Patent ID: 7757179
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. A method of automatic labeling an unlabeled scatter chart including geometrically distributed data points, comprising the steps of: 1. retrieving from a memory data that specifies an unlabeled scatter chart including label content data, label format data and chart geometry data, and labels to be associated with data points; 2. determining for each label positions juxtaposed to its associated data point on said scatter chart in a non-colliding manner according to a labeling algorithm in which the following steps are taken: (a) defining a set of N rays for each data point that originate from said data point with adjacent rays of said set enclosing an angle of 2π/N, and wherein N is selected from a number from 2 (b) determining for each data point the allowed non-colliding locations on said set of N rays that a label can be placed on without colliding with another already placed label or data point; (c) determining a measure for each data point indicative of allowed non-colliding spaces remaining for labeling of data points by a monotonically decreasing function of distance of a non-colliding label position on a ray from an associated data point; (d) iteratively calculating tentative positions for non-colliding labels on said scatter chart on sets of N rays with respect to associated data points in accordance with the determinations of steps (b) and (c) to achieve the closest location for fixing non-colliding label positions relative to associated data points, and outputting the non-colliding labeled result for the data points; and (e) outputting graphically the resultant non-colliding labels for the data points.