Providing 1D and 2D connectors in a connected diagram

• US 20060209085A1
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kotler, Matthew J., Wong, Karen K., Berker, Ilan, Pousti, Ramona, Gerton, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,483,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/00 Control arrangements or circuits for visual indicators common to cathode-ray tube indicators and other visual indicators image data processing or generation, in general G06T

Abstract

Dynamic routing of 1D and 2D connectors is provided in a connected diagram. 2D connector shapes, end-shapes, content such as text or images are dynamically adjusted as objects are placed onto the diagram canvas. Connection points for connectors are determined using cardinal points, shortest distance between objects, or by generating additional cardinal points with a virtual object. Connectors are routed using a boundary box placed between cardinal points and a relationship between imaginary vectors pointing away from the objects at the connection points.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for automatically providing a connector in a diagram, comprising:

determining connection points associated with objects to be connected;

placing the connector between the connection points, wherein a shape and a position of the connector is determined based on routing the connector using an imaginary boundary box;

applying at least one property associated with the connector; and

associating one of a user defined and a default content with the connector.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the connector between the connection points includes:

placing two imaginary vectors originating at the connection points and pointing away from the objects;

placing the imaginary boundary box between the objects such that opposing corners of the imaginary boundary box coincide with the connection points when the imaginary vectors are at least substantially vertical to each other and point to a same general direction; and

routing the connector along the far edges of the imaginary boundary box.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the connector between the connection points includes:

placing two imaginary vectors originating at the connection points and pointing away from the objects;

placing the imaginary boundary box between the objects such that adjacent corners of the imaginary boundary box coincide with the connection points when the imaginary vectors are at least substantially parallel to each other and point to a same general direction; and

routing the connector such that a first and a second segment of the connector coincide with the imaginary vectors, and a middle segment of the connector coupling the first and second segments is parallel to a far edge of the imaginary boundary box.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein a distance between the middle segment of the connector and the far edge of the imaginary boundary box is determined by a distance parameter that is defined by one of a default value and a user selection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the connector between the connection points includes:

placing two imaginary vectors originating at the connection points and pointing away from the objects;

placing the imaginary boundary box between the objects such that opposing corners of the imaginary boundary box coincide with the connection points when the imaginary vectors are at least substantially parallel to each other and point to opposite directions; and

routing the connector such that a first and a second segment of the connector coincide with the imaginary vectors, and a middle segment of the connector coupling the first and second segments is vertical to the first and second segments inside the imaginary boundary box.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a distance between the middle segment of the connector and an edge of the imaginary boundary box parallel to the middle segment is determined by another distance parameter that is defined by one of a default value and a user selection.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically modifying one of a shape, a size, and an end-shape of a 2D connector in response to one of a placement of a new object, removal of an existing object, and user-prompted change of a relationship between existing objects.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising preserving a property of connector content when a 2D connector is switched to a 1D connector in response a user selection.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the connector between the connection points includes at least one of:

placing the connector between two cardinal points on the two objects;

placing the connector between two intersection points of an imaginary line connecting center points of the two objects and two closest borders of the two objects; and

placing the connector between two intersection points of an imaginary line between the two objects and two closest borders of the two objects.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein placing the connector between the connection points further includes:

placing a virtual object in a predetermined location about a first object, wherein the predetermined location is defined by a default parameter; and

placing the connector between a cardinal point of a second object and a cardinal point of the virtual object.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the virtual object has a shape that is different from the first object.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of a text size, a text margin, an image size, and an image margin of the connector is adjusted automatically based on a distance between the connection points.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the connector between the connection points for a 1D connector includes circumventing a text box that contains the content such that the text box blends with a canvas.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the connector between the connection points includes placing a straight connector on a circular path between the objects to be connected.

15. A computer-readable medium having computer instructions for providing a connector in a diagram, the instructions comprising:

determining connection points associated with objects to be connected;

placing the connector between the connection points by;

placing two imaginary vectors originating at the connection points and pointing away from the objects; and

placing an imaginary boundary box between the objects such that opposing corners of the imaginary boundary box coincide with the connection points when the imaginary vectors are at least substantially vertical to each other and point to a same general direction, and routing the connector along the far edges of the imaginary boundary box; and

associating one of a user defined and a default content with the connector.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein placing the connector between the connection points further includes placing the imaginary boundary box between the objects such that opposing corners of the imaginary boundary box coincide with the connection points when the imaginary vectors are at least substantially parallel to each other and point to opposite directions, and routing the connector such that a first and a second segment of the connector coincide with the imaginary vectors, and a middle segment of the connector coupling the first and second segments is vertical to the first and second segments inside the imaginary boundary box.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise dynamically modifying one of a shape, a size, an end-shape, a content size, and a content margin of a 2D connector in response to one of a placement of a new object, removal of an existing object, and user-prompted change of a relationship between existing objects.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise generating additional cardinal points on an object by placing a virtual object in a predetermined location about a first object, wherein the predetermined location is defined by a default parameter;

and using the cardinal points of the virtual object as one of the connection points.

19. A system for providing a connector in a diagram, comprising:

an application that is arranged to lay out objects and route connectors between the objects, wherein the application is arranged to;

determine connection points associated with the objects to be connected;

place the connector between the connection points employing two imaginary vectors originating at the connection points and pointing away from the objects, and an imaginary boundary box whose two corners coincide with the connection points, wherein the connector is routed along one of;

far edges of the imaginary boundary box and along a segment line inside the imaginary boundary box; and

associate content with the connector.

at least one database that includes default information associated with at least one of an object definition, an object property, a connector definition, a connector property, and a layout rule; and

a user interface that is arranged to provide a user with an opportunity to modify at least one of the object definition, the object property, the connector definition, the connector property, and the layout rule.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the application is further arranged to:

dynamically modify one of a shape, a size, an end-shape, a content size, and a content margin of a 2D connector in response to one of a placement of a new object, removal of an existing object, and user-prompted change of a relationship between existing objects.