comprises zoom-up means for zooming up the desired layer by designating a display area of the desired layer and performing a predetermined operation. Further, it further comprises a detailed content display means for displaying the detailed content of the desired layer by designating a display area of the desired layer and performing a predetermined operation. Further, it further comprises zoom-out means for zooming out from the layer that has been zoomed up in response to a predetermined operation to the parent layer. Further, it further comprises a grouping means for grouping a plurality of desired data icons and displaying the top data icon in a manner that enables the grouping to be identified. Further, it further comprises a list display means for displaying a list of a plurality of grouped data icons. Further, it further comprises means for changing the representative images of the plurality of grouped data icons, means for canceling the grouping, and means for deleting a desired data icon from the plurality of grouped data icons.

Further, the hierarchical data browser system of the present invention, according to the hierarchical data management means for hierarchically managing a plurality of data and the information indicating the hierarchy held by the hierarchical data management means, all the data belonging to one hierarchy. All areas displaying data and child layers are separated by a boundary that surrounds them and displayed as an area with a background painted in a predetermined background color, and the data in the display area is displayed with a group of data icons indicating identification information of the data. However, the layer in the display area, that is, the child layer, is characterized by further having layer display means for drawing the display area of the child layer by the same constituent element in the layer display area.

Here, the hierarchy display means pre-calculates a minimum necessary area for displaying the data icon in one hierarchy display area, and the display area of the data icon does not become smaller than the necessary minimum area, Area distribution means for proportionally distributing the display area of the child layer and the display area of the data icon according to the ratio of the total number of data included in the layers below the child layer and the number of data directly belonging to the layer is provided. Further, the hierarchy display means reduces the size of the data icon and simplifies it as the hierarchy is deeper. Further, a zoom-up means for zooming up in the direction deeper in the hierarchy, a zoom-out means for zooming out in the shallower direction of the hierarchy, and a hierarchy depth display means for indicating the hierarchy depth and the zoom direction of the hierarchy being zoomed up are further provided. Prepare Further, the zoom direction indicates a direction in which the hierarchy becomes deep when the zoom-up means is selected, and indicates a direction in which the hierarchy becomes shallow when the zoom-out means is selected. Also, the hierarchy display means,
An evaluation unit that sets a threshold value of a hierarchical area size as a reference for evaluating the size of the area assigned to one data icon, and evaluates the size of the area assigned to one data icon by the threshold value. Setting means for setting at least one of the presence or absence of an icon image when displaying a data icon, the presence or absence of a data name display, the font size and the size of the icon image when displaying a data name, based on the evaluation result. With. Further, the smaller the usable memory is, the larger the threshold value of the size of the area assigned to one data icon for determining to display the icon image is, the evaluation means increases. Further, it further comprises a grouping means for grouping and managing a plurality of data icons and displaying them as one group icon. Further, a list display means for displaying a list of data icons belonging to the group by designating a group icon, and detailed information for displaying detailed information of the designated data by designating a desired data icon from the list. Display means is further provided. Further, it further comprises means for changing the representative images of the plurality of grouped data icons, means for canceling the grouping, and means for deleting a desired data icon from the plurality of grouped data icons.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. First Embodiment <Configuration Example of Browser System> FIG. 23 shows a configuration example of a personal computer system which is an example of a platform on which the present invention is implemented.

In FIG. 23, 301 is a computer system main body, 302 is a display for displaying data,
Reference numeral 303 is a mouse which is a typical pointing device, 304 is a mouse button, and 305 is a keyboard. FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the configuration of a hierarchical data browser system including software and hardware.

In FIG. 24, 509 is hardware, 505 is an operating system (OS) operating on the hardware 509, and 504 is OS5.
Application software that runs on 05. In FIG. 24, 518 is a CPU, 517 is a memory, 519 is a data bus, and 515 is a hard disk for physically storing files and data. 508
Is a file management system that constitutes an OS, and has a function that allows application software to input and output files without being aware of hardware. 514
The file management system 508 is the hard disk 515
Is a disk IO interface for reading and writing data.

Reference numeral 507 denotes a drawing management system which constitutes an OS, and has a function of allowing application software to perform drawing without being aware of hardware. 51
Reference numeral 3 is a video interface for the drawing management system 507 to draw on the display 302. 506
Is an input device management system that constitutes an OS, and has a function that allows application software to receive user input without being aware of hardware. Reference numeral 510 is a keyboard interface for the input device management system 506 to receive input from the keyboard 305, and 512 is the input device management system 50.
6 is a mouse interface for enabling the input from the mouse 303.

A memory management system 516 has a function of allowing application software to perform input / output to / from the memory 517 without being aware of hardware. Reference numeral 501 is a hierarchical data browser which is application software, 502 is a hierarchical management means for hierarchically managing data, and 503 is a hierarchical display means for displaying hierarchically managed data so that the hierarchical structure can be grasped. is there.

(Example of Hierarchical Attribute Data) FIG. 25 is a diagram for explaining the hierarchical attribute data managed by the hierarchical management means 502 in this embodiment. In the figure, 601 is hierarchy attribute data, and 602 is a hierarchy identifier for uniquely identifying a hierarchy. A layer depth identifier 603 indicates the layer depth. In the example of FIG. 2, it can be defined that the root directory has a layer depth of 1, the directories-A, B and C have a layer depth of 2, and the directory-D has a layer depth of 3. 6
Reference numeral 04 is a hierarchical name. In the example of FIG. 2, A, B, C,
D and E are examples of hierarchical names. 605 is the number of belonging data, and in the case of the hierarchical file browser, the number of belonging data is the number of files belonging to the directory. Therefore, in the example of FIG. 2, the number of belonging data items of the directory-A is 1 and the number of belonging data items of the directory-B is 2. 60
Reference numeral 6 indicates the number of layers immediately below the layer. In the example of FIG. 2, the root directory has three hierarchical levels.

Reference numeral 607 denotes layer display area information, and as will be described later, the layer management means 502 displays the allocated area according to the ratio of the number of belonging data including the number of data included in all child layers. It is set in the area 607. A data icon display area 602 is determined by the ratio of the number of data immediately below that layer to the total number of data under all child layers, as will be described later. Reference numeral 608 denotes a belonging data list, which is attribute data 609 of data directly belonging to the layer, that is, a file browser,
The attribute data of the files directly belonging to that directory are listed. A child hierarchy list 610 lists the hierarchy attribute data 601 of the child hierarchy that directly belongs to the child hierarchy.

