Imagine that your data is presented as a binary two dimensional image (assuming a unit value whenever the point coordinate (x,y) is present in your data). Then the problem is equivalent to straight line detection in binary images. The equivalent problem can be solved using the Hough transform for straight line detection.
The basic idea of the hough transform is as follows:
- It transforms an array from the geometrical coordinates (x,y) to the space of initial points and slopes.
- Every point contributes a unit to all sets of slopes and initial points of straight lines passing through this point.
- The Hough transform of the whole array is the linear superposition of the transform of it's individual points.
The detected lines appear as peaks in the hough transform image