Patent ID: 7131060
Filing Date: 2006-10-31
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for positioning labels among graphical elements on a computer graphics display, comprising: a display, and a processor coupled to said display and operable to identify at least a first cluster of overlapping labels on said display, and operable to calculate initial display coordinates in accordance with an initial position of at least one label in said cluster, to calculate new display coordinates in accordance with a new position of said at least one label in said cluster having less overlap, to display said at least one label at said initial display coordinates, and to move said at least one label on said display from said initial display coordinates to said new display coordinates, wherein said processor is operable to sequentially select labels from a plurality of labels on said display, and to test each of said selected labels for overlap with other labels or graphical elements in said display, and said processor is operable to accumulate an overlap score for each of said selected labels, and operable to generate a list of other labels and graphical elements that overlap each of said selected labels, and operable to compare a plurality of said lists and accumulate cluster lists of overlapping labels and graphical elements, and operable to sort a plurality of said cluster lists according to the number of entries in each.