Robert M Mcnally

US Patent:

8417700, Apr 9, 2013

Filed:

Dec 1, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/292242

Inventors:

Robert Christopher McNally - Glendora CA, US
William Daniel Hillis - Encino CA, US

Assignee:

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation - Falls Church VA

International Classification:

G06F 7/00

US Classification:

707736

Abstract:

Systems and methods are provided for assisting a user in creating a process diagram according to a specific methodology. A template library includes a plurality of entities associated with the methodology. Each of the plurality of entities has an associated one of a plurality of entity categories. A user interface allows a user to insert entities from the library into the process diagram and insert connections between the entities to show logical relationships between the entities. A graphical engine generates an optimal arrangement of the entities within the process diagram according to at least one characteristic of a plurality of entities and at least one connector associated with the process diagram and at least one optimization criteria when a user inserts an entity or connection. The graphical engine is operative to animate a transition between an original arrangement and the optimal arrangement.