Motion-based visualization

• US 7,629,986 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technlogies Corp. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BBN Technologies (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Helsinger, Aaron Mark, Walczak, Michael J., Bobrow, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung; Kee M
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAMS, MICHELLE L
• Application Number:
  US11/961,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20080158257A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 345/473, 345/629, 345/672
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/323 Visualisation of programs or trace data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A data-display system employs a display in which the representations of data objects are caused to move on the display in order to convey information about the represented data objects. In one example, icons in a link-analysis display that represent data objects satisfying a selection criterion are made to execute distinctive motion. In another example, three-dimensional models of moving bodies in whose features components of respective data objects are encoded are projected onto a screen plane, and the resultant values are used to generate the display.

Claims

1. A method for displaying data comprising:

a processor displaying a plurality of layers of graphical data overlaid one another; and

the processor imparting a first oscillatory motion to a first of the displayed layers relative to a remainder of the displayed layers to highlight data represented in the first layer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of displayed layers is at least partially transparent.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of displayed layers corresponds to map data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of displayed layers corresponds to medical image data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of displayed layers corresponds to security screening data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one layer in the plurality of displayed layers includes image data generated by the processor from a different imaging source than used to generate image data for a second layer in the plurality of displayed layers.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the different imaging sources captures image data using different imaging techniques.

8. The method of claim 1, comprising:

the processor receiving data for display, and

the processor generating the plurality of displayed layers from the received data by storing the received data in respective ones of the plurality of displayed layers such that the data stored in each respective layer shares a common characteristic with the remaining data stored in each respective layer.

9. The method of claim 1, comprising the processor imparting a localized motion on a first area of the first layer that is different than a localized motion imparted on a second area of the first layer to visually distinguish characteristics of data within the first layer.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first layer comprises an image projected on an array of geometric shapes, and imparting the localized motion comprises shifting vertices geometric shapes in the first area.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the localized motion imparted on the first area is one of harmonic vibration, distortion, rhythmic contraction, and rhythmic expansion.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the localized motion imparted on the second area is one of harmonic vibration, distortion, rhythmic contraction, and rhythmic expansion.

13. The method of claim 1, comprising the processor receiving an input from a user identifying data to be highlighted, and the processor determining the imparted motion in response to the user input.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input comprises a query.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the oscillatory first motion is one of horizontal, vertical, circular, complex, contraction, expansion, and dynamic.

16. A system for displaying data comprising:

a display;

a memory for storing graphical data;

a processor configured for;

displaying a plurality of layers of graphical data stored in the memory overlaid over one another;

imparting a first oscillatory motion to a first of the displayed layers relative to a remainder of the displayed layers to highlight data represented in the first layer.

17. The system of claim 16, comprising a plurality of image sources, wherein each image source generates graphical data corresponding to a respective layer of the plurality of displayed layers.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to generate the plurality of displayed layers such that the data stored in each respective layer shares a common characteristic with the remaining data stored in each respective layer.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to impart a localized motion on a first area of the first layer that is different than a localized motion imparted on a second area of the first layer to visually distinguish characteristics of data within the first layer.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the localized motion imparted on the first area is one of harmonic vibration, distortion, rhythmic contraction, and rhythmic expansion.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the localized motion imparted on the second area is one of harmonic vibration, distortion, rhythmic contraction, and rhythmic expansion.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the first oscillatory motion is one of horizontal, vertical, circular, complex, contraction, expansion, and dynamic.

23. A computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to carryout out a method for displaying data comprising:

displaying a plurality of displayed layers of graphical data overlaid over one another;

imparting a first oscillatory motion to a first of the displayed layers relative to a remainder of the displayed layers to highlight data represented in the first layer.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein at least one of the plurality of displayed layers is at least partially transparent.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein at least one layer in the plurality of displayed layers includes image data generated by a different imaging source than used to generate image data for a second layer in the plurality of displayed layers.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the different imaging sources captures image data using different imaging techniques.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 23, storing instructions for causing the processor to:

receive data for display, and

generate the plurality of layers from the received data by storing the received data in respective ones of the plurality of displayed layers such that the data stored in each respective layer shares a common characteristic with the remaining data stored in each respective layer.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 23, storing a instructions for causing the processor to impart a localized motion on a first area of the first layer that is different than a localized motion imparted on a second area of the first layer to visually distinguish characteristics of data within the first layer.

29. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the first layer comprises an image projected on an array of geometric shapes, and imparting the localized motion comprises shifting vertices geometric shapes in the first area.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the localized motion imparted on the first area is one of harmonic vibration, distortion, rhythmic contraction, and rhythmic expansion.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 28, wherein the localized motion imparted on the second area is one of harmonic vibration, distortion, rhythmic contraction, and rhythmic expansion.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 23, storing instructions for causing the processor to receive an input from a user identifying data to be highlighted, and to determine the imparted motion in response to the user input.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 32, wherein the user input comprises a query.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 23, wherein the first oscillatory motion is one of horizontal, vertical, circular, complex, contraction, expansion, and dynamic.