Algorithms/Code Needed to Remove Overlap of Markers on a Map

I am looking for algorithms to reduce/remove overlap/stacking of geographic
coordinate markers on a map. These markers are an overlay on a map (in my
case the new Google Maps API). 

The algorithm would accept a set of points and dimensions of the marker used
at each point, and would re-arrange the points so that marker overlap is
either reduced by to zero or some tunable amount (for example, you might
specify that every point should be at least 50% visible).

I've seen this type of algorithm described as geometric packing. So far I
have come up empty on searches (I'm still looking though), and wanted to see
if anyone knows of any free GIS APIs/systems that provide this, as perhaps I
can re-use their algorithm(s). Or general algorithms I should seek out.

Many thanks,
-Mike

P.S. I'm probably using incorrect terms here: I am a geodata / computational
programming newbie.