(Example of Data Attribute Data) FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the structure of the data attribute data 609. In FIG. 26, 611 is a data identifier for uniquely identifying the data. 612 is a data name, which is A- in the example of FIG.
File names such as 1, B-1 correspond to data names. 61
Reference numeral 3 denotes a data capacity, which is the capacity occupied by the data in the file system. A data type 614 indicates an image format or the like in the case of image data. 615
Is an icon display size, and is set by the hierarchy management unit 502 according to the number of data included in the hierarchy as described later. Reference numeral 616 is a data icon display position.

(Example of Display Constituent Elements) FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining display constituent elements when the hierarchy display means 502 displays data in a hierarchy based on the data managed by the hierarchy management means 502 shown in FIG. Is. In the figure, 4
Reference numeral 01 is a hierarchy display area for displaying data belonging to a hierarchy or a child hierarchy. The same background color is applied in the same layer display area. Reference numeral 402 is a border (boundary) between the child layer and the parent layer. Even if the border is explicitly displayed with a line,
It may be expressed only by the background color of each hierarchical display area being different. Reference numeral 403 is a hierarchy name display area, and reference numeral 404 is a data icon indicating the outline content of the data for identifying the data. The constituent elements of the data icon 404 differ depending on the type of data. In the case of image data, the reduced image data and data name, and in the case of word processor data,
It is composed of an icon unique to the application indicating that it was created by a word processor application and a data name, so that an outline of the data can be known.

<Display Example of Hierarchical Data> FIG. 1 shows a display example of the hierarchical data displayed by the hierarchical display means 503 based on the data managed by the hierarchical management means 502 shown in FIG. The data to be displayed is data of the same hierarchical file system as the file browser of FIG. In FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a hierarchy display area of the root directory, which is determined by hierarchy display area information 607. Reference numeral 2 denotes a hierarchy name display area, which is determined by the hierarchy name 604. Reference numeral 3 is a data icon of the file R-1, and the display size thereof is determined by the icon display size 615. Reference numeral 4 is a display area of the directory-A which is a child hierarchy of the root directory, 5 is a hierarchy name display area of the directory-A, 6
Is a data icon of file A-1, 7 is a hierarchy display area of directory-B which is a child hierarchy of the root directory, 8 is a hierarchy name display area of directory-B, 9 is a data icon of file B-1, and 10 is a file A data icon of B-2, 11 is a hierarchy display area of directory-C which is a child hierarchy of the root directory, 12 is a hierarchy name display area of directory-C, 13 is a data icon of file C-1, and 14 is directory-C. Is a hierarchy display area of the directory-D which is a child hierarchy of the directory, 15 is a hierarchy name display area of the directory-D and 16 is a data icon of the file D-1. Reference numeral 17 is a hierarchy display area of directory-E which is a child hierarchy of directory-C, 18 is a hierarchy name display area of directory-E, 19 is a data icon of file E-1, 20 is a data icon of file E-2,
Reference numeral 21 is a navigation cursor for designating a target hierarchy and data.

The background color of the hierarchy display area is determined by the depth of the hierarchy. In the example of FIG. 1, the deeper the hierarchy, the darker the color is displayed to express a three-dimensional sense of depth. By making the size of the data icon smaller as the depth of the hierarchy becomes deeper, it becomes possible to display more hierarchy display areas and data icons in a limited screen area.

<Example of Display Procedure of Hierarchical Data> (Setting of Area of Each Hierarchy) FIG. 9 shows that the hierarchy display means 503 shown in FIG. 24 sets the size of the hierarchy display area 401 and the data icon 404 of each hierarchy shown in FIG. The flowchart when doing is shown.

In FIG. 9, in step S1, the maximum hierarchical depth N is set. For example, in the example of FIG. 1, N = 3. In step S2, the background color is determined according to the layer depth of each layer. For example, the background color is the same, and the deeper the layer depth, the more similar and darker the color becomes, which has the effect of giving the depth impression that the deep layer display is at the back. Next, in step S3, the hierarchical depth n for setting the display area is initialized to "0". Next, in step S4, the layer depth n is incremented by "1", and step S
In step 5, it is checked whether n exceeds the maximum layer depth number N set in step S1. If not exceeded, the process proceeds to step S6, and if exceeded, the process ends.

In step S6, n is set as the hierarchical depth of the display area setting target. Next, in step S7, it is checked whether or not there is a layer in which the region for displaying the data icon and the region for displaying the child layer are not set at the layer depth n. If there is, the process proceeds to step S8, the layer is set as the display area setting target layer, and if not, the process returns to step S4. Next, in step S9, according to the number of data immediately below the display area setting target layer and the total number of data below the child layer,
The area ratio of the data icon display area and the child hierarchy display area of the hierarchy display area of the display area setting target hierarchy is determined, and in step S10, the number of data including the lower hierarchy of each child hierarchy immediately below the display area setting target hierarchy The display area of each child layer is determined in accordance with the above, and the process returns to step S7.

Now, an example of the division result of the data icon display area and the child hierarchy display area in the root directory is shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, 1 is a hierarchy display area of the root directory as in FIG. 1, 23 is a data icon display area, and 24 is a child hierarchy display area. (Division of Display Area) FIG. 14 shows a flowchart for dividing the data icon display area and the child hierarchy display area.

In step S20 of FIG. 14, the data
Minimum icon display area a_min To set. I.e.
The smallest icon that the user can visually recognize as a data icon.
Determine the size of the data icon in advance and directly
All data below all with the smallest data icon
A minimum area to display_min Set as
Ku. Next, in step S21, the data immediately below that layer is
Data and the total number of data contained in all child layers.
Icon display area a_propTo set. Then step S
Go to 22, a_propAnd a_min And compare_propIs a
_min If more than a _propThe data icon area information 60
Set as 2, else a_min The data icon
The display area information 620 is set. Then step S2
5, the data icon display size 615 and the data icon
Display position 616 is determined. Data icon display area
Area information 620 is a_min The data icon display size
The size 615 is a predetermined minimum size,
Icon display area information is a_propWhen is, the data icon table
Maximum in the range where all data belonging to the display area can be displayed
Is the size of.

