System and method for automatically routing a line in a graphics chart
First Claim
1. A method for automatically routing a line through a graphics chart from a starting point to an ending point in the chart to connect graphically two symbols, the method comprising the steps of:
- collecting data for the chart representing the location of each symbol in the chart and the starting and ending points for the line;
determining a number of paths for the line from the starting point to the ending point;
scoring each of the paths from the determining step;
selecting the path with the best score as the path to route the line from the starting point to the ending point; and
displaying the line along the path with the best score.
19 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for automatically routing a line (54) through a graphics chart (28) from a starting point (70) to an ending point (71) in the chart is provided. The method includes collecting data for the chart (28) representing the location of each symbol (30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, & 42) in the chart (28) and the starting (70) and ending (71) points for the line. The method further includes determining a number of paths for the line (54) from the starting point (70) to the ending point (71) and scoring each of the lines. The method also includes selecting the line (54) with the best score as the line to route from the starting point (70) to the ending point (71).
18 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for automatically routing a line through a graphics chart from a starting point to an ending point in the chart to connect graphically two symbols, the method comprising the steps of:
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collecting data for the chart representing the location of each symbol in the chart and the starting and ending points for the line; determining a number of paths for the line from the starting point to the ending point; scoring each of the paths from the determining step; selecting the path with the best score as the path to route the line from the starting point to the ending point; and displaying the line along the path with the best score. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for automatically routing a line through a graphics chart from a starting point to an ending point in the chart, the method comprising the steps of:
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collecting data for the chart representing the location of each symbol in the chart and the starting and ending points for the line; identifying an inner region defined by the starting and the ending points of the line; extending the inner region; truncating the extended inner region for any symbols presenting a barrier to routing the line in the extended region; searching for open corridors in the truncated extended inner region; calculating a beginning location and an ending location of a segment for each open corridors; calculating a next direction for the path from the segment'"'"'s ending location based on the segment'"'"'s ending location and the line'"'"'s ending point and the direction at the segment'"'"'s ending location and the direction at the line'"'"'s ending point; scoring each segment; selecting the path whose segments have the best score from the line'"'"'s starting point to the ending point; and displaying the line along the path with the best score.
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8. A computer program for automatically routing a line through a graphics chart from a starting point to an ending point in the chart to connect graphically two symbols, the program comprising:
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computer implemented instructions for collecting data for the chart representing the location of each symbol in the chart and the starting and ending points for the line; computer implemented instructions for determining a number of paths for the line as a series of orthogonal segments from the starting point to the ending point; computer implemented instructions for scoring each of the paths; computer implemented instructions for selecting the path with the best score as the path to route the line from the starting point to the ending point; and computer implemented instructions for displaying the line along the path with the best score. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program for automatically routing a line through a graphics chart from a starting point to an ending point in the chart. the program comprising:
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instructions for collecting data for the chart representing the location of each symbol in the chart and the starting and ending points for the line;
instructions for identifying an inner region defined by the starting and the ending points of the line;instructions for extending the inner region; instructions for truncating the extended inner region for any symbols presenting a barrier to routing the line in the extended region; instructions for searching for open corridors in the truncated extended inner region; instructions for calculating a beginning location and an ending location of a segment for each open corridors; instructions for calculating a next direction for the path from the segment'"'"'s ending location based on the segment'"'"'s ending location and the line'"'"'s ending point and the direction at the segment'"'"'s ending location and the direction at the line'"'"'s ending point; instructions for scoring each segment; instructions for selecting the path whose segments have the best score from the line'"'"'s starting point to the ending point; and instructions for displaying the line along the path whose segments have the best score.
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15. A computer graphics system for automatically routing a line through a graphics chart from a starting point to an ending point to connect graphically two symbols, the system comprising:
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a computer-readable medium; a processor; a visual display; and a computer program encoded on the computer-readable medium for execution on the processor, the computer program comprising; instructions for collecting data for a chart representing the location of each symbol in the chart; instructions for determining a number of paths for the line as a series of orthoaonal segments from the starting point to the ending point; instructions for calculating a score for each of the paths; instructions for selecting the path with the best score as the path to route the line from the starting point to the ending point; and instructions for displaying on the visual display the line along the path with the best score. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer graphics system for automatically routing a line through a graphics chart from a starting point to an ending point, the system comprising:
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a computer-readable medium; a processor; a visual display; and a computer program encoded on the computer-readable medium for execution on the processor, the computer program comprising; instructions for collecting data for a chart representing the location of each symbol in the chart; instructions for identifying an inner region defined by the starting and the ending points of the line; instructions for extending the inner region; instructions for truncating the extended inner region for any symbols presenting a barrier to routing the line in the extended region; instructions for searching for open corridors in the truncated extended inner region; instructions for calculating a beginning location and an ending location of a segment for each open corridors; instructions for calculating a next direction for the path from the segment'"'"'s ending location based on the segment'"'"'s ending location and the line'"'"'s ending point and the direction at the segment'"'"'s ending location and the direction at the line'"'"'s ending point; instructions for scoring each segment; instructions for selecting the line whose segments have the best score from the line'"'"'s starting point to the ending point; and instructions for displaying on the visual display the line along the path with the best score.
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22. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions to execute, on a computer, the following steps:
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collecting data for a chart representing the location of each symbol in the chart; obtaining a starting point and an ending point of a line to be routed in the chart to connect graphically two symbols; determining a number of paths for the line as a series of orthogonal line segments from the starting point to the ending point; calculating a score for each of the paths, wherein calculating the score includes counting the number of orthogonal line segments; selecting the path with the best score as the path to route the line from the starting point to the ending point; and displaying the line along the path with the best score. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions to execute, on a computer, the following steps:
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collecting data for a chart representing the location of each symbol in the chart; obtaining a starting point and an ending point of a line to be routed in the chart; identifying an inner region defined by the starting and the ending points of the line; extending the inner region; truncating the extended inner region for any symbols presenting a barrier to routing the line in the extended region; searching for open corridors in the truncated extended inner region; calculating a beginning location and an ending location of a segment for each open corridors; calculating a next direction for the path from the segment'"'"'s ending location based on the segment'"'"'s ending location and the line'"'"'s ending point and the direction at the segment'"'"'s ending location and the direction at the line'"'"'s ending point; scoring each segment; and selecting the path whose segments have the best score from the line'"'"'s starting point to the ending point; displaying the line along the path with the best score.
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Specification