METHOD OF APPLYING A FUNCTION TO A DATA SET

• US 20070112724A1
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Will, Alexander, BEACH, JOEL
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,645 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of applying a function to a set of data. Initially a tabular representation (400) of the set of data is displayed, the representation comprising a plurality of columns (435, 410 etc.). The data in the representation is grouped (625) in each column based upon an order (615) of the at least one column (605, 610) in the tabular representation. The method also generates a new column (1915) of data comprising a transform of existing column data (1920) contained in the tabular representation, wherein transform data within the new column depends upon a grouping context of the existing column data. Desirably the method further repositions (2120, 2130) the new column of data in the tabular representation and updates the transform data in the new column in accordance with a destination grouping context of a destination position of the new column in the tabular representation.

Claims

1. A method of applying a function to a set of data, said method comprising the steps of:

(i) providing a tabular representation of the set of data, said representation comprising a plurality of columns;

(ii) grouping the data in the representation in each said column based upon an order of at least one said column in the tabular representation; and

(iii) generating a new column of data comprising a transform of existing column data contained in the tabular representation, wherein transform data within said new column depends upon a grouping context of said existing column data.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

(iv) repositioning the new column of data in the tabular representation and updating the transform data in said new column in accordance with a destination grouping context of a destination position of said new column in said tabular representation.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (ii) comprises detecting a user repositioning of a grouping indicator and grouping said data according to an order of said columns established by the repositioning.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (ii) comprises moving a position of at least one said column in said tabular representation and grouping said data according to an order of said columns established by the repositioning.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step, after step (iii) of:

(v) repeating step (ii).

6. A method according to claim 2 further comprising the step, after step (iv) of:

(vi) repeating steps (iii) and (iv).

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said existing column data comprises data from a plurality of said columns.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein said existing column data comprises data from one of said columns.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein said transform is selected from the group of functions consisting of sum, count, maximum, minimum, average, and count-distinct.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said transform is selected from the group of statistical functions consisting of standard deviation, variance, sample-variance, sample-standard deviation, median, and mode.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the transform comprises an accounting function.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein said transform comprises a mathematical formula containing a combination of binary and unary mathematical operators, numerical constants and aggregate functions.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a filter function to said new column.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of applying a sort function to said new column.

15. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step, before step (iii), of applying a filter function to the tabular representation to exclude from display certain data thereof.

16. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step, before step (iii), of applying a sort function to the tabular representation to rearrange display of certain data thereof.

17. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of said method steps comprises reproducing said tabular representation upon a display device.

18. A method according to claim 17 wherein said set of data persists during execution of said method and said tabular representation varies the extent of said set of data reproduced via the display device.

21. A computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon, said program being executable within a computer to make the computer perform the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

22. Computer apparatus adapted to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 20.

19. A method of displaying a set of data, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) displaying a tabular representation of the set of data, said representation comprising a plurality of columns;

(b) detecting a selection of at least one said column displayed in said tabular representation;

(c) detecting a repositioning of said selected at least one column within said tabular representation; and

(d) re-determining data values displayed in said repositioned at least one column based upon an order of at least one said column in the tabular representation and a grouping of data of said at least one column.

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of;

(e) generating and displaying in the tabular representation a new column of data comprising a transform of existing column data contained in the tabular representation, wherein transform data within said new column includes at least one aggregate value of said existing column data.