Next, returning to the description of FIG. Step S in FIG.
In 10, the display area of each child layer of the display area setting target layer is set. At this time, the display area of each child layer is distributed in proportion to the total number of data of each lattice layer (the number of data of each child layer and data below the child layer). However, as a result of the proportional calculation, when the size of the display area of the child layer is less than or equal to the predetermined minimum size, the size of the display area of the child layer is equal to or smaller than the predetermined minimum size. To do. Next, returning to step S7, the process loops until the display areas of all the layers in the display area setting target layer depth are set.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in the hierarchy in which the display area and the display size and position of the data icon of the child hierarchy of the root hierarchy at the hierarchy depth 1 are determined. When the display areas of all the layers in the layer depths of the display area setting target are set, the layer depth is set deeper by one in step S4 of FIG. 9, and the process proceeds to step S5. If the layer depth set in step S5 exceeds the maximum layer depth,
The setting of the hierarchical display area ends. If it does not exceed, the process proceeds to step S6, and the work described above is repeated at all the layer depths to display all the layer display areas 607 and the data icon display area information 602 shown in FIG. 25, and the icon display shown in FIG. The size 615 and the data icon display position 616 are determined.

(Zoom-up / Zoom-out) In the present embodiment, when paying attention to the details of the desired layer among the layered data, the display is zoomed up so that only the data below the desired layer is displayed. When focusing on a hierarchical structure below a desired hierarchical layer having a shallower hierarchical depth, the display is zoomed out so that a wide range of data can be viewed from a viewpoint having a shallower hierarchical level.

FIG. 4 is a zoom-up display of directory-C. In FIG. 1, the navigation cursor 21 is directed to a portion other than the child hierarchy display area and the data icon in the hierarchy display area 11 of the directory-C, and the mouse button 304 is continuously pressed to display the whole screen as shown in FIG. The display is zoomed up so as to become the hierarchical display area of -C. As a result, each data icon is enlarged and displayed according to the zoom-up ratio, so that more detailed information of each data icon can be known.

Further, by pointing the navigation cursor 21 to a portion in the hierarchical display area 17 of the directory-E and continuing to press the mouse button 304, similarly, the hierarchical display area 17 of the directory-E is zoomed up on the entire screen. To be done. FIG. 5 is a zoom-up display of directory-E. Further, by double-clicking the mouse button 304 in a state where the data icon of the file E-2 is indicated (an operation of clicking twice at short intervals is generally called a double-click), the hierarchical display means can display the file E-2. Display detailed contents. 22 of FIG.
Is a display example of the detailed contents of the file.

On the contrary, when it is desired to switch from the zoom-up display state of the lower hierarchy to the display viewed from the higher hierarchy, the display is zoomed out. FIG. 7 is a zoom-up display of directory-E. Here, by pressing a predetermined key (for example, the shift key) in the display state of FIG. 7, the navigation cursor 21 changes to the front. By continuously pressing the mouse button 304 in this state, the display of FIG. 4 is displayed (however, the navigation cursor 21 faces forward).
If the mouse button 304 is continuously pressed while pressing the shift key, the display can be zoomed out to the display of FIG.

(Detailed Information Display) In this embodiment, if the data icon indicating the desired data can be found without zooming up, the navigation cursor 21 is used to directly instruct the detailed information display of the data. be able to. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a method of directly instructing display of detailed information of data. When it is desired to display the detailed information of the file E-2, the data icon 20 of the file E-2 is directly moved to the navigation cursor 21 as shown in FIG.
6 and obtain the detailed information shown in FIG. 6 by double-clicking.

(Hierarchical Depth Display) FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of the hierarchical depth display section 220 showing the hierarchical depth of the hierarchical display area in which the user zooms in and displays. In FIG. 21, 211 is a layer depth 1 section, 212 is a layer depth 2 section, and 213 is a layer depth 3 section. The number of sections indicating the layer depth is determined by the maximum depth of the child layer included in the layer currently zoomed up or the layer itself. For example, if the maximum hierarchy depth of the hierarchy included in the hierarchy display area is 3, there will be 3 intervals. Reference numeral 208 denotes a hierarchy depth display icon, which is displayed in the section indicating the hierarchy currently zoomed up. Further, the hierarchy depth display icon 208 indicates a direction in which the hierarchy depth becomes deeper during a zoom-in operation, and indicates a direction in which the hierarchy depth becomes shallower during a zoom-out operation. Regarding the display method of the layer depth section, in the layer depth display example of FIG. 21, the display of the layer depth section is made narrower as the layer depth is deeper to distinguish the layer depth sections.

FIG. 22 shows another display example of the hierarchical depth display section 220. In the example of FIG. 22, the section having the same layer depth is distinguished by setting the section having the same layer depth as the background color of the layer display area. 17 to 20 show screen display examples of this embodiment having a hierarchical depth display. FIG. 17 is a display example when the hierarchy display is displaying the root hierarchy. In FIG. 17, reference numeral 220 denotes a hierarchical depth display unit, 208
Is a layer depth display icon, 211 is a layer depth 1 section, 2
Reference numeral 12 is a layer depth 2 section, and 213 is a layer depth 3 section. Since the maximum hierarchy depth of the child hierarchy below the root hierarchy is 3, the hierarchy depth display unit in the root hierarchy thus displays three sections from hierarchy depth 1 to hierarchy depth 3. Further, when the navigation cursor 21 is moving toward the back, the hierarchy depth display icon 208 is also displayed in the hierarchy depth 1 section 211 in the direction toward the deeper hierarchy depth.

FIG. 18 is a view showing a state where the hierarchical display area of the directory-C is zoomed up. At this stage, the hierarchy depth display icon 208 indicates the hierarchy depth 2 section 2
It is displayed in 12. Since the navigation cursor 21 is heading in the direction in which the layer depth becomes deeper, the layer depth display icon 208 is also displayed in a shape in which the layer depth is oriented so as to reflect it.

FIG. 19 is a view showing a state in which the hierarchical display area of the directory-E is zoomed up. At this stage, the hierarchy depth display icon 208 indicates the hierarchy depth 3 section 21.
It is displayed in 3. Also, the navigation cursor 2
Since 1 is oriented in the direction in which the layer depth is shallow, the layer depth display icon 208 is also displayed in a shape facing in the direction in which the layer depth is shallow.

