Pick Packet Matrix for Irregular Image Hotspots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current web browsers face difficulties in providing timely and efficient supplemental information for irregularly shaped images and stacked objects, as they can only handle a limited number of hot spots, leading to performance degradation and inability to display information for overlapping objects.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates a pick packet matrix and summary data table to store unique pick information for each pixel location, allowing browsers to efficiently retrieve and display legends for multiple objects by compressing data using run-length encoding and decoding it via JavaScript.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If multiple hot spots are embedded in a webpage to provide supplemental information for irregular elements, then information coverage is improved, but browser performance degrades and memory usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges all hot spot data for an irregular element into a single embedded object rather than creating multiple separate hot spots. This single object contains a data structure with arrays of coordinate pairs that define the irregular shape's boundary, allowing the browser to handle fewer objects and improve performance while still providing complete information coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the irregular element's boundary into coordinate pairs that can be processed algorithmically. By representing the irregular shape as an ordered array of (x, y) coordinate pairs, the system can efficiently determine which pixels fall within the boundary using computational geometry algorithms, replacing the need for multiple discrete hot spot objects.
2Loss of information
If many small embedded squares are constructed to approximate an irregular element, then information coverage is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent represents the irregular element boundary as a segmented series of coordinate pairs rather than using discrete square objects. This mathematical representation simplifies the structure from many individual objects to a single continuous boundary definition that can be processed algorithmically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the representation parameter from discrete square objects to continuous coordinate pairs. By using (x, y) coordinates to define the boundary, the system achieves the same information coverage with a more compact and computationally efficient data structure.
3Measurement precision
If the browser processes multiple hot spots in real-time as the mouse moves, then information accuracy is improved, but response time decreases due to processing lag
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-defining the irregular element boundary and storing it in a data structure within a single embedded object. The coordinate pair array is prepared in advance, allowing the browser to quickly determine information accuracy by checking pixel coordinates against the pre-stored boundary without real-time processing delays.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of generating a pick packet for use by a web browser. The pick packet has secondary string buffer that assigns a unique token to each unique object or unique combination of objects and a primary string buffer that associates a token with each pixel in the source image. A description or legend is associated with the tokens in the secondary string buffer. When a pointer device hovers over a pixel in the source image, the browser looks in the primary buffer for the toke associated with that pixel, then retrieves the legend associated with that token, if any, from the secondary buffer.