Method, system and device for controlling a display

• US 20060218493A1
• Filed: 03/28/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Murray, Keith Allan
• Application Number:
  US11/092,866
• Publication Number:
  US 20060218493A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/210
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/003 Maps
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/005 Map projections or methods associated specifically therewith

Abstract

A method, system and device for controlling a display are disclosed. Data is examined, which correspond to an image to be shown with the display. Upon determining that said data comprise a critical item corresponding to an element of the image, the critical item is shown with an uncluttered view. Non-critical items corresponding to elements of the image are attempted to be shown as well, such that the critical item is not obscured and the image remains uncluttered.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for controlling a display, comprising:

examining data corresponding to an image to be shown with said display;

upon determining that said data comprise a critical item corresponding to an element of said image, showing said critical item wherein said critical item is shown with an uncluttered view;

upon determining that said data comprise a non-critical item corresponding to an element of said image, attempting to show said non-critical item wherein said uncluttered view of said critical item remains uncluttered; and

showing said image with said display wherein said image is uncluttered.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising, upon determining that showing said non-critical item will clutter said uncluttered view, withholding said non-critical item from being shown.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said examining comprises:

accessing said data corresponding to said image;

generating a list of points wherein said points and labels corresponding thereto comprise elements of said image;

creating a used label master region wherein said master region maps to said image; and

identifying from among said points any said critical items.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said master region is initially empty.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein said showing further comprises:

selecting one side of one of said points;

generating a point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to said selected side wherein said point label region comprises said point and said corresponding label;

conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop a precursor of said image;

evaluating said precursor; and

upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein said points corresponding to said critical items are selected before points corresponding to said non-critical items.

7. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising:

upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region overlap, generating said point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to a side opposite from said selected side;

conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop said precursor; and

upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said image comprises one or more of a map, a document, and a graphical image.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said data corresponding to said image comprises a region object.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said region object comprises data generated with a graphical device interface disposed within an operating system.

11. A computer based system for controlling a display, comprising:

an evaluator module for accessing data corresponding to an image to be shown with said display and generating a list of points and labels corresponding thereto wherein said points and said corresponding labels comprise elements of said image;

an uncluttering module for accessing said list and generating a precursive map for said image wherein, with said precursive map, said uncluttering module attempts a fit for each of said points and said labels corresponding thereto and prioritizes the display of said points and labels; and

an image labeling module for accessing said precursive map and formatting said image to be shown with said display.

12. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said evaluator module accesses said data corresponding to an image from a graphical display interface of an operating system.

13. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said evaluator module is further for creating a used label master region wherein said master region maps to said image and identifying from among said points a critical item.

14. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein one or more of said generating a precursive map for said image and said formatting said image further comprise:

selecting one side of one of said points;

generating a point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to said selected side wherein said point label region comprises said point and said corresponding label;

conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop a precursor of said image;

evaluating said precursor; and

upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.

15. The system as recited in claim 14 wherein said points corresponding to said critical items are selected before points corresponding to said non-critical items.

16. The system as recited in claim 14 wherein one or more of said generating a precursive map for said image and said formatting said image further comprise:

upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region overlap, generating said point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to a side opposite from said selected side;

conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop said precursor; and

upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.

17. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein said data corresponding to said image comprises a region object.

18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein said region object comprises data generated with a graphical device interface disposed within an operating system.

19. A computer usable medium having a computer readable program code for causing a computer system to implement a process for controlling a display, said process comprising:

examining data corresponding to an image to be shown with said display;

upon determining that said data comprise a critical item corresponding to an element of said image, showing said critical item wherein said critical item is shown with an uncluttered view;

upon determining that said data comprise a non-critical item corresponding to an element of said image, attempting to show said non-critical item wherein said uncluttered view of said critical item remains uncluttered; and

showing said image with said display wherein said image is uncluttered.

20. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said process further comprises, upon determining that showing said non-critical item will clutter said uncluttered view, withholding said non-critical item from being shown.

21. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 19 wherein said examining comprises:

accessing said data corresponding to said image;

generating a list of points wherein said points and labels corresponding thereto comprise elements of said image;

creating a used label master region wherein said master region maps to said image; and

identifying from among said points any said critical items.

22. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said master region is initially empty.

23. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 21 wherein said showing further comprises:

selecting one side of one of said points;

generating a point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to said selected side wherein said point label region comprises said point and said corresponding label;

conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop a precursor of said image;

evaluating said precursor; and

upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.

24. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 23 wherein said points corresponding to said critical items are selected before points corresponding to said non-critical items.

25. The computer usable medium as recited in claim 23 further comprising:

upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region overlap, generating said point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to a side opposite from said selected side;

conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop said precursor; and

upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.

26. A computer device, comprising:

a protective case; and

a circuit disposed within said case, wherein a system functions to control a display associated with said computer, said system comprising;

an evaluator module for accessing data corresponding to an image to be shown with said display and generating a list of points and labels corresponding thereto wherein said points and said corresponding labels comprise elements of said image;

an uncluttering module for accessing said list and generating a precursive map for said image wherein, with said precursive map, said uncluttering module attempts a fit for each of said points and said labels corresponding thereto and prioritizes the display of said points and labels; and

an image labeling module for accessing said precursive map and formatting said image to be shown with said display.

27. The computer device as recited in claim 26 wherein said evaluator module accesses said data corresponding to an image from a graphical display interface of an operating system.

28. The computer device as recited in claim 27 wherein said evaluator module is further for creating a used label master region wherein said master region maps to said image and identifying from among said points a critical item.

29. The computer device as recited in claim 26 wherein said data corresponding to said image comprises a region object.

30. The computer device as recited in claim 29 wherein said region object comprises data generated with a graphical device interface disposed within an operating system associated with said computer device.