Improving an interactive visualization of transition systems

A transition system can be used to model the behaviour of a software system. A popular way of analysing this behaviour is by studying the corresponding transition system. An interactive visualization technique for showing the global structure of a transition system has been proposed by Van Ham et al. This technique clusters states and forms these clusters into a 3D structure similar to a cone tree, with the emphasis on symmetry. The technique has been used by analysts to study real-world systems. In this paper we solve a number of problems related to the symmetry of the visual representation and the misrepresentation of cluster sizes. This results in more effective and less misleading visualizations. In addition, we also extend the original technique by providing simulation facilities and a more effective state and cluster marking technique. These enhance the way in which a user can interact with the visualization.