US5664084A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for visually correlating temporal relationships
Assignee: General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc
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Filing: 1995-05-18
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Granted: 1997-09-02
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Expires: 2015-05-18
Abstract
Abstract A display system (10) collects data generated by a plurality of sensors (12) and performs an image process (24) to graphically present the sensor data on a display (16). The sensor data may be characterized by gap periods (52) during which the data are unavailable. A compress process (30) evaluates raw sensor data (26) and forms a compressed table (32) from which time-lines (56) for each sensor (12) may be drawn. A draw process (34) and a decompress process (36) draw collinear line segments (54) separated by gaps (52) for selected sensors (12). A time-line window (64) may be overlaid on the graphic image data.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Neal Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:43
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/04; G01S7/06; G01S7/064; G01S7/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for visually correlating temporal relationships between a plurality of discontinuous sensor data sets, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining sensor data from a plurality of sensors throughout a display duration, said sensor data being characterized by periods for which valid sensor data are unavailable, said sensor data further describing multi-dimensions of a particular temporal relationship; defining a plurality of approximately equal length strip regions of a display window so that each of said plurality of approximately equal length strip regions corresponds to one of said plurality of sensors and so that a length of each of said plurality of approximately equal length strip regions corresponds to said display duration; and for each of said plurality of approximately equal length strip regions, drawing a sensor time line therein, said sensor time line comprising one or more collinear line segments separated by gaps, said gaps being dimensioned to correspond to said periods for which said valid sensor data are unavailable.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for visually correlating temporal relationships between a plurality of discontinuous sensor data sets, said method comprising the steps of: obtaining sensor data from a plurality of sensors throughout a display duration, said sensor data being characterized by periods for which valid sensor data are unavailable, said sensor data further describing multi-dimensions of a particular temporal relationship; defining a plurality of approximately equal length strip regions of a display window so that each of said plurality of approximately equal length strip regions corresponds to one of said plurality of sensors and so that a length of each of said plurality of approximately equal length strip regions corresponds to said display duration; and for each of said plurality of approximately equal length strip regions, drawing a sensor time line therein, said sensor time line comprising one or more collinear line segments separated by gaps, said gaps being dimensioned to correspond to said periods for which said valid sensor data are unavailable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said method additionally comprises the step of obtaining, user input data defining a minimum gap size; and the step of drawing comprises the step of depicting durations for which said valid sensor data are unavailable for less than said minimum gap size with said collinear line segments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said defining and drawing steps are directed to a first window of said display duration, and said method additionally comprises the steps of: presenting said sensor data in a second window on said display duration; and overlaying said first window on a portion of said second window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 3 additionally comprising the step of displaying a focus port in said first window, said focus port identifying a portion of said display duration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said display duration begins at a start instant and ends at a stop instant, and said method additionally comprises the steps of: accepting recentering user input data; identifying a current instant in response to said accepting step and in response to a current position for said focus port; identifying a revised display duration having a revised start instant and a revised stop instant determined in response said current instant; and repeating said defining and drawing steps for said revised display duration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said focus port resides at a current position, and said method additionally comprises the steps of: accepting focus-port-movement user input data; and moving said focus port from said current position substantially parallel to said plurality of roughly equal length strip regions in response to said user input data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said presenting step presents sensor data obtained during said portion of said display duration identified by said focus port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 additionally comprising the steps of: accepting focus-port-persistence user input data; adjusting said portion of said display duration identified by said focus port in response to said focus-port-persistence user input data to produce an adjusted portion of said display duration; and repeating said presenting step so that an image presented in said second window reflects sensor data obtained during said adjusted portion of said display duration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein: said defining step comprises the step of orienting said plurality of roughly equal length strip regions to be substantially parallel to one another; and said displaying step comprises the step of substantially configuring said focus port to perpendicularly traverse each of said plurality of roughly equal length strip regions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said sensor data are periodic with substantially regular active and inactive durations; and said method additionally comprises the step of detecting aperiodic occurrences in said sensor data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said method additionally comprises the step of compressing said sensor data to reduce re-display time processing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said method additionally comprises the step of decompressing said compressed sensor data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 additionally comprising the steps of: obtaining sensor data from an auxiliary sensor not included in said plurality of sensors; accepting filtering user input data which identifies said auxiliary sensor; and refraining, in the step of drawing, from drawing a sensor time line corresponding to said auxiliary sensor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display duration is a baseline duration, and said method additionally comprises the steps of: accepting user input data defining a revised display duration which is shorter than said baseline duration; and repeating said defining and drawing steps to correspond to said revised display duration.