Method and apparatus for representing objects as visually discernable entities based on spatial definition and perspective
US6392667B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F16/9027
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and process for consolidating the visual representation of objects into a “rollup” visual representation. A set of objects defined in an N-dimensional space and a perspective viewpoint are obtained or pre-defined. Each object in the set is then represented by a new rollup object and each new rollup object is compared with any pre-existing rollup objects to determine if it is “near enough” to any pre-existing rollup object to be consolidated with the pre-existing object. If so, they are consolidated and the new rollup object is removed. The “near-enough” determination may be made based upon a threshold minimum area of occlusion between the two rollup objects, a threshold minimum pixel distance, or a threshold minimum spatial distance between the two rollup objects. In a preferred embodiment, the rollup objects represent managed network entities (devices and/or applications) in a computer network and the rollup process provides a convenient way to consolidate information regarding a plurality of managed network entities into a subset of rollup entities which visually represent a simplified network, within a network management software app…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.