Patent ID: 7409087

Claim:
A method for isolating target elements in a matrix, comprising: identifying target matrix elements in a matrix to isolate, wherein the matrix comprises target and non-target matrix elements; calculating the potential gain of isolated target matrix elements for each cut from a set of matrix cuts by: selecting a horizontal cut from the set of matrix cuts; for each remaining cut from the set of matrix cuts between the selected cut and the nearest existing cut above the selected cut; determining the number of isolated and isolatable target matrix elements above the selected cut and the nearest existing cut above the selected cut attributable to introducing the selected cut to the matrix; determining the number of isolated and isolatable target matrix elements above the selected cut and the nearest existing cut above the selected cut attributable to introducing the remaining cut to the matrix; assigning a score to each isolated and isolatable target matrix element attributable to introducing the selected cut to the matrix, wherein the score is proportional to the number of additional vertical cuts required to isolate each isolated or isolatable target matrix element; and summing the inverse of each score assigned to each isolated and isolatable target matrix element; setting the potential gain of isolated target matrix elements above the selected cut to the highest calculated sum; calculating the potential gain of isolated target matrix elements below the selected cut; selecting the highest calculated potential gain as the potential gain of isolated target elements for the selected cut; and applying the matrix cut from the set of matrix cuts with the greatest calculated potential gain.