Method, system and device for controlling a display

Abstract

A method, system and device for controlling a display are disclosed. Data is examined, which correspond to an image to be shown with the display. Upon determining that said data comprise a critical item corresponding to an element of the image, the critical item is shown with an uncluttered view. Non-critical items corresponding to elements of the image are attempted to be shown as well, such that the critical item is not obscured and the image remains uncluttered.

1 . A computer implemented method for controlling a display, comprising: 
 examining data corresponding to an image to be shown with said display;    upon determining that said data comprise a critical item corresponding to an element of said image, showing said critical item wherein said critical item is shown with an uncluttered view;    upon determining that said data comprise a non-critical item corresponding to an element of said image, attempting to show said non-critical item wherein said uncluttered view of said critical item remains uncluttered; and    showing said image with said display wherein said image is uncluttered.    
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising, upon determining that showing said non-critical item will clutter said uncluttered view, withholding said non-critical item from being shown.  
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said examining comprises: 
 accessing said data corresponding to said image;    generating a list of points wherein said points and labels corresponding thereto comprise elements of said image;    creating a used label master region wherein said master region maps to said image; and    identifying from among said points any said critical items.    
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 3  wherein said master region is initially empty.  
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 3  wherein said showing further comprises: 
 selecting one side of one of said points;    generating a point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to said selected side wherein said point label region comprises said point and said corresponding label;    conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop a precursor of said image;    evaluating said precursor; and    upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.    
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 5  wherein said points corresponding to said critical items are selected before points corresponding to said non-critical items.  
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 5  further comprising: 
 upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region overlap, generating said point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to a side opposite from said selected side;    conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop said precursor; and    upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.    
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said image comprises one or more of a map, a document, and a graphical image.  
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 1  wherein said data corresponding to said image comprises a region object.  
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9  wherein said region object comprises data generated with a graphical device interface disposed within an operating system.  
   
   
       11 . A computer based system for controlling a display, comprising: 
 an evaluator module for accessing data corresponding to an image to be shown with said display and generating a list of points and labels corresponding thereto wherein said points and said corresponding labels comprise elements of said image;    an uncluttering module for accessing said list and generating a precursive map for said image wherein, with said precursive map, said uncluttering module attempts a fit for each of said points and said labels corresponding thereto and prioritizes the display of said points and labels; and    an image labeling module for accessing said precursive map and formatting said image to be shown with said display.    
   
   
       12 . The system as recited in  claim 11  wherein said evaluator module accesses said data corresponding to an image from a graphical display interface of an operating system.  
   
   
       13 . The system as recited in  claim 11  wherein said evaluator module is further for creating a used label master region wherein said master region maps to said image and identifying from among said points a critical item.  
   
   
       14 . The system as recited in  claim 11  wherein one or more of said generating a precursive map for said image and said formatting said image further comprise: 
 selecting one side of one of said points;    generating a point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to said selected side wherein said point label region comprises said point and said corresponding label;    conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop a precursor of said image;    evaluating said precursor; and    upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.    
   
   
       15 . The system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said points corresponding to said critical items are selected before points corresponding to said non-critical items.  
   
   
       16 . The system as recited in  claim 14  wherein one or more of said generating a precursive map for said image and said formatting said image further comprise: 
 upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region overlap, generating said point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to a side opposite from said selected side;    conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop said precursor; and    upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.    
   
   
       17 . The system as recited in  claim 11  wherein said data corresponding to said image comprises a region object.  
   
   
       18 . The system as recited in  claim 17  wherein said region object comprises data generated with a graphical device interface disposed within an operating system.  
   
   
       19 . A computer usable medium having a computer readable program code for causing a computer system to implement a process for controlling a display, said process comprising: 
 examining data corresponding to an image to be shown with said display;    upon determining that said data comprise a critical item corresponding to an element of said image, showing said critical item wherein said critical item is shown with an uncluttered view;    upon determining that said data comprise a non-critical item corresponding to an element of said image, attempting to show said non-critical item wherein said uncluttered view of said critical item remains uncluttered; and    showing said image with said display wherein said image is uncluttered.    
   
   
       20 . The computer usable medium as recited in  claim 19  wherein said process further comprises, upon determining that showing said non-critical item will clutter said uncluttered view, withholding said non-critical item from being shown.  
   
   
       21 . The computer usable medium as recited in  claim 19  wherein said examining comprises: 
 accessing said data corresponding to said image;    generating a list of points wherein said points and labels corresponding thereto comprise elements of said image;    creating a used label master region wherein said master region maps to said image; and    identifying from among said points any said critical items.    
   
   
       22 . The computer usable medium as recited in  claim 21  wherein said master region is initially empty.  
   
   
       23 . The computer usable medium as recited in  claim 21  wherein said showing further comprises: 
 selecting one side of one of said points;    generating a point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to said selected side wherein said point label region comprises said point and said corresponding label;    conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop a precursor of said image;    evaluating said precursor; and    upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.    
   
   
       24 . The computer usable medium as recited in  claim 23  wherein said points corresponding to said critical items are selected before points corresponding to said non-critical items.  
   
   
       25 . The computer usable medium as recited in  claim 23  further comprising: 
 upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region overlap, generating said point label region to said point and a label corresponding thereto to a side opposite from said selected side;    conjunctively combining said point label region and said used label master region to develop said precursor; and    upon determining that said point label region and said used label master region do not overlap, adding said selected point and a corresponding label to said image for display.    
   
   
       26 . A computer device, comprising: 
 a protective case; and    a circuit disposed within said case, wherein a system functions to control a display associated with said computer, said system comprising: 
 an evaluator module for accessing data corresponding to an image to be shown with said display and generating a list of points and labels corresponding thereto wherein said points and said corresponding labels comprise elements of said image;  
 an uncluttering module for accessing said list and generating a precursive map for said image wherein, with said precursive map, said uncluttering module attempts a fit for each of said points and said labels corresponding thereto and prioritizes the display of said points and labels; and  
 an image labeling module for accessing said precursive map and formatting said image to be shown with said display.  
   
   
   
       27 . The computer device as recited in  claim 26  wherein said evaluator module accesses said data corresponding to an image from a graphical display interface of an operating system.  
   
   
       28 . The computer device as recited in  claim 27  wherein said evaluator module is further for creating a used label master region wherein said master region maps to said image and identifying from among said points a critical item.  
   
   
       29 . The computer device as recited in  claim 26  wherein said data corresponding to said image comprises a region object.  
   
   
       30 . The computer device as recited in  claim 29  wherein said region object comprises data generated with a graphical device interface disposed within an operating system associated with said computer device.