FIG. 20 is a view showing a state where the hierarchical display area of the directory-B is zoomed up. The layer with the deepest layer depth included in directory-B is directory-B itself, and the layer depth is 2. Therefore, in this case, only the layer depth 1 section 211 and the layer depth 2 section 212 are displayed on the layer depth display section 220. (Example of zoom-up procedure) FIG. 12 shows a flowchart for zoom-up display of the predetermined hierarchy described above.

In FIG. 12, step S41 shows an event waiting loop, which waits for an instruction (event) from the mouse or keyboard from the user. If any event occurs, it is checked in step S42 whether the user has double-clicked the data icon. If YES, the process proceeds to step S43 to display detailed information of the data indicated by the data icon. If NO, the process advances to step S44 to check whether the user has instructed the hierarchical display area and pressed the mouse button.

If YES, the process proceeds to step S45 to zoom up and display the designated layer area. In step S46, the maximum layer depth of the child layer included in the layer display area of the designated layer displayed by zooming up is set as D _max . In step S47, the section of the layer depth display 220 is divided into sections of D _max and displayed. In step S48, a layer depth display icon indicating the current layer depth and the traveling direction is displayed.

If NO in step S44, step S44
In step 49, other event processing is performed, and the process returns to step S41 waiting for an event. (Example of zoom-out procedure) FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a flowchart when zooming out from a zoom-up display state of a predetermined hierarchy to a display including an upper hierarchy.

In FIG. 13, step S51 shows an event waiting loop, which is waiting for an instruction (event) from the user from the mouse or keyboard. If any event occurs, it is checked in step S52 whether the user has pressed the mouse button while pressing the shift key. If YES, the process proceeds to step S53, and zoom-out display is performed in the upper layer of one stage.
In step S54, the maximum layer depth of the child layer included in the layer display area of the designated layer displayed by being zoomed out is set as D _max . Step S
At 55, the section of the hierarchical depth display 220 is divided into sections of D _max and displayed. In step S56, a layer depth display icon indicating the current layer depth and the traveling direction is displayed.

If NO at step S52, step S52.
In step 57, other event processing is performed, and the process returns to step S51 waiting for an event. (Application Example to Employee Database) FIG. 15 is an example in which the employee database is displayed using this embodiment. Employees are classified according to the organization of the company, and the face image of the employee is displayed as a data icon. Since the organization of the company forms a hierarchical structure, it can be represented as a Venn diagram like a hierarchical file system. In FIG. 15, 204 is the highest hierarchy of the employee database, 205 is the hierarchy of the development department, and 206 is the data icon of the development manager. When the navigation cursor 21 is used to point to the data icon of the development manager and double-clicked, detailed information 207 about the development manager is displayed as shown in FIG.

[Embodiment 2] Embodiment 2 explains another aspect of the present invention. In the same display and control flow chart as in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for those having the same functions as those in the first embodiment, and the description will be omitted. (Data Attribute Data) In the data attribute data 609 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 28, 622 to 625 below the dotted line are added to the data attribute data of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In FIG. 28, 622 is a data name display area size, 623 is a data name font size, 624 is an icon image ID, 62
Reference numeral 5 is an icon image display flag.

(Structural Example of Data Icon) FIG. 29 shows FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating components when the data icon 404 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. In FIG. 29, reference numeral 701 denotes a display area of one entire data icon, which is the origin (0,0).
And a rectangle defined by coordinates (X _ic , Y _ic ) where the width of the data icon is X _ic and the height is Y _ic , the size is represented by the icon display size 615 shown in FIG. 28. The icon image display area 702 is shown in FIG.
This is an area in which the icon image indicated by the icon image ID 624 shown in FIG. 705 is an icon image. The original size of the icon image is the width W _imorg ,
When the height is H _imorg , the icon image is _drawn with the width W _im and the height enlarged or reduced to H _im so as to fit in the icon image display area 702.

A data name display area 703 has an origin (0, 0), a width X _ic , and a height Y _t as coordinates (X _ic , Y).
_The size defined by the data name display area size 622 shown in FIG. 28 is defined by the rectangle defined by _t ).
704 is a data name display, and the data name 6 shown in FIG.
12 is displayed, but when all the data names 612 cannot be displayed in the data name display area 703, only the number of characters that can be displayed is displayed from the beginning of the data name 612, and a mark indicating that there is a continuation of the data name at the end. "..." is added and displayed.

(Hierarchical Data Browser) FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a more detailed structure of the hierarchical data browser 501 of this embodiment. Reference numeral 740 is a font size table for displaying a data name to be referred to when setting the font size when displaying the data name 612, and 741 is required when displaying the data icon 404 shown in FIG. 27 with an icon image. It is a display size table of the minimum data icon image referred when setting the display area size of the minimum icon image.

(Example of data icon display procedure) FIG. 31
14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for determining the display method of the data icon according to the size of the display area of one data icon allocated as a result of step S25 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 32 shows a data name display font size table 740 shown in FIG.
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the above, in which the data icon width W (k), the data icon height H (k), and the font size Fs (k) are derived for the index k. FIG. 33 corresponds to FIG.
Minimum data icon image display size table 7 shown in 0
14 is a table showing an example of _{No. 14} , and the widths W _{immi n} and H _{immin of} the minimum image display area size are derived by the index m determined by the usable memory capacity.

Following the flow chart shown in FIG.
The determination of the display method of the data icon will be described.
In step S60 of FIG. 31, the data name display phone
And index for accessing size table 740
Initialize the scan k to "0". In step S61, FIG.
Obtained from the data name display font size table 740 of
The size of the data icon and the actual data icon
Compare with the allocated size, X _{I c}≧ W (k) AN
D Y_{I c}Evaluate ≧ H (k). Must have a relationship
In step S62, k is incremented to
Return to step S61. Therefore, the condition of step S61 is satisfied.
Loop until hit, increment k and determine k
It

In step S63, the font size Fs (k) is obtained from the data name display phone and size table 740 of FIG. 32 and set to the data name font size 623 shown in FIG. When the data name font size 623 is determined, the coordinate Y _t that determines the data name display area is determined from the height of the font, and thus the data name display size 622 in FIG. 28 is set. Here, the data name display font size table 740 as shown in FIG.
The larger W is, the larger W (k), H (k), and Fs (k) are. Therefore, when the size of the display area of one data icon is very small, the data name is not displayed. The larger the display area of one data icon is, the larger the data name is displayed in a font that is easy to see.

