Scatter Plot Real-Time Backward Rewrite for Data Occlusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional scatter plots face issues with occlusion and shifting of data points when visualizing large quantities of data, making it difficult to analyze patterns and relationships, especially when new data points are continuously received.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a real-time backward rewrite technique to overlay new data points on previously written data points, along with a time divider structure and control elements to manage overplotting, allowing for animated updates without shifting existing pixels, and using color coding to represent additional attributes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional scatter plots are used to display large quantities of data points, then the data visualization covers the entire coordinate space, but data point occlusion occurs making patterns difficult to analyze
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the visualization approach by dividing data points into different categories (newly arrived vs. previously displayed) and applying different rendering strategies to each segment. Newly arrived data points are displayed with full visibility while previously displayed points are handled through selective rendering, allowing the system to accommodate large quantities of data points without complete occlusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through the backward rewrite technique where previously displayed data points are periodically re-rendered and selectively removed based on current data arrival. This periodic refresh cycle allows the visualization to maintain clarity by removing occluding points at regular intervals while preserving the ability to display large volumes of data over time.
2Productivity
If new data points are continuously added to the scatter plot, then the data volume increases for analysis, but the plot shifts causing loss of previously observed patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing the backward rewrite mechanism that processes newly arrived data points before they cause plot shifting. The system proactively renders new points and selectively removes previously displayed points in advance, preventing the accumulation that would lead to pattern distortion rather than allowing shifts to occur and then correcting them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements discarding and recovering by selectively removing (discarding) previously displayed data points that are no longer needed for pattern analysis, while preserving (recovering) the visual stability of the plot. This selective discarding allows new data to be incorporated without shifting the overall plot composition, maintaining pattern stability while enabling continuous data analysis.
3Loss of information
If all previously written data points are retained in the scatter plot, then complete data history is preserved, but overplotting increases reducing intelligibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by selectively rendering only a subset of previously displayed data points rather than all of them. The backward rewrite technique determines which specific points to retain and which to remove based on their contribution to pattern visibility, achieving partial preservation of data history while maintaining plot intelligibility through controlled overplotting.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the rendering parameters of data points by applying different opacity levels, colors, or sizing to newly arrived versus previously displayed points. This parameter differentiation allows the system to preserve data history visually while managing overplotting effects, making the plot more intelligible by distinguishing between different temporal layers of data.
Data Source
AI summary
A scatter plot that represents plural periodic time intervals is animated as new data points are received, where the animating includes performing real-time backward rewriting. The real-time backward rewriting includes overlaying a subset of previously written data points with the new data points, and painting a remainder of previously written data points outside the subset in the scatter plot, where painting the remainder of previously written data points is performed without shifting pixels corresponding to the remainder. A divider structure is drawn in the scatter plot to indicate a position in the scatter plot between a current time point and a previous time point.