Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region having diminishing magnification, the focal region having a perimeter defined by a radius r from a line segment; receiving one or more signals to adjust at least one of the radius r and a length len of the line segment to thereby adjust the perimeter; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a graphical presentation is generated from a data representation. A lens is applied to reveal a region-of-interest occluded by an occluding portion of an image. The lens includes an extent of the lens, a focal region including a magnification and a transparency to reduce occlusion of the region-of-interest by the occluding portion, and a shoulder region between the extent of the lens and the focal region. The shoulder region provides context for the focal region with respect to a portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens by preserving visibility of information surrounding the focal region. The shoulder region also has decreasing transparency as depth decreases from the focal region to the portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a graphical presentation is generated from a data representation. A lens is applied to reveal a region-of-interest occluded by an occluding portion of an image. The lens includes an extent of the lens, a focal region including a magnification and a transparency to reduce occlusion of the region-of-interest by the occluding portion, and a shoulder region between the extent of the lens and the focal region. The shoulder region provides context for the focal region with respect to a portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens by preserving visibility of information surrounding the focal region. The shoulder region also has decreasing transparency as depth decreases from the focal region to the portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a graphical presentation is generated from a data representation. A lens is applied to reveal a region-of-interest occluded by an occluding portion of an image. The lens includes an extent of the lens, a focal region including a magnification and a transparency to reduce occlusion of the region-of-interest by the occluding portion, and a shoulder region between the extent of the lens and the focal region. The shoulder region provides context for the focal region with respect to a portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens by preserving visibility of information surrounding the focal region. The shoulder region also has decreasing transparency as depth decreases from the focal region to the portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a graphical presentation is generated from a data representation. A lens is applied to reveal a region-of-interest occluded by an occluding portion of an image. The lens includes an extent of the lens, a focal region including a magnification and a transparency to reduce occlusion of the region-of-interest by the occluding portion, and a shoulder region between the extent of the lens and the focal region. The shoulder region provides context for the focal region with respect to a portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens by preserving visibility of information surrounding the focal region. The shoulder region also has decreasing transparency as depth decreases from the focal region to the portion of the image outside of the extent of the lens.

Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region having diminishing magnification, the focal region having a perimeter defined by a radius r from a line segment; receiving one or more signals to adjust at least one of the radius r and a length len of the line segment to thereby adjust the perimeter; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a graphical presentation is generated from a data representation. A transparency lens is applied to reveal a region-of-interest within an original image. The region-of-interest is occluded by an occluding portion of the original image. The transparency lens includes a focal region having a transparency to reduce occlusion of the region-of-interest by the occluding portion. The transparency lens also includes a shoulder region between the focal region and a foreground of the original image. The shoulder region has decreasing transparency from the focal region to the foreground. In an embodiment, occluding portion is sliced into slices normal to a depth axis of the original image. Transparencies are applied to the slices as a function of depth of the slices to form the shoulder region.

Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region having diminishing magnification, the focal region having a perimeter defined by a radius r from a line segment; receiving one or more signals to adjust at least one of the radius r and a length len of the line segment to thereby adjust the perimeter; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation.

Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen, comprising: establishing a lens for the region-of-interest, the lens having a magnified focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region having diminishing magnification, the focal region having a perimeter defined by a radius r from a line segment; receiving one or more signals to adjust at least one of the radius r and a length len of the line segment to thereby adjust the perimeter; and, applying the lens to the original image to produce the presentation.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a graphical presentation is generated from a data representation. A transparency lens is applied to reveal a region-of-interest within an original image. The region-of-interest is occluded by an occluding portion of the original image. The transparency lens includes a focal region having a transparency to reduce occlusion of the region-of-interest by the occluding portion. The transparency lens also includes a shoulder region between the focal region and a foreground of the original image. The shoulder region has decreasing transparency from the focal region to the foreground. In an embodiment, occluding portion is sliced into slices normal to a depth axis of the original image. Transparencies are applied to the slices as a function of depth of the slices to form the shoulder region.

Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest within an original image for display on a display screen, the region-of-interest being at a depth within the original image and being occluded by a portion of the original image at a lesser depth, the method comprising: applying graduated transparency to the original image to generate the presentation, the graduated transparency reducing occlusion of the region-of-interest by making transparent at least some of the portion of the original image occluding the region-of-interest, the graduated transparency when applied renders within the presentation a focal region having a maximum level of transparency at the depth of and for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region where transparency decreases with lessening depth from the maximum level to that of the original image surrounding the shoulder region to provide context for the focal region with respect to the original image; and, displaying the presentation on the dis

Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in an original image for display on a display screen of a client coupled over a network to a server, comprising: establishing a lens having a focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region; if the lens is in transit between first and second locations for the region-of-interest in the original image, applying the lens to the original image by a first method to generate the presentation at the client; and, if the lens is stationary in the original image, receiving the presentation from the server, the server applying the lens to the original image by a second method to generate the presentation.

Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in a terrain data representation for display on a display screen, comprising: translating each point of the representation within a lens bounds to a rotated plane being normal to a vector defined by a position for the region-of-interest with respect to a base plane for the representation and an apex above the base plane, the lens bounds defining a shoulder region at least partially surrounding a focal bounds defining a focal region in which the position is located, each point having a respective height above the base plane; displacing each translated point from the rotated plane by a function of the respective height and a magnification for the focal region, the magnification varying across the shoulder region in accordance with a drop-off function; rotating each displaced point toward a viewpoint for the region-of-interest to maintain visibility of each displaced point and each point of the data representation beyond the lens bounds when viewed f

Abstract: A method for reducing occlusion in a presentation of a region-of-interest of an original image, the presentation generated by distorting the original image to produce a lens having a focal region for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region defined by a shoulder drop-of function, comprising: scaling the focal region; and, for an input point in the shoulder region, determining a width for the shoulder region from a distance between a projection point for the input point to the focal region and an intersection point on a perimeter of the lens of a line constructed through the input point, the projection point, and the intersection point, to thereby reduce occlusion of the shoulder region by the focal region.

Abstract: An improved method for display of a transitional region of interest while transitioning between a first region of interest and a second region of interest within visual information on a display screen of a computer. The method comprising the steps of applying a transitional transformation to the visual information and displaying the transitional transformed visual information on the display screen. The transitional transformation requiring a reduced calculation for transforming the visual information in the transitional region.

Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest within an original image for display on a display screen, the region-of-interest being at a depth within the original image and being occluded by a portion of the original image at a lesser depth, the method comprising: applying graduated transparency to the original image to generate the presentation, the graduated transparency reducing occlusion of the region-of-interest by making transparent at least some of the portion of the original image occluding the region-of-interest, the graduated transparency when applied renders within the presentation a focal region having a maximum level of transparency at the depth of and for the region-of-interest at least partially surrounded by a shoulder region where transparency decreases with lessening depth from the maximum level to that of the original image surrounding the shoulder region to provide context for the focal region with respect to the original image; and, displaying the presentation on the dis

Abstract: In a data processing system that executes a program of instructions, a method of inverting a distorted surface in a detail-in-context presentation is provided comprising the steps of locating a first approximation point in an undistorted surface for the inversion of a point in a distorted surface, determining if the approximation point is acceptable as an inversion of the point in the distorted surface, locating a next approximation point in the undistorted surface if the first approximation point is not acceptable, and repeating this process until an acceptable approximation point is located for the inversion of the point in the distorted surface. The use of this method to obtain the distance between points on an undistorted surface from the relative distances between corresponding points on a plurality of distorted surfaces in a detail-in-context presentation is provided.

Abstract: An improved method for display of a transitional region of interest while transitioning between a first region of interest and a second region of interest within visual information on a display screen of a computer. The method comprising the steps of applying a transitional transformation to the visual information and displaying the transitional transformed visual information on the display screen. The transitional transformation requiring a reduced calculation for transforming the visual information in the transitional region.

Abstract: An improved method for display of a transitional region of interest while transitioning between a first region of interest and a second region of interest within visual information on a display screen of a computer. The method comprising the steps of applying a transitional transformation to the visual information and displaying the transitional transformed visual information on the display screen. The transitional transformation requiring a reduced calculation for transforming the visual information in the transitional region.

Abstract: A method for generating a presentation of a region-of-interest in a terrain data representation for display on a display screen, comprising: translating each point of the representation within a lens bounds to a rotated plane being normal to a vector defined by a position for the region-of-interest with respect to a base plane for the representation and an apex above the base plane, the lens bounds defining a shoulder region at least partially surrounding a focal bounds defining a focal region in which the position is located, each point having a respective height above the base plane; displacing each translated point from the rotated plane by a function of the respective height and a magnification for the focal region, the magnification varying across the shoulder region in accordance with a drop-off function; rotating each displaced point toward a viewpoint for the region-of-interest to maintain visibility of each displaced point and each point of the data representation beyond the lens bounds when viewed f