In the next step S64, when k = 0, the process proceeds to step S71. When k ≠ 0, the process proceeds to the next step S65. In step S65, the index m used when referring to the minimum data icon image display size table 741 in FIG. 33 is initialized to "0". In step S66,
The available memory capacity obtained by using the function of the memory management system 516 shown in FIG. 24 is compared with the memory capacity Ma (m) obtained from the minimum data icon image display size table 741 shown in the example of FIG. Until the available memory capacity becomes Ma (m) or more, step S67.
In step S66, the comparison and determination step is repeated to determine the index m.

In step S68, W _immin (m) and H
_immin (m) is determined by referring to the minimum data icon image display size table 741 in FIG. In step S69, the conditional expression Y _ic −Y _t ≧ H _immin (m) AND
_Evaluate X _ic ≧ W _immin (m). If the result is true, the process advances to step S70 to set the icon image display flag 625 in FIG. 28 to true. If false in step S69, the process proceeds to step S71, and the icon image display flag is set to false. In this way, the size of the part of the display area of one data icon excluding the data name display area is the height H
If it is smaller than the minimum data icon image display size defined by _immin (m) and width W _immin (m), the icon image is not displayed.

Here, in the minimum data icon image display size table 741 as shown in FIG. 33, the larger the index m, the larger Ma (m), and H _immin.
Since (m) and W _immin (m) are configured to be small, the smaller the usable memory capacity is, the larger the display area of one data icon is, the more the icon image is not displayed. . In order to display the icon image, the data of the icon image must be held in the memory, but by configuring the minimum data icon image display size table 741 of FIG. 33 as described above, the usable memory capacity can be reduced. When it is small, you can save memory by not displaying icon images as much as possible.

(Example of Display of Data Icon) FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an example of the display form of the data icon determined by the method shown in the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 34A shows the conditional expression k = 0 AND in the flowchart of FIG.
This is a display example when (Y _ic −Y _t <H _immin OR X _ic <W _immin ) holds. When k = 0, the data name font size 623 in FIG. 28 is “0”, and in this case Figure 2
The data name 612 of 8 is not displayed. Since the icon image display flag 625 in FIG. 28 is false, no icon image is displayed and only the frame is displayed as the data icon 404a. FIG. 34B shows a conditional expression k = 0 AND (Y
28 is a display example of the data icon when _ic− Y _t ≧ H _immin ANDX _ic ≧ W _immin ).
The data name 612 is not displayed, but since the icon image display flag 625 is true, the data icon 404b including the icon image is displayed.

In FIG. 34C, the conditional expression k = 1 AND
(Y_{I c}-Y_t ≧ H_immin AND X_{I c}≧ W _immin ) Holds
In the display example of the data icon when the data is returned, the data name of FIG.
612 is displayed with the font size fs1 and the icon image is displayed.
The image is also larger than that of (b), and as a data icon 404c
Is displayed. FIG. 34D shows a conditional expression k = 2 AND (Y
_{I c}-Y_t ≧ H_immin AND X_{I c}≧ W_immin ) Was established
In the display example of the data icon at the time, the data name 61 of FIG.
2 is displayed in large font size fs2
The image is also larger than (c) and displayed as a data icon 404d.
Is shown.

FIG. 35 is an example in which the image data is hierarchically classified into categories and the processing according to the flowchart of FIG. 31 is applied to display the data icon when the image data is displayed in a Venn diagram. In the figure, category A is the highest hierarchy,
The categories B, C, and D are deeper in the order. At this time, since the size of the display area of one data icon becomes smaller as the hierarchy becomes deeper, the data icon 404d is displayed in the category A, the data icon 404c is displayed in the category B, and the data icon 404c is displayed in the category C. The icon 404b is displayed, and the category D is displayed in the data icon 404a format.

If the display area of each data icon in category B is changed by zooming up to category B, the display form of the data icon in each hierarchy display area is again processed by the processing based on the flowchart of FIG. Is determined. FIG. 43 is a diagram showing an example of the display form of the data icon determined by the method shown in the flowchart of FIG. 31 when the available memory is small.

FIG. 43A shows the flowchart of FIG.
Conditional expression k = 0 AND (Y_{I c}-Y _t <H_immin OR X
_{I c}<W_immin ) Is a display example when k holds, k = 0
, The data name font size 623 is “0”,
In this case, the data name 612 is not displayed. See you again
Icon image display flag 625 is false, so an icon image is also displayed
However, only the frame is displayed as the data icon 404a.
Be done. 43 (b) is the same condition as FIG. 43 (a).
Only the allocation of the icon display area is larger than (a)
This is the case, and the frame is larger than (a) and the data icon 40
It is displayed as 4e.

FIG. 43C shows the conditional expression k = 1 AND.
(Y_{I c}-Y_t <H_immin OR X_{I c}<W _immin ) Holds
In the display example of the data icon at the time of
It is displayed with the size fs1 and the icon image is not displayed.
The data icon 404f is displayed in the format. Figure
43 (d) is a conditional expression k = 2 AND (Y_{I c}-Y_t <H
_immin AND X_{I c}<W_immin ) Is established
In the display example of the icon, the data name 612 in FIG. 28 is a font.
A format in which the size fs2 is displayed and the icon image is also displayed
Then, it is displayed as a data icon 404d.

FIG. 44 shows an example in which the processing shown in FIG. 31 is applied to display the data icon when the image data is hierarchically classified into categories and the Venn diagram is displayed when the available memory is small. In FIG. 44, category A is the highest layer, and categories B, C, and D are deep layers in this order. At that time, the deeper the hierarchy is, the smaller the display area of one data icon is, so that the category A is displayed in the form of the data icon 404d and the category B is displayed.
Is displayed in the form of a data icon 404f, is displayed in the form of a data icon 404e in the category C, and is displayed in the form of a data icon 404a in the category D. Here, if zooming up to category B and the allocation of the display area of each data icon in category B changes, the display form of the data icon of each hierarchical display area is determined again based on the flowchart of FIG.

