VISUALIZATION AND INFORMATION DISPLAY FOR SHAPES IN DISPLAYED GRAPHICAL IMAGES

• US 20110131543A1
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cadence Design Systems Incorporated (Cadence Group)
• Original Assignee: Cadence Design Systems Incorporated (Cadence Group)
• Inventors: Siddique, Shagufta, Majumder, Chayan, O'Riordan, Donald J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,438,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 716/139
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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

Abstract

Graphical viewing of shapes and descriptive information in displayed graphical images. In one aspect, shape information is displayed in a graphical interface using a computer system and includes causing a display of an image on a display device with or more shapes, and causing a display of multiple labels on the display device. Each of the labels is associated with a different one of the displayed shapes, and the labels are derived from stored connectivity information for the one or more shapes describing the connections of the shapes.

Claims

1. A method for displaying shape information in a graphical interface using a computer system, the method comprising:

causing a display of an image on a display device, wherein one or more shapes are displayed in the image; and

causing a display of a plurality of labels on the display device, each of the labels associated with a different one of the displayed shapes, wherein the labels are derived from stored connectivity information for the one or more shapes describing the connections of the shapes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the labels are not individually input by a user of the graphical interface, and wherein each of the plurality of labels is displayed overlaid on its associated shape.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving from a user input indicating a maximum distance or percentage of shape size that each label is allowed to be displayed overhanging a border of its associated shape.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the shapes represent traces in a circuit layout and wherein the stored connectivity information describes electrical connectivity of the shapes and is stored in a connectivity information database, and wherein each label identifies the connectivity of the associated shape.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the labels is displayed only if the associated shape is above a predetermined threshold size.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising receiving input from the user to cause a marker to be displayed on a designated one of the shapes on the image designated by the user, the marker always being displayed regardless of the displayed size of the designated shape.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of labels are all displayed within a predetermined zone relative to a displayed cursor controlled by a user of the graphical interface with an input device, and wherein no labels are displayed outside of the zone.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the predetermined zone is an area centered on the displayed cursor.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein a label is displayed on the display screen only if at least a portion of the shape associated with the label is currently positioned within the zone.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein labels are repeatedly displayed for a single shape for at least one of the shapes, such that the single shape has multiple displayed labels.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein each of the labels is repeated on its associated shape if the shape extends outside a zone of focus of eyes of a user of the graphical interface.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the labels are displayed within an area equivalent to a zone of focus of eyes of a user of the graphical interface, the display of the at least one label within the zone of focus being different than display of at least one label outside the zone of focus.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein at least a portion of one of more of the shapes are displayed within the zone of focus, wherein for one or more shapes, the associated labels are displayed as close to the center of the zone of focus as possible while overlaid on the associated shapes, and for one or more of the shapes displayed outside the zone of focus, the associated labels are displayed centered on the associated shapes.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the zone of focus is centered on a displayed cursor that is controlled by the user using an input device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the zone of focus is centered on the cursor only when a command using the cursor is currently active in the graphical interface.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising determining the zone of focus for the user, including displaying a training image and sensing the eyes of the user viewing the training image.

17. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium including program instructions to be implemented by a computer and for displaying shape information in a graphical interface, the program instructions for:

causing a display of an image on a display device, wherein one or more shapes are displayed in the image; and

causing a display of a plurality of labels on the display device, each of the labels associated with a different one of the displayed shapes, wherein the labels are derived from stored connectivity information for the one or more shapes describing the connections of the shapes.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein each of the plurality of labels is displayed overlaid on its associated shape, and wherein each of the labels is displayed only if the associated shape is above a predetermined threshold size.

19. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the shapes represent traces in a circuit layout and wherein the stored connectivity information describes electrical connectivity of the shapes and is stored in a connectivity information database, and wherein each label identifies the connectivity of the associated shape.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the plurality of labels are all displayed within a predetermined zone relative to a displayed cursor controlled by a user of the graphical interface with an input device, and wherein no labels are displayed outside of the zone.

21. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein labels are repeatedly displayed for a single shape for at least one of the shapes, such that the single shape has multiple displayed labels.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein each of the labels is repeated on its associated shape if the shape extends outside a zone of focus of eyes of a user of the graphical interface.

23. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein one or more of the labels are displayed within an area equivalent to a zone of focus of eyes of a user of the graphical interface, the display of the at least one label within the zone of focus being different than display of at least one label outside the zone of focus.

24. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein at least a portion of one of more of the shapes are displayed within the zone of focus, wherein for one or more shapes, the associated labels are displayed as close to the center of the zone of focus as possible while overlaid on the associated shapes, and for one or more of the shapes displayed outside the zone of focus, the associated labels are displayed centered on the associated shapes.

25. The computer program product of claim 23 wherein the zone of focus is centered on a displayed cursor that is controlled by the user using an input device.

26. A system for displaying shape information in a graphical interface using a computer system, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor in communication with the memory, the processor;

causing a display of an image on a display device connected to the processor, wherein one or more shapes are displayed in the image; and

causing a display of a plurality of labels on the display device, each of the labels associated with a different one of the displayed shapes, wherein the labels are derived from stored connectivity information for the one or more shapes describing the connections of the shapes.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein each of the plurality of labels is displayed overlaid on its associated shape, and wherein each of the labels is displayed only if the associated shape is above a predetermined threshold size.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the shapes represent traces in a circuit layout and wherein the stored connectivity information describes electrical connectivity of the shapes and is stored in a connectivity information database, and wherein each label identifies the connectivity of the associated shape.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the plurality of labels are all displayed within a predetermined zone relative to a displayed cursor controlled by a user of the graphical interface with an input device, and wherein no labels are displayed outside of the zone.

30. The system of claim 26 wherein one or more of the labels are displayed within an area equivalent to a zone of focus of eyes of a user of the graphical interface, the display of the at least one label within the zone of focus being different than display of at least one label outside the zone of focus.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein at least a portion of one of more of the shapes are displayed within the zone of focus, wherein for one or more shapes, the associated labels are displayed as close to the center of the zone of focus as possible while overlaid on the associated shapes, and for one or more of the shapes displayed outside the zone of focus, the associated labels are displayed centered on the associated shapes.