Data visualization system
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for generating an image on a display that includes a plurality of pixels, the image representing a plurality of transactions as lines connecting points in the display indicative of a source and an origin for the respective transactions, the method comprising:
- successively rendering lines via the computer, the lines representing each of the plurality of transactions into an image buffer, the rendering including;
for each of the lines, using the computer to perform an anti-aliasing process to determine a coverage value for each pixel of the display, the coverage value representing the extent to which the line covers each pixel; and
within the image buffer, maintaining a record of a cumulative coverage value for each pixel of the display;
when the lines representing each of the plurality of transactions have been rendered into the image buffer, determining, using the computer, a maximum and a minimum of the cumulative coverage values stored in the image buffer;
scaling, using the computer, the cumulative coverage value for each pixel based on the determined maximum and minimum cumulative coverage values; and
rendering, using the computer, each pixel onto the display by using the scaled cumulative coverage value to determine a transparency for the pixel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method implemented by a computer for generating an image on a display that represents a plurality of transactions as lines connecting points in the display indicative of a source and an origin for the respective transactions. For each of the lines, an anti-aliasing process is used to determine a coverage value for each pixel of the display that represents the extent to which the line covers each pixel, and a record of a cumulative coverage value for each pixel is maintained in an image buffer. When the lines have been rendered into the image buffer, the method comprises determining a maximum and a minimum of the cumulative coverage values stored in the image buffer, scaling the cumulative coverage value for each pixel, and rendering each pixel onto the display by using the scaled cumulative coverage value to determine a transparency for the pixel.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for generating an image on a display that includes a plurality of pixels, the image representing a plurality of transactions as lines connecting points in the display indicative of a source and an origin for the respective transactions, the method comprising:
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successively rendering lines via the computer, the lines representing each of the plurality of transactions into an image buffer, the rendering including; for each of the lines, using the computer to perform an anti-aliasing process to determine a coverage value for each pixel of the display, the coverage value representing the extent to which the line covers each pixel; and within the image buffer, maintaining a record of a cumulative coverage value for each pixel of the display; when the lines representing each of the plurality of transactions have been rendered into the image buffer, determining, using the computer, a maximum and a minimum of the cumulative coverage values stored in the image buffer; scaling, using the computer, the cumulative coverage value for each pixel based on the determined maximum and minimum cumulative coverage values; and rendering, using the computer, each pixel onto the display by using the scaled cumulative coverage value to determine a transparency for the pixel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A data analysis computer system for generating an image on a display that includes a plurality of pixels, the image representing a plurality of transactions as lines connecting points in the display indicative of a source and an origin for the respective transactions, the computer system comprising:
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a graphics buffer operable to provide an image buffer for storing image data; a display screen operable to display the image data provided by the graphics buffer; and a processing module operable to; successively render lines representing each of the plurality of transactions into an image buffer, the rendering including; for each of the lines, using an anti-aliasing process to determine a coverage value for each pixel of the display, the coverage value representing the extent to which the line covers each pixel; and within the image buffer, maintaining a record of a cumulative coverage value for each pixel of the display; when the lines representing each of the plurality of transactions have been rendered into the image buffer, determine a maximum and a minimum of the cumulative coverage values stored in an image buffer; scale the cumulative coverage value for each pixel based on the maximum and minimum cumulative coverage values; and cause each pixel to be rendered onto the display by using the scaled cumulative coverage value to determine a transparency for the pixel.
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20. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer implementable instructions which, when implemented by a programmable computer, cause the computer to generate an image on a display that includes a plurality of pixels, the image representing a plurality of transactions as lines connecting points in the display indicative of a source and an origin for the respective transactions, the steps of generating the image comprising:
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successively rendering lines, via the computer, the lines representing each of the plurality of transactions into an image buffer, the rendering including; for each of the lines, using the computer to perform an anti-aliasing process to determine a coverage value for each pixel of the display, the coverage value representing the extent to which the line covers each pixel; and within the image buffer, maintaining a record of a cumulative coverage value for each pixel of the display; when the lines representing each of the plurality of transactions have been rendered into the image buffer, determining, using the computer, a maximum and a minimum of the cumulative coverage values stored in an image buffer; scaling, using the computer, the cumulative coverage value for each pixel based on the maximum and minimum cumulative coverage values; and rendering, using the computer, each pixel onto the display by using the scaled cumulative coverage value to determine a transparency for the pixel.
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Specification