A multiple-focus graph browsing technique using heat models and force-directed layout

Describes a multiple-focus graph visualization and navigation technique using two heat models: a heat conduction model and a thermal radiation model. The proposed technique integrates force-directed layout techniques with the heat models. It provides virtual heat energy to focus nodes or a focus region. The heat influences the temperatures of link and other nodes, and then the temperatures determine the attributes, such as the sizes and lengths, of the nodes and links. A prototype browser using the proposed technique has been implemented with the Java programming language and the Java3D class library. The browser can visualize a general graph structure interactively in a 2D or 3D view. It allows us to have both multiple positive foci and negative foci, and enables us to navigate in a graph by using a heat-radiating pointer.