(Grouping of Data Icons) FIG. 36 is an example of data display in a hierarchical display area of a database created by an insurance company for collecting customer information, using this embodiment. In FIG. 36, 710 is Data
It is a hierarchy display area of hierarchy A. 711 is a data icon indicating face image data of the person A, 712 is a data icon indicating image data of the house of the person A, and 713 is a person A.
Is a data icon indicating data related to the health of the person A, and 714 is a data icon indicating data related to the property of the person A. 715 is a data icon indicating face image data of the person B, 716 is a data icon indicating image data of the house of the person B, 717 is a data icon indicating data on the health of the person B, and 718 is data indicating the property of the person B. It is a data icon. When there is a small amount of data, all the data should be evenly arranged as shown in FIG. 33. However, when there is more data, all the data icons cannot be displayed unless the data icon is made small or the display area is made large. Disappear.

FIG. 37 is a diagram for explaining a method of grouping a plurality of data icons in the hierarchical data browser of this embodiment. Part (a) of FIG. 37 illustrates an operation required when the user groups the data icon 714 indicating the data regarding the property of the person A and the data icon 713 regarding the health of the person A. By selecting the data icon 713 indicating the data relating to the health of the person A with the navigation cursor 21 and overlaying the data icon 713 indicating the data relating to the property of the person A, the data icon 714 indicating the data relating to the property of the person A.
And data icon 7 showing data on the health of person A
13 and 13 are grouped.

FIG. 37B shows a state in which the data icon 714 indicating the data regarding the property of the person A and the data icon 713 indicating the data regarding the health of the person A are grouped. It is displayed as a data icon 719. A group mark 722 indicating that the data icon is a grouped data icon is displayed on the grouped data icon 719.

By repeating the same operation for the data icon 712 indicating the image data of the house of the person A and the data icon 711 indicating the face image data of the person A,
As shown in (c) of FIG. 37, four data icons are grouped and displayed as a group icon 720. The icon image displayed as a representative of the group as the icon image of the group icon is the icon image data of the last-overlaid data icon. Also,
As an operation for grouping, not only a means of overlapping data icons but also a grouping menu (GUI) for the user to select a command for grouping a plurality of preselected data icons ).

FIG. 38 shows a display example in which the upper four data icons in FIG. 36 are combined into one group and the lower four data icons are combined into one group. In FIG. 38, reference numeral 721 denotes a data icon 715 indicating the face image data of the person B, a data icon 716 indicating image data of the person B's house, a data icon 717 indicating data on the health of the person B, and the property of the person B in FIG. It is a group icon in which a data icon 718 indicating data regarding a group is grouped. In this way, the eight data icons are grouped into two icons, so that the hierarchical display area 710 can be made smaller or the hierarchical display area 710 can be made smaller.
It is possible to manage and display more data without expanding the data.

When the group mark 722 shown in FIG. 38 is clicked with the navigation cursor 21, a data icon list 729 which is a list of data icons in the group is displayed as shown in FIG. 39 (a). Person A
When the data icon 713 indicating the data related to the health of the person A is double-clicked with the navigation cursor 21 as shown in FIG. 39B, the detailed information of the data related to the health of the person A is displayed. Next, when it is desired to replace the icon image of the group icon, the data icon to be the representative image of the group is changed as shown in (c) and (d) of FIG.
It suffices to drag it to the top of the data icon list 729.

FIG. 40 is a diagram for explaining an operation for removing data from a group. As shown in (a) of FIG. 40, by displaying the data icons belonging to the group in a list, selecting the data icon 713 to be removed with the navigation cursor 21, and dragging it out of the data icon list 729, The data icon 713 is removed from the group as in (b). In addition, the command to cancel the grouping of the specified group,
Ungrouping menu (GU) for users to select
It may be provided as I).

FIG. 41 shows the hierarchy management means 502 shown in FIG.
It is a figure which shows the structure of the group attribute data for managing the data icon by which was grouped. In FIG. 41, 730 is group attribute data, and 738 is a group identifier for uniquely identifying a group. 739 is a group name, and 731 is a data identifier list which lists the data identifiers 611 of all the data belonging to the group of FIG. When the group mark 722 is clicked, the list display of the data icons in the data icon list 729 shown in FIG.
It is performed according to the order registered in 1. 732 is the icon display size of the group icon, 733 is the display position of the group icon, 734 is the group name display area size, and 735 is the group name font size. 736
Is an icon image ID, and the data identifier list 731
The icon image ID 624 of the data registered in is set. Reference numeral 737 denotes an icon image display flag. When the icon image display flag 737 is true, the icon image is displayed, and when it is false, the icon image is not displayed.

FIG. 42 is a view for explaining the structure of the group icon. In FIG. 42, reference numeral 723 denotes a display area of the entire group icon, and similarly to the display area of the data icon, the origin (0, 0), the width of the group icon is X _ic , and the height is Y _ic and coordinates (X _ic , The size defined by the icon display size 732 is defined by a rectangle defined by Y _ic ). Reference numeral 724 denotes a background pattern of the icon image display area of the group icon, on which a background pattern that identifies the group is drawn. 72
The icon image display area 5 has an icon image ID 7
This is an area in which the icon image indicated by 36 is displayed.
The icon image display area 725 has a size obtained by subtracting a width W _fg from X _ic to prevent the background pattern 724 from being completely covered. 726 is an icon image. The original size of the icon image is the width W _imorg ,
When the height is H _imorg , the icon image is drawn by enlarging or reducing the width W _im and the height H _im so as to fit in the icon image display area 726.

Reference numeral 722 denotes a group mark, which is displayed in the area of width W _mg . A group name display area 727 has a size indicated by the group name display area size 734 by a rectangle defined by coordinates (W _mg , 0) and (X _ic , Y _t ). A group name display 728 displays the group name 739. When the group name is not specified, the data name at the head of the data identifier list 731 is displayed in the group name display area. If the group name is specified after grouping,
The designated group name is set as the group name 739 and displayed in the group name display area. Group name display area 7
When all the group names cannot be displayed in 27, only the number of characters that can be displayed is displayed from the beginning, and "...", which is a mark indicating that there is a continuation of the group name, is added and displayed at the end.

