Method and apparatus for analyzing computer screens
First Claim
1. In a computer system, a method for determining differences between first and second screen images generated by different computer applications, the method comprising the steps of:
- capturing imaging data into a first image file for the fist screen image, where the imaging data has been generated by a first computer application for rendering the first screen image from machine-readable source data;
capturing imaging data into a second image file for the second screen image, where the imaging data has been generated by a second computer application, that is different from the first computer application, for rendering the second screen image from the same machine-readable source data that generated the imaging data for the first screen image;
automatically comparing the imaging data in the first and second image files; and
generating from the comparison of the image files a data structure containing visual differences between the first and second screen images.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An invention for quantitatively analyzing bitmap images using computer vision is disclosed. In one embodiment, these bitmap images correspond to the rendered screens of two applications based on a same data source file. An optional preprocessing step filters non-important information for analyzing purposes such as the background, replaces each image with a blank image of the same size, and modifies non-visible attributes of a screen so their structure can be recovered during the computer vision processing. After a series of rendered screens of each application are captured, these bitmap images are interpreted using computer vision techniques to produce machine-readable visual attributes of the rendered screens. Corresponding attributes from each of the two applications are then compared to generate a set of differences, where those differences within a predefined set of deliberate design differences are ignored. These attributes and differences are then processed to derive a set of grades reflecting the similarities between the rendered screens of the two applications. In determining these grades, a set of user-definable thresholds are used to overlook small variances inherent in the rendering by the different applications.
161 Citations
31 Claims
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1. In a computer system, a method for determining differences between first and second screen images generated by different computer applications, the method comprising the steps of:
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capturing imaging data into a first image file for the fist screen image, where the imaging data has been generated by a first computer application for rendering the first screen image from machine-readable source data;
capturing imaging data into a second image file for the second screen image, where the imaging data has been generated by a second computer application, that is different from the first computer application, for rendering the second screen image from the same machine-readable source data that generated the imaging data for the first screen image;
automatically comparing the imaging data in the first and second image files; and
generating from the comparison of the image files a data structure containing visual differences between the first and second screen images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In a computer system, an automated method for detecting differences between first and second screen images produced by different versions of a computer application, the method comprising the steps of:
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interpreting the first screen image to generate a first set of machine-readable attributes describing visual attributes of the first screen image;
interpreting the second screen image to generate a second set of machine-readable attributes describing visual attributes of the second screen image; and
automatically processing the first and second sets of machine-readable attributes to provide a comparison between the first and second screen images.
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15. In a computer system, a method for comparing first and second digital images respectively corresponding to first and second outputs of first and second different computer applications, the method comprising the steps of:
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populating a first data structure with a set of machine-readable attributes describing the first digital image by determining related picture elements (pixels) comprising components of the first digital image;
populating a second data structure with a set of machine-readable attributes describing the second digital image by determining related pixels comprising components of the second digital image; and
analyzing the machine-readable attributes represented in the first and second data structures to automatically generate a comparison of the first and second digital images. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer-readable medium having instructions for determining differences between first and second screen images generated by first and second computer applications respectively, the instructions performing the steps of:
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capturing imaging data into a first image file for the first screen image, where the imaging data has been generated by a first computer application for rendering the first screen image from machine-readable source data;
capturing imaging data into a second image file for the second screen image, where the imaging data has been generated by a second computer application, that is different from the first computer application, for rendering the second screen image from the same machine-readable source data that generated the imaging data for the first screen image;
automatically comparing the imaging data in the first and second image files; and
generating from the comparison of the image files a data structure containing visual differences between the first and second screen images. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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Specification