Automating the design of network diagrams

摘要: The coming generation of collaborative computer systems will require intelligent, multimedia user interfaces that differ significantly from those in use today. In addition to greater reliance on natural-language understanding and generation, future rely more sophisticated graphical displays. particular, the ability automatically design informational graphics enhance greatly communicative power systems. This thesis concerns automated network diagrams, one three main classes symbolic display (the other two being chart graphs maps). Previous notions network-diagram syntax semantics were not adequate for design. I give a new formulation syntax, semantics, pragmatics diagrams is tailored automated-design problem. New aspects are explicit representation perceptual organization description syntactic features terms constraints ranging over properties layout symbols. A described model, which essentially an attributed-graph can serve as application-independent abstraction many different real-world Pragmatic issues handled with aid high-level directives guide process. The computational paradigm takes novel approach graphic by specifying separate tasks: first task map information be communicated onto set features, second instantiate diagram exactly features. latter requires restatement classical diagram-layout problem fulfillment aesthetic requirements (e.g., minimization edge crossings) subordinated satisfaction perceptual-organization constraints. The Automated Network Diagram Designer (ANDD) implemented system incorporates ideas mentioned above. Input ANDD model directives; output diagram. describe implementation details system, demonstrate its capabilities presenting comparison similar system-designed human-designed diagrams.