The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 09, 2013
Filed:
May. 15, 2009
Lev Borisovich Nachmanson, Redmond, WA (US);
Lev Borisovich Nachmanson, Redmond, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
An interactive connector routing system and method for creating a connector between two shapes in a digital canvas or workspace that is based on a shortest path. The system and method avoid the use of a tangent visibility graph when possible to minimize computation time. When the graph is used, it is built one portion during pointing device events. Source and target ports are set and it is determined whether a valid simple path can be created between these ports. If no simple path exists, then the system and method build an extended tangent visibility graph during pointing devices events. Building the extended tangent visibility graph includes an iterative process that enlarges an active rectangle until it contains the necessary obstacles and shapes to generate the shortest valid path for the connector. The system and method also use finishing techniques to clean up and smooth the connector path.