VISUALIZATION AND INFORMATION DISPLAY FOR SHAPES IN DISPLAYED GRAPHICAL IMAGES BASED ON A CURSOR

• US 20110131544A1
• 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: Majumder, Chayan, O'Riordan, Donald J., Siddique, Shagufta
• Granted Patent: US 8,645,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 716/139
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/17 Mechanical parametric or variational design

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 and one or more shapes in the image, and causing a display of a cursor. Labels are also displayed, each of the labels associated with a different one of the displayed shapes. The plurality of labels are displayed within a predetermined zone relative to a displayed cursor, and wherein no labels are displayed outside of the zone.

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;

causing a display of a cursor on the display device, a displayed position of the cursor being controlled by a user of the graphical interface using an input device; 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 plurality of labels are displayed within a predetermined zone relative to the displayed cursor, and wherein no labels are displayed outside of the zone.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the shapes represent traces in a circuit layout.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of labels is displayed overlaid on its associated shape.

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

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined zone is an area centered on the displayed cursor.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the labels are not displayed outside of the predetermined zone only when a command using the cursor is currently active in the graphical interface and is awaiting a further input from the user based on the cursor.

7. The method of claim 1 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 predetermined zone.

8. 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.

9. 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;

causing a display of a cursor on the display device, a displayed position of the cursor being controlled by a user of the graphical interface using an input device; 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 plurality of labels are displayed within a predetermined zone relative to the displayed cursor, and wherein no labels are displayed outside of the zone.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the shapes represent traces in a circuit layout.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein each of the plurality of labels is displayed overlaid on its associated shape.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein each of the labels is displayed only if the associated shape is above a predetermined threshold size.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the predetermined zone is an area centered on the displayed cursor.

14. The computer program product of claim 13 wherein the labels are not displayed outside of the predetermined zone only when a command using the cursor is currently active in the graphical interface and is awaiting a further input from the user based on the cursor.

15. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein a label is displayed only if at least a portion of the shape associated with the label is currently positioned within the predetermined zone.

17. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the shapes represent traces in a circuit layout.

16. 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, wherein one or more shapes are displayed in the image;

causing a display of a cursor on the display device, a displayed position of the cursor being controlled by a user of the graphical interface using an input device; 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 plurality of labels are displayed within a predetermined zone relative to the displayed cursor, and wherein no labels are displayed outside of the zone.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of labels is displayed overlaid on its associated shape by the processor, and wherein each of the labels is displayed by the processor only if the associated shape is above a predetermined threshold size.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein the predetermined zone is an area centered on the displayed cursor.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the labels are not displayed outside of the predetermined zone only when a command using the cursor is currently active in the graphical interface and is awaiting a further input from the user based on the cursor.