The display / non-display of the group name and the icon image is controlled by the same processing as shown in FIG. The group attribute data 730 shown in FIG.
When the data is first subjected to the grouping operation as shown in FIG. 37, it is created by the hierarchy management means 502 shown in FIG. 24 and the grouping is released or the last data is removed from the group. To be deleted.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0083]

As described above, according to the present invention, the overall structure of a hierarchical structure of a file system or database having a hierarchical structure can be intuitively grasped by displaying a Venn diagram, and data belonging to a child hierarchy is not hidden. Since it is displayed as a reduced image in, it became easier to find the desired data.

Further, since the deep hierarchy is reduced and displayed, the deep hierarchy structure can be displayed within the screen of a limited area, and the data belonging to the target hierarchy can be displayed without tracing the hierarchy one by one. A means for zooming up the layer display area showing the target layer for specifying is provided, and the detailed information of the target layer can be quickly viewed.
That is, if the data icon can be specified even for data in a deep hierarchy, the data icon can be directly specified from the root hierarchy to know the detailed information of the data.

On the contrary, by providing the means for zooming out, it is possible to easily know the outline of the hierarchical structure seen from the upper hierarchy, and it is possible to easily access the data belonging to the higher hierarchy. In addition, by having a hierarchy depth display section that indicates which hierarchy depth is currently zoomed up, it is possible to intuitively grasp at which depth the navigation is being performed.

Further, the layer depth display areas having the same layer depth are displayed in the same color, and the deeper layers are displayed in a darker color of a similar color, so that the display depth feeling such that the display area having the deeper layer depth is at the back. Can have Further, when the area assigned to one data icon is large, the icon image and the data name are displayed in a large size for easy viewing, and when the area assigned to one data icon is small, the icon image and the data name are displayed within a recognizable range. When the area assigned to one data icon is smaller, the display of the data name is omitted when the area assigned to one data icon is smaller, and only the icon image is displayed to allow the data to be recognized as much as possible. When the size is smaller, the number of data can be recognized by displaying only the frame of the data icon, thereby providing the effect of data recognition support according to the size of the display area.

Further, when the available memory is small, 1
By not displaying the icon image unless the area allocated to one data icon is large enough,
It has the effect of saving memory. Furthermore, by providing a means for grouping data represented by a plurality of data icons and displaying the grouped icons, it becomes possible to manage more data in a narrow display area.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a display example of hierarchical data in the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a tree structure of a hierarchical file system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which the same hierarchical file system as in FIG. 2 is represented by a hierarchical list box.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a zoom-up display example of a directory-C.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a zoom-up display example of a directory-E.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing detailed contents of a file.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining zoom-out in a zoom-up display example of directory-E.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a method of directly instructing display of detailed information of data.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when the hierarchy display means sets the hierarchy display area of each hierarchy and the size of the data icon.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a division result of a data icon display area and a child hierarchy display area in a root directory.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state in a layer in which the display area and the display size of the data icon of the child layer of the root layer and the display size of the data icon are determined at the layer depth 0.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for zoom-up display of a predetermined layer.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure when zooming out from a zoom-up display state of a predetermined hierarchy to a display including an upper hierarchy.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when determining a display area of a data icon.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example in which an employee database is displayed in this embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a display example of detailed information.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display example when the hierarchy display is displaying the root hierarchy.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a state in which a hierarchical display area of directory-C is zoomed up.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a state in which a hierarchical display area of directory-E is zoomed up.

20 is a diagram showing a state in which the hierarchical display area of directory-B is zoomed up. FIG.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating a layer depth display unit showing a layer depth of a layer display area that is zoomed up and displayed by a user.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing another example of a hierarchy depth display unit.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a configuration of a personal computer system which is a platform of this embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing the configuration of a hierarchical data browser system including software and hardware according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a diagram for explaining layer attribute data managed by the layer management means in the present embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a structure of a data attribute.

FIG. 27 is a diagram for explaining display components when the hierarchy display means displays data in a hierarchy based on the data managed by the hierarchy management means shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a structure of a data attribute according to the second embodiment.

[Fig. 29] Fig. 29 is a diagram for describing constituent elements when a data icon is displayed.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a hierarchical data browser.

FIG. 31 is a step S2 of the flowchart shown in FIG.
5 is a diagram showing a flowchart showing a processing procedure when determining a display method of a data icon according to the size of a display area of one allocated data icon of FIG.

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing an example of a data name display font size table.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing an example of a minimum data icon image display size table.

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing an example of a display form of a data icon determined by the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an example in which the processing procedure of FIG. 31 is applied to display of data icons when the image data is hierarchically classified into categories and displayed in a Venn diagram.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a data display example in a hierarchy display area of a database created by an insurance company for collecting customer information in this embodiment.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a method of grouping a plurality of data icons in a hierarchical data browser in this embodiment.

38 is a diagram showing a display example in which the upper four data icons in FIG. 36 are combined into one group and the lower four data icons are combined into one group in the present embodiment.

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a method of accessing each data icon of a grouped data icon in the present embodiment.

FIG. 40 is a diagram for explaining an operation of removing data from a group.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of group attribute data for managing the data icons grouped by the hierarchy managing means.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of group icons.

43 is a diagram showing an example of the display form of the data icon determined by the procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 31 when the available memory is small.

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing an example in which the processing procedure of FIG. 31 is applied to the display of the data icon when the image data is hierarchically classified into categories and the Venn diagram is displayed when the available memory is small.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Root Hierarchy Display Area 21 Navigation Cursor 208 Hierarchical Depth Display Icon 220 Hierarchical Depth Display 301 Computer System Main Body 302 Display 303 Mouse 305 Keyboard 401 Hierarchical Display Area 402 Border 403 Hierarchical Name Display Area 404 Data Icon 501 Hierarchical Data Browser 502 Hierarchical Management Means 503 Hierarchical display means 504 Application software 505 OS 506 Input device management system 507 Drawing management system 508 File management system 509 Hardware 510 Keyboard interface 512 Mouse interface 513 Video interface 514 Disk IO interface 515 Hard disk 516 Memory management system 517 Memory 518 C U 720 group icon 722 Group mark 730 group attributes

Claims (36)

