Data reduction for generating heat maps

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by processing circuitry of a computer, a plurality of bucket identifiers, each of the plurality of bucket identifiers corresponding to a respective set of values of a user interaction parameter having a plurality of components, the plurality of components including coordinates of a position of a point on a target object with which a user interacted at an instant of time, coordinates of a position of a camera configured to image the target object, and angular coordinates representing an orientation of a camera configured to image the target object;
• performing, by the processing circuitry, a mapping operation to map each of the plurality of bucket identifiers to respective values of the user interaction parameter;
• generating, by the processing circuitry, a heat map on a display device, the heat map based on the respective values of the user interaction parameter;
• and
• generating a control represented by a control element on the display device, the control element being configured to enable a user to adjust the heat map according to the orientation of the camera.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the computer program product including code that, when executed by processing circuitry of a first computer, causes the processing circuitry to perform a method, the method comprising:

• receiving target object data representing a target object displayed on a display;
• receiving user interaction data, each user interaction datum representing a value of a user interaction parameter having a plurality of components, the plurality of components including coordinates of a position of a point on the target object with which a user interacted at an instant of time;
• performing a mapping operation to map the user interaction data to a plurality of buckets, each of the plurality of buckets representing a respective combination of intervals of the plurality of components of the user interaction parameter and having a respective bucket identifier, including performing a quantization operation to produce, for a user interaction datum, a fit metric indicating a goodness of fit between a value of the user interaction parameter of a respective bucket of the plurality of buckets and the value of the user interaction parameter represented by the user interaction datum;
• and
• sending the respective bucket identifier to a second computer configured to generate a heat map juxtaposed on a copy of the target object, the heat map being based on frequencies of bucket identifiers received by the second computer over a specified period of time.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory storage medium, the computer program product including code that, when executed by processing circuitry of a computer, causes the processing circuitry to perform a method, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of bucket identifiers, each of the plurality of bucket identifiers corresponding to a respective set of values of a user interaction parameter having a plurality of components, the plurality of components including coordinates of a position of a point on a target object with which a user interacted at an instant of time, coordinates of a position of a camera configured to image the target object, and angular coordinates representing an orientation of a camera configured to image the target object;
• performing a mapping operation to map each of the plurality of bucket identifiers to respective values of the user interaction parameter;
• generating a heat map on a display device, the heat map based on the respective values of the user interaction parameter;
• and
• generating a control represented by a control element on the display device, the control element being configured to enable a user to adjust the heat map according to the orientation of the camera.

An electronic apparatus, comprising:

• memory;
• and
• controlling circuitry coupled to the memory, the controlling circuitry being configured to:
• receive target object data representing a target object displayed on a display;
• receive user interaction data, each user interaction datum of the user interaction data representing a value of a user interaction parameter having a plurality of components, the plurality of components including coordinates of a position of a point on the target object with which a user interacted at an instant of time;
• perform a mapping operation to map the user interaction data to a plurality of buckets, each of the plurality of buckets representing a respective set of values of the user interaction parameter and having a respective bucket identifier;
• and
• send the respective bucket identifier to a second computer configured to generate a heat map overlaid on a copy of the target object, the heat map being based on frequencies of bucket identifiers received by the second computer over a specified period of time,
• wherein the controlling circuitry configured to perform the mapping operation is further configured to perform a quantization operation to produce, for a user interaction datum, a fit metric indicating a goodness of fit between a value of the user interaction parameter of a respective bucket of the plurality of buckets and the value of the user interaction parameter represented by the user interaction datum.

An electronic apparatus, comprising:

• memory;
• and
• controlling circuitry coupled to the memory, the controlling circuitry being configured to:
• receive a plurality of bucket identifiers, each of the plurality of bucket identifiers corresponding to a respective set of values of a user interaction parameter having a plurality of components, the plurality of components including coordinates of a position of a point on a target object with which a user interacted at an instant of time, coordinates of a position of a camera configured to image the target object, and angular coordinates representing an orientation of a camera configured to image the target object;
• perform a mapping operation to map each of the plurality of bucket identifiers to respective values of the user interaction parameter;
• generate a heat map on a display device, the heat map based on the respective values of the user interaction parameter;
• and
• generate a control represented by a control element on the display device, the control element being configured to enable a user to adjust the heat map according to the orientation of the camera.