Semi-Transparent Plane Cursors for 3D Machine Data Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-dimensional machine data displays are visually cluttered, making it difficult for users to locate and manipulate cursors effectively, especially in busy data sets like cascade plots, where cursors can become obscured by data peaks and are hard to track.
Innovation Solution
The use of semi-transparent plane cursors that can be positioned independently, allowing users to select data points by intersecting planes that dimly obscure background data, providing clear visibility and allowing multiple cursors to be used for differential measurements, with options for varying opacity and height, and the ability to rotate and view data from any angle in a virtual three-dimensional space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional opaque or solid cursors are used in three-dimensional machine data displays, then the cursor position can be clearly marked, but the cursor becomes obscured by data peaks and is hard to track in busy data sets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies transparency changes to cursor planes, allowing them to transition from opaque to transparent states. This enables the cursor to remain visible as a reference marker while allowing users to see through it to data points that may be obscured behind it, solving the contradiction between marking precision and visibility in complex three-dimensional data sets
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the display have different transparency properties - the cursor planes are semi-transparent while the data behind them remains visible. This local differentiation allows the cursor to serve its marking function while simultaneously allowing visibility of obscured data points, resolving the visibility contradiction
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple cursors are displayed to enable differential measurements, then measurement capability is enhanced, but visual clutter increases and makes it difficult to distinguish individual cursors
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cursor planes are displayed with different transparency levels and can be individually controlled. This allows users to distinguish between different cursors while maintaining the ability to see through them to the underlying data, enabling differential measurements without excessive visual clutter
Solution Approach 2:
The transparency of cursor planes can be dynamically adjusted and changed during operation. Users can modify the transparency of individual cursors or all cursors simultaneously, allowing the display to adapt to different analysis needs and reducing visual complexity when multiple cursors are present
3Ease of operation
If the cursor is made transparent to improve visibility, then background data becomes visible, but the cursor may become too faint to locate
Solution Approach 1:
The cursor planes have semi-transparent properties that allow visibility of background data while maintaining sufficient opacity to be clearly visible as reference markers. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between seeing through the cursor and locating the cursor itself
Solution Approach 2:
The transparency of cursor planes can be adjusted to optimal levels that balance visibility of the cursor itself with visibility of the background data. This controlled transparency change allows both the cursor location and the obscured data to be simultaneously visible
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for displaying machine data are described including a method for displaying machine data as a virtual three-dimensional image showing a three-dimensional graph having three axes such that the data in the graph may be rotated about one or more of the axes to give a data analyst a better perspective of the behavior of an item being monitored. In a related embodiment, a method for displaying machine data in a virtual three-dimensional image such that the data may be rotated one or more of the axes is described which further includes one or more cursor images representing substantially planar cursors on the display for analyzing data.