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein said presenting step comprises the steps of: assigning a different label attribute to said sensor data obtained from said selected sensors; displaying a plurality of labels uniquely associated with each new event associated with one particular sensor in said second window; and displaying a corresponding one of a plurality of sensor event labels in said first window.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein: said presenting step comprises the step of assigning different color attributes to data obtained from different sensors; and the step of drawing comprises the step of assigning said different color attributes to said sensor time line so that, for each sensor, a common color is used to display sensor data in said second window and to display a corresponding one of a plurality of sensor time lines in said first window.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display duration is a baseline duration, and said method additionally comprises the steps of: accepting user input data defining a revised display duration which is longer than said baseline duration; and repeating said defining and drawing steps to correspond to said revised display duration.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for visually correlating temporal relationships between multi-dimension data collected by a sensor, said method comprising the steps of: displaying in a first window, a time line comprising at least two collinear line segments separated by one or more gaps, said one or more gaps being dimensioned to correspond to periods for which valid data are unavailable from said sensor; overlaying a focus port on a portion of said time line so that an imaged instant is defined by an intersection between said focus port and said time line; and displaying in a second window, a multi-dimensional image configured in response to data provided by said sensor during said imaged instant.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for visually correlating temporal relationships between multi-dimension data collected by a sensor, said method comprising the steps of: displaying in a first window, a time line comprising at least two collinear line segments separated by one or more gaps, said one or more gaps being dimensioned to correspond to periods for which valid data are unavailable from said sensor; overlaying a focus port on a portion of said time line so that an imaged instant is defined by an intersection between said focus port and said time line; and displaying in a second window, a multi-dimensional image configured in response to data provided by said sensor during said imaged instant.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 18 additionally comprising the step of overlaying said first window over a portion of said second window.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the time line begins at a start instant and ends at a stop instant, and said method additionally comprises the steps of: accepting recentering user input data; identifying a revised start instant and a revised stop instant determined in response to said imaged instant; and revising said time line to reflect said revised start and stop instants.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 18 additionally comprising the steps of: accepting focus-port-movement user input data; and moving said focus port from said imaged instant substantially parallel to said time line in response to said focus-port-movement user input data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein: said multi-dimension data are collected by a plurality of sensors; said displaying in a first window step displays a plurality of time lines corresponding to said multi-dimension data collected from said plurality of sensors; and said displaying in a second window step displays a plurality of multi-dimensional images wherein plurality of said multi-dimensional images correspond to said multi-dimension data collected from said plurality of sensors during said imaged instant.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
83 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein: said displaying in a first window step comprises the step of assigning different color attributes to different time lines; and said displaying in a second window step comprises the step of assigning said different color attributes to said plurality of multi-dimensional images so that, for each sensor, a common color is used to display sensor data in said second window and to display a corresponding one of said different time lines in said first window.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for visually correlating temporal relationships between a plurality of discontinuous sensor data sets comprising: a plurality of sensors for providing sensor data throughout a display duration, said sensor data being characterized by periods for which valid sensor data are unavailable, said sensor data further describing multi-dimensions of a particular temporal relationship; a controller coupled to said plurality of sensors and configured to define a plurality of approximately equal length strip regions of a display window so that each approximately equal length strip region corresponds to one of said plurality of sensors and so that a length of each approximately equal length strip region corresponds to said display duration; and a display coupled to said controller configured to depict a plurality of sensor time lines therein, said plurality of sensor time lines comprising one or more collinear line segments separated by gaps, said gaps being dimensioned to correspond to said periods for which said valid sensor data are unavailable.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
160 words
An apparatus for visually correlating temporal relationships between a plurality of discontinuous sensor data sets comprising: a plurality of sensors for providing sensor data throughout a display duration, said sensor data being characterized by periods for which valid sensor data are unavailable, said sensor data further describing multi-dimensions of a particular temporal relationship; a controller coupled to said plurality of sensors and configured to define a plurality of approximately equal length strip regions of a display window so that each approximately equal length strip region corresponds to one of said plurality of sensors and so that a length of each approximately equal length strip region corresponds to said display duration; and a display coupled to said controller configured to depict a plurality of sensor time lines therein, said plurality of sensor time lines comprising one or more collinear line segments separated by gaps, said gaps being dimensioned to correspond to said periods for which said valid sensor data are unavailable.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said controller and display are configured in cooperation with one another so that said plurality of sensor time lines are displayed in a first window of said display, said sensor data are presented in a second window of said display, and said first window is overlaid on a portion of said second window.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-01 | 2001-03-03 | 2001-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-01 | 2005-03-03 | 2005-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-01 | 2009-03-03 | 2009-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |