Aggregate Behavior Visualization for Multi-User Annotation Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current software lacks effective tools for visualizing and analyzing multi-user annotations on visual media objects, hindering the discovery of relationships and knowledge assets within annotated content.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for facilitating the discovery of relationships through a user interface that solicits and processes annotations from multiple users, using an aggregate-behavior visualization algorithm to display visualizations that reveal relationships, communities, and knowledge assets within annotated visual media objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple users provide annotations on visual media objects, then the quantity and diversity of annotations increase, but the complexity of analyzing and visualizing these annotations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequantity of annotationsVSAvoidcomplexity of visualization system
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the complex task of annotation analysis by creating separate visualization components: individual annotation visualizations for each user, aggregate behavior visualizations that summarize collective patterns, and relationship visualizations that show connections between annotations and users. This segmentation allows the system to handle large quantities of annotations without overwhelming complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces aggregate behavior visualizations as intermediary representations that mediate between individual user annotations and overall relationship patterns. These aggregate visualizations serve as a intermediate layer that processes and summarizes annotation data, making the complex multi-user annotation patterns more manageable and interpretable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the system processes and visualizes aggregate behavior of multiple annotators, then the ability to discover relationships and knowledge assets improves, but the computational processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediscovery of relationships and knowledge assetsVSAvoidcomputational processing requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by providing different levels of visualization detail based on user needs and annotation density. The system offers both individual annotation visualizations and aggregate behavior visualizations, allowing users to view only the level of detail necessary for their specific analysis task, thereby reducing unnecessary computational processing while maintaining the ability to discover relationships and knowledge assets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If the user interface displays detailed visualizations of individual annotations and aggregate behaviors, then the ease of analyzing annotation patterns improves, but the information overload and complexity for the user increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of analyzing annotation patternsVSAvoidinformation overload
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing different visualization densities and levels of detail in different interface regions. Individual annotation visualizations display detailed information for specific annotations, while aggregate behavior visualizations provide summarized patterns across multiple annotations. Users can navigate between these different levels of local detail without being overwhelmed by global information overload.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10061756B2Media annotation visualization tools and techniques, and an aggregate-behavior visualization system utilizing such tools and techniques
Publication Date: 2018.08.28 UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC
  • US10061756B2 patent drawing
  • US10061756B2 patent drawing
  • US10061756B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods of facilitating the discovery of relationships between/among participants within systems for annotating visual media objects to create new associations, communities, and other relationships. These methods include processing annotations, metadata, and/or other information using one or more aggregate-behavior-visualization algorithms and displaying aggregate-behavior visualizations to users. These visualizations allow users to seek out and discover relationships and provide unique knowledge assets useful for a variety of purposes, including creating smart documents and fostering learning.