Patent · US Active

Algorithm for drawing directed acyclic graphs

US8237716B2 · kind B2 · utility

21Cited by
62References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 8, 2008
Grant dateAug 7, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 11, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06T11/206
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for drawing directed acyclic graphs is disclosed. In particular, an algorithm, as implemented in a method and system, to aesthetically layout directed acyclic graphs is presented. The algorithm includes methods to reduce the number of edge crossings and increase the number of straight edges in such drawings. The algorithm keeps short and straight edges wherever possible and gives preference to vertical edges. It also provides an edge-crossing reduction heuristic to refine the layout obtained after standard median heuristic layout, and further provides a method to focus on important paths in the graph through layout.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.