Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
force-directed layout, it provides a clear indication of precedence—the
earlier patents are always above later patents. For any particular patent of
interest, links going up are prior patents cited by this particular patent, and
links going down are later patents that have cited this particular patent.
This visual relationship of before and after is the basic approach used in the
interactive exploration of massive time-based networks.
Figure 4-11:
In this hierarchical layout of patent citations, earlier patents
are above later patents.
Note that time is not explicitly depicted. You cannot look at a particular
patent and make a determination about what time that patent occurred.
Near the bottom-right corner of the image are a dozen components of two
nodes each. The layout only indicates which came first and which came
second. If one pair occurred in the 1930s and another pair came in the
1970s, this can only be determined by interacting with the nodes of interest.
Top-Down and Other Orthogonal Hierarchies
Hierarchical data may be displayed in a “traditional” top-down hierarchy.
This is similar to the previous time-oriented approach, except that the data
is strictly a hierarchy of data.
One interesting consideration is whether to set out the hierarchy as
top-down or, alternatively, left-right or bottom-up. Another consideration
