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US5861891A
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Method, system, and computer program for visually approximating scattered data
Assignee: RPX Corp
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Filing: 1997-01-13
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Granted: 1999-01-19
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Expires: 2017-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A method, system, and computer program product are provided for visually approximating a scatter plot. Bins of scattered data points are formed. Each axis of a scatter plot is discretized according to a binning resolution. Bin positions along each discretized scatter plot axis are determined from the bin numbers. The bins, which represent a cloud of scattered data points, are volume rendered as splats. The opacity of each splat is a function of the number (count) of data points in a corresponding bin. In one example, the opacity of a splat is determined by the following equation: opacity=1-exp(-u*count), where count is the number of scattered data points in a corresponding bin, u is a global scale factor which can be varied by a slider, and exp is an exponential function. The color of the splat represents a data attribute associated with the data points in a corresponding bin. For example, the color of the splat is a function of the average value of an external data attribute associated with the scattered data points. Splats are rendered in a sorted back to front (or front to back) order. An opaque dragger object permits a user to select different regions inside a splat plot. Arbitrarily large numbers of scattered data points can be rendered quickly. Speed depends upon binning resolution not the number of data points.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry Glenn Becker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 22:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T13/00; G06T13/20; G06T11/00; G06T11/20; G06T11/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for visually approximating a scatter plot of data points, comprising the steps of: binning the data points into bins; determining a bin position for each bin; determining a count of data points in each bin; and rendering splats at bin positions of corresponding bins, each splat having an opacity that is a function of said count of data points in a corresponding bin, whereby, a splat plot can be displayed that visually approximates the scatter plot of data points.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for visually approximating a scatter plot of data points, comprising the steps of: binning the data points into bins; determining a bin position for each bin; determining a count of data points in each bin; and rendering splats at bin positions of corresponding bins, each splat having an opacity that is a function of said count of data points in a corresponding bin, whereby, a splat plot can be displayed that visually approximates the scatter plot of data points.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: globally scaling the opacity of each splat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said rendering step renders each splat having an opacity that is a function of said count of data points in a corresponding bin, according to the following equation: opacity=1-exp(-u*count), where, opacity represent the opacity value of a splat at approximately a splat center, count represents said count of data points in a corresponding bin, u represents a global scale factor, and exp denotes an exponential function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: for each bin, determining an aggregate value of a variable associated with said data points in a respective bin; wherein said rendering step renders each splat with a respective color that is a function of said aggregate value determined for a corresponding bin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said rendering step composites splats in a back-to-front order such that splats located farthest from a display screen are rendered before splats located closer to a display screen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each bin position has at least one position coordinate, each position coordinate corresponds to an axis in the scatter plot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said binning step comprises: discretizing each variable to be plotted along a respective axis in a splat plot according to a binning resolution.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each bin position includes two position coordinates corresponding to two respective variables associated with the data points, and further comprising the step of: displaying a two-dimensional splat plot that includes said rendered splats located at respective bin positions along two axes in said two-dimensional splat plot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 1, wherein each bin position includes three position coordinates corresponding to three respective variables associated with the data points, and further comprising the step of: displaying a three-dimensional splat plot that includes said rendered splats located at respective bin positions along three axes in said three-dimensional splat plot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said rendering step texture maps said opacity across a polygon to represent a splat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: displaying a splat plot that includes said rendered splats; displaying a dragger object; permitting a user to select a region in the splat plot by moving said dragger object to said region; and displaying information about said region; whereby information on regions inside a volume rendered splat plot can be read.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
86 words
A system for visually approximating a scatter plot of data points, comprising: means for binning the data points into bins; means for determining a bin position for each bin; means for determining a count of data points in each bin; and means for rendering splats at bin positions of corresponding bins, each splat having an opacity that is a function of said count of data points in a corresponding bin, whereby, a splat plot can be displayed that visually approximates the scatter plot of data points.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
86 words
A system for visually approximating a scatter plot of data points, comprising: means for binning the data points into bins; means for determining a bin position for each bin; means for determining a count of data points in each bin; and means for rendering splats at bin positions of corresponding bins, each splat having an opacity that is a function of said count of data points in a corresponding bin, whereby, a splat plot can be displayed that visually approximates the scatter plot of data points.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 12, further comprising: means for globally scaling the opacity of each splat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said rendering means renders each splat having an opacity that is a function of said count of data points in a corresponding bin, according to the following equation: opacity=1-exp(-u*count), where, opacity represents the opacity value of a splat at an approximate splat center, count represents said count of aggregated data points in a corresponding bin, u represents a global scale factor, and exp denotes an exponential function.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 12, further comprising: means for determining an aggregate value of a variable associated with said data points in a respective bin; wherein said rendering means renders each splat with a respective color that is a function of said aggregate value determined for a corresponding bin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said rendering means composites splats in a back-to-front order such that splats located furthest from a display screen are rendered before splats located closer to a display screen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 12, wherein each bin position has at least one position coordinate, each position coordinate corresponds to an axis in the scatter plot.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said means for binning comprises: means for discretizing each variable to be plotted along a respective axis in the splat plot according to a binning resolution.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 12, wherein each bin position includes two position coordinates corresponding to two respective variables associated with the data points, and further comprising: means for displaying a two-dimensional splat plot that includes said rendered splats located at respective bin positions along two axes in said two-dimensional splat plot.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 12, wherein each bin position includes three position coordinates corresponding to three respective variables associated with the data points, and further comprising: means for displaying a three-dimensional splat plot that includes said rendered splats located at respective bin positions along three axes in said three-dimensional splat plot.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 12, wherein said rendering means comprises means for texture mapping said opacity across a polygon to represent a respective splat.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system of claim 12, further comprising: means for displaying a splat plot that includes said rendered splats; means for displaying a dragger object; means for permitting a user to select a region in the splat plot by moving said dragger object to said region; and means for displaying information about said region; whereby information on regions inside a volume rendered splat plot can be read.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
132 words
A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a graphics processor in a computer system to visually approximate a scatter plot of data points, said computer program logic comprising: means for enabling the graphics processor to bin the data points into bins; means for enabling the graphics processor to determine a bin position for each bin; means for enabling the graphics processor to determine a count of data points in each bin; and means for enabling the graphics processor to render splats at bin locations of corresponding bins, each splat having an opacity that is a function of said count of data points in a corresponding bin, whereby, a splat plot can be displayed that visually approximates the scatter plot of data points.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
132 words
A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a graphics processor in a computer system to visually approximate a scatter plot of data points, said computer program logic comprising: means for enabling the graphics processor to bin the data points into bins; means for enabling the graphics processor to determine a bin position for each bin; means for enabling the graphics processor to determine a count of data points in each bin; and means for enabling the graphics processor to render splats at bin locations of corresponding bins, each splat having an opacity that is a function of said count of data points in a corresponding bin, whereby, a splat plot can be displayed that visually approximates the scatter plot of data points.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
37 words
A method for visually approximating a scatter plot of data points, comprising the steps of: binning the data points into bins; determining a bin position for each bin; and volume rendering at bin positions of corresponding bins.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
37 words
A method for visually approximating a scatter plot of data points, comprising the steps of: binning the data points into bins; determining a bin position for each bin; and volume rendering at bin positions of corresponding bins.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said volume rendering step includes ray tracing.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 24, wherein said volume rendering step includes cell projection.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-01-18 | 2002-07-20 | 2003-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-18 | 2006-07-20 | 2007-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-18 | 2010-07-20 | 2011-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |