Lucent Technologies Inc.

At&t Bell Laboratories

Allan R Wilks

Stephen Gregory Eick

Richard A Becker

Eileen O Miller

A method and apparatus for rendering statistical graphics which utilizes geometric constraints and bounding boxes to compute coordinate transformations at the time a graphical object is rendered. The invention transforms coordinates in an intrinsic coordinate system of a drawing element into coordinates in an absolute coordinate system of a computer display device. The geometric constraints tie the drawing elements together and define linear equality constraints between the initially unknown parameters while allowing computation of rotation and reflection parameters in advance and independently of the remaining initially unknown parameters. Rendering bounding boxes are used to define linear inequality constraints that require the rendering bounding boxes to be completely confined within a display bounding box of known size. Using the linear equality constraints, the linear inequality constraints and a cost function, the values of the remaining initially unknown parameters are computable such that both the linear equality constraints and the linear inequality constraints are simultaneously satisfied.

Method and apparatus for rendering graphical components on a display

A computer is provided with the facility to display in map form spatially-time-varying data associated with respective nodes. Specifically, responsive to a user inputting a specific command, the computer displays a plurality of symbols representing respective ones of the nodes in which the symbols share a common characteristic, the size of which is varied commensurate with changes in the data associated with their respective nodes. In addition, the user is provided with a tool so that he/she may either manually or automatically play through the data. The user is also provided with a number of other tools to control the display of the symbols and/or data, such as, for example, a tool which changes the size of the symbols so that smaller symbols are not obscured by larger symbols.

Dynamic graphics arrangement for displaying spatial-time-series data

A computer is provided with the facility to display in map form, directed data associated with respective nodes. The operation of the mapping facility is initiated in response to the user entering an appropriate command. Specifically, responsive to the command, the computer displays a plurality of symbols representing respective ones of the nodes such that those symbols which exchange data are connected to one another by a displayed link formed from two half-line segments each indicative of the direction and level of data associated with its respective symbol. In addition, a plurality of tools are displayed for controlling the parameters used in the display of the symbols and links. For example, the user is provided with the capability to change the length of the half-line segments, and is provided with the capability to erase from the display those segments representing data values which are not within a range of data thresholds established by the user operating a threshold tool.

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Scotch Plains, NJ, United States of America

Allan R Wilks