[Claims] 1. A hierarchical data display method for displaying hierarchically managed data, wherein a display area is divided into an area for displaying a data icon representing data belonging to one hierarchy and an area for displaying child hierarchies. A method for displaying hierarchical data, characterized in that the data icon is separated and the size of the data icon is changed according to the depth of the hierarchy. 2. The hierarchical data display method according to claim 1, wherein the size of the data icon is reduced as the hierarchy is deeper. 3. The hierarchical data display method according to claim 2, wherein the data icon is simplified as the hierarchy is deeper. 4. The size of the separated region is 1
3. The hierarchical data display method according to claim 1, wherein the hierarchical data display method is determined based on the number of data belonging to one hierarchy and the number of data included in a child hierarchy. 5. When there are a plurality of child hierarchies, the display area of each child hierarchies is determined according to the number of lower hierarchy data included in the child hierarchies.
Or the hierarchical data display method described in 2. 6. The hierarchical data according to claim 1, wherein the child hierarchy is displayed in a background representing a parent hierarchy, and the background is selected and displayed so that the depth of the hierarchy can be identified. Display method. 7. The hierarchical data display method according to claim 4, wherein the background is displayed in a darker color as the hierarchy is deeper. 8. The hierarchical data display method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of zooming up the desired layer by designating a display area of the desired layer and performing a predetermined operation. 9. The hierarchical data display according to claim 1, further comprising a step of displaying detailed contents of the desired hierarchy by designating a display area of the desired hierarchy and performing a predetermined operation. Method. 10. The hierarchical data display method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of zooming out from the layer zoomed up in response to a predetermined operation to a parent layer. 11. The hierarchical data display method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of grouping a plurality of desired data icons and displaying the top data icon so that the grouping can be identified. 12. The hierarchical data display method according to claim 11, further comprising a step of displaying a list of a plurality of grouped data icons. 13. A process of changing the arrangement of a plurality of grouped data icons, a process of canceling the grouping, and a process of deleting a desired data icon from the plurality of grouped data icons. 12. The hierarchical data display method according to claim 11, wherein: 14. In a hierarchical data browser system for displaying hierarchically managed data, a display area is divided into an area for displaying a data icon representing data belonging to one hierarchy and an area for displaying child hierarchies. A hierarchical data browser system comprising: a display area separating means; and a data icon displaying means for changing and displaying the size of the data icon according to the depth of the hierarchy. 15. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 14, wherein the data icon display means makes the size of the data icon smaller as the hierarchy becomes deeper. 16. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 15, wherein the data icon display unit simplifies the data icon as the hierarchy is deeper. 17. The display area separating means determines the size of an area to be separated based on the number of data belonging to the one layer and the number of data contained in a child layer. 16. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 14 or 15. 18. The display area separating means determines, when there are a plurality of child hierarchies, a display area of each child hierarchy in accordance with the number of lower hierarchy data included in the child hierarchy. 16. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 14 or 15. 19. The data icon display means comprises a background display means for displaying the same hierarchy with the same background, the child hierarchy is displayed in a background representing the parent hierarchy, and the background identifies the depth of the hierarchy. 15. The hierarchical data browser system of claim 14, wherein the hierarchical data browser system is selectable. 20. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 19, wherein the background is displayed in a darker color as the hierarchy is deeper. 21. The hierarchical data browser according to claim 14, further comprising zoom-up means for zooming up the desired hierarchy by designating a display area of the desired hierarchy and performing a predetermined operation. system. 22. The detailed content display means for displaying the detailed content of the desired layer by instructing a display area of the desired layer and performing a predetermined operation. Hierarchical data browser system. 23. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 21, further comprising zoom-out means for zooming out from the layer zoomed up in response to a predetermined operation to a parent layer. 24. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 14, further comprising grouping means for grouping a plurality of desired data icons and displaying the first data icon so that the grouping can be identified. 25. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 24, further comprising a list display means for displaying a list of a plurality of grouped data icons. 26. A means for changing a representative image of a plurality of grouped data icons, a means for canceling the grouping, and a means for deleting a desired data icon from the plurality of grouped data icons. 25. The hierarchical data browser system of claim 24, comprising. 27. Hierarchical data management means for hierarchically managing a plurality of data, and an area for displaying all data and child hierarchies belonging to one hierarchy according to information indicating the hierarchy held by the hierarchical data management means. All are separated by a boundary and displayed as an area having a background painted in a predetermined background color, and the data in the display area is displayed with a group of data icons indicating identification information of the data, and the hierarchy in the display area That is, the child hierarchy has a hierarchy display means for drawing a display area of the child hierarchy in the hierarchy display area with the same constituent elements. 28. The hierarchical display means calculates in advance a minimum required area for displaying a data icon in one hierarchical display area, and the display area of the data icon is within a range not smaller than the required minimum. An area distribution unit is provided that proportionally distributes the display area of the child layer and the display area of the data icon according to the ratio of the total number of data included in the layers below the child layer and the number of data directly belonging to the layer. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 27. 29. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 28, wherein said hierarchical display means makes the size of the data icon smaller and simpler as the hierarchy is deeper. 30. Zoom-up means for zooming up in a deeper direction of the hierarchy, zoom-out means for zooming out in a shallower direction of the hierarchy, and hierarchy depth display means for indicating the hierarchy depth and zoom direction of the hierarchy being zoomed up. 29. The hierarchical data browser system of claim 28, further comprising: 31. The zoom direction indicates a direction in which the hierarchy becomes deeper when the zoom-up means is selected and a direction in which the hierarchy becomes shallower when the zoom-out means is selected. The described hierarchical data browser system. 32. The hierarchical display means sets a threshold value of a hierarchical area size as a reference for evaluating the size of an area assigned to one data icon, and sets the threshold value of the area assigned to one data icon. Evaluation means for evaluating the size by the threshold value, based on the evaluation result, with or without the icon image when displaying the data icon, with or without the data name display, font size and icon image of the data name display 29. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 28, further comprising setting means for setting at least one of the sizes. 33. The evaluation means increases the threshold of the size of the area assigned to one data icon for determining to display an icon image as the available memory is smaller. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 32. 34. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 28, further comprising grouping means for grouping and managing a plurality of data icons and displaying them as one group icon. 35. List display means for displaying a list of data icons belonging to the group by designating a group icon, and detailed information of the designated data by designating a desired data icon from the list. 35. The hierarchical data browser system according to claim 34, further comprising: detailed information displaying means. 36. Means for changing a representative image of a plurality of grouped data icons, means for canceling the grouping, and means for deleting a desired data icon from the plurality of grouped data icons. 35. The hierarchical data browser system of claim 34, comprising.