System and method for providing a perspective-corrected representation of a multi-dimensional cluster

• US 7,352,371 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nuix North America Inc. (Nuix Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Attenex Corp. (FTI Consulting Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gallivan, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung; Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAPPAS, PETER
• Application Number:
  US11/728,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/20 Drawing from basic elements, e.g. lines or circles
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects

Abstract

A system and method for providing a perspective-corrected representation of a multi-dimensional cluster is presented. Clusters are displayed based on independent spatial orientations within multiple dimensions. For each such spatial orientation, the clusters are located at an independent distance from a common origin. A relationship between a pair of the clusters is picked and analyzed. A criteria for perspective correction is sought. The criteria is applied to the pair of clusters to determine whether the clusters need be reoriented. The clusters are reoriented in the display by a perspective-corrected distance based on the relationship between the pair of clusters.

Claims

1. A system for reorienting a cluster rendering within a display, comprising:

a collection module to obtain a plurality of clusters that have been visually rendered on a two-dimensional display to model independent spatial orientations within multiple dimensions, wherein the clusters individually represent thematically related objects comprising a collection of documents;

an evaluation module to evaluate the spatial orientations of the clusters in each such dimension by identifying two-dimensional relationships for pairs of the clusters;

a search module to determine a distance for at least one such cluster from a common origin within the display that visually preserves the spatial orientation of the at least one cluster as a function of the relationships of that cluster, wherein the distance for the at least one such cluster is proportionately adjusted according to the relationships, and the adjustment is determined using a coefficient calculated according to the equation comprising;

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a clustering module to find a center and radii for each cluster and a fixed distance from the common origin to the center of the cluster.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the distance for the at least one such cluster minimizes visual overlap between the clusters in the display.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the display is selected from a group comprising a CRT display, LCD display, and printer.

5. A method for reorienting a cluster rendering within a display, comprising:

obtaining a plurality of clusters that have been visually rendered on a two-dimensional display to model independent spatial orientations within multiple dimensions, wherein the clusters individually represent thematically related objects comprising a collection of documents;

evaluating the spatial orientations of the clusters in each such dimension by identifying two-dimensional relationships for pairs of the clusters; and

determining a distance for at least one such cluster from a common origin within the display that visually preserves the spatial orientation of the at least one cluster as a function of the relationships of that cluster, wherein the distance for the at least one such cluster is proportionately adjusted according to the relationships, and the adjustment is determined using a coefficient calculated according to the equation comprising;

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

finding a center and radii for each cluster and a fixed distance from the common origin to the center of the cluster.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the distance for the at least one such cluster minimizes visual overlap between the clusters in the display.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the display is selected from a group comprising a CRT display, LCD display, and printer.

9. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 5.

10. A system for providing a perspective-corrected representation of a multi-dimensional cluster, comprising:

a display module to display clusters based on independent spatial orientations within multiple dimensions, where, for each such spatial orientation, the clusters are located at an independent distance from a common origin and the clusters individually represent thematically related objects comprising a collection of documents;

an analysis module to pick and to analyze a relationship between a pair of the clusters, comprising;

a selection module to select a criteria for perspective correction; and

an application module to apply the criteria to the pair of clusters to determine whether the clusters need to be reoriented, wherein the independent distance for the at least one such cluster is proportionately adjusted according to the relationship, and the adjustment is determined using a coefficient calculated according to the equation comprising;

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the criteria comprises at least one of a common bounding region between the clusters and visual overlap of the clusters.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the perspective-corrected distance comprises a proportionate extension of the distance for the cluster determined by multiplying the independent distance of each cluster by a fixed coefficient.

13. A method for providing a perspective-corrected representation of a multi-dimensional cluster, comprising:

displaying clusters based on independent spatial orientations within multiple dimensions, where, for each such spatial orientation, the clusters are located at an independent distance from a common origin and individually represent thematically related objects comprising a collection of documents;

picking and analyzing a relationship between a pair of the clusters, comprising;

selecting a criteria for perspective correction; and

applying the criteria to the pair of clusters to determine whether the clusters need be reoriented, wherein the independent distance for the at least one such cluster is proportionately adjusted according to the relationships, and the adjustment is determined using a coefficient calculated according to the equation comprising;

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the criteria comprises at least one of a common bounding region between the clusters and visual overlap of the clusters.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the perspective-corrected distance comprises a proportionate extension of the distance for the cluster determined by multiplying the independent distance of each cluster by a fixed coefficient.

16. A computer-readable storage medium holding code for performing the method according to claim 13.