Method and Data Processing Appliance for the Production and for the Output of a Multidimensional Chart Having at Least Two Graphs

• US 20100309200A1
• Filed: 03/10/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Bäumler, Tobias
• Application Number:
  US12/721,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20100309200A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/419
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A method and data processing appliance for the producing and outputting a multi-dimensional chart having at least two graphs, wherein for each of the graphs which are to be presented an area between the graph and an abscissa is provided with a respective fill color or with a respective fill pattern, the graphs and the associated areas are presented in presentation planes located above one another, and wherein a respective graph and the associated area in a lower presentation plane are concealed by a graph and the associated area in a higher presentation plane. Here, the chart is produced and output in sections, wherein for each section of the abscissa a first of the graphs and the area associated with the graphs are presented using a higher value in a lower presentation plane and a second of the graphs and the associated area thereof are presented using a lower value in a higher presentation plane. As a result, each graph and a portion of its area are visible in each section.

Claims

1. A method for producing and outputting a multi-dimensional chart having a plurality of graphs, comprising:

providing, by a data processing appliance, an area between each of said plural graphs and an abscissa with a respective fill color or with a respective fill pattern for each of said plural graphs which are to be presented;

presenting each of said plural graphs and associated areas in at least first and second presentation planes located above one another relative to a presentation area, one of the first and second of said plural graphs with an associated area in a lower one of the first and second presentation planes being concealed by another graph of said plural graphs with an associated area in a higher one of the first and second presentation planes; and

producing and outputting the multi-dimensional chart in sections of the abscissa within each said sections, a first graph of said plural graphs having a higher value and the area associated with the first graph are presented in the lower presentation plane, and a second graph of said plural graphs having a lower value and the area associated with the second graph are presented in the higher presentation plane.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the method comprises presenting at least one third graph;

for each of the at least one third graph a further presentation plane is inserted;

in the each of the sections of the abscissa, graphs which are to be presented and their associated areas are respectively attributed to one of the first, second, and further presentation planes; and

in the each of the sections, the first, second, and at least one third graphs are respectively presented in the presentation planes from the highest one of the presentation planes to the lowest one of the presentation planes in ascending order of values of the first, second and at least one third graphs and the presentation of the lower ones of the presentation planes are respectively concealed by the graphs and areas of the higher ones of the presentation planes.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plural graphs and each associated area are respectively presented by pixels, a width used for each section of the abscissa comprises the width of the pixel and wherein each value of the abscissa is attributed to precisely one section.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plural graphs and each associated area are respectively presented by pixels, a width used for each section of the abscissa comprises the width of the pixel and wherein each value of the abscissa is attributed to precisely one section.

5. A data processing appliance for the simultaneous visual display of a plurality of graphs within a chart, the appliance comprising a control appliance and a display for displaying the plurality of graphs, wherein the data processing appliance is configured to:

provide an area between each of said plural graphs and an abscissa with a respective fill color or with a respective fill pattern for each of said plural graphs which are to be presented;

present each of said plural graphs and associated areas in at least first and second presentation planes located above one another relative to a presentation area, one of said plural graphs with an associated area in a lower one of the first and second presentation planes being concealed by another graph of said plural graphs with an associated area in a higher one of the first and second presentation planes; and

produce and output, on the display, the multi-dimensional chart in sections of the abscissa within each said sections, a first graph of said plural graphs having a higher value and the area associated with the first graph are presented in the lower presentation plane for each section of the abscissa, and a second graph of said plural graphs having a lower value and the area associated with the second graph are presented in the higher presentation plane.

6. The data processing appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control appliance comprises an operator control appliance for an industrial automation arrangement, and wherein the operator control appliance is configured to present process and control parameters or to present measured values.

7. The data processing appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein the display of the data processing appliance visually displays a plurality of series of values obtained from a spreadsheet or another data source.

8. The data processing appliance as claimed in claim 6, wherein the display of the data processing appliance visually displays a plurality of series of values obtained from a spreadsheet or another data source.

9. The data processing appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein the data processing appliance includes a selection means for selecting at least one area or area element of one of said plural presented graphs;

and wherein the data processing appliance is configured to present a complete presentation of the one of said plural presented graphs, and the associated area thereof, of which the selection means has selected the at least one area or area element.

10. The data processing appliance as claimed in claim 6, wherein the data processing appliance includes a selection means for selecting at least one area or area element of one of said plural presented graphs;

and wherein the data processing appliance is configured to present a complete presentation of the one of said plural presented graphs, and the associated area thereof, of which the selection means has selected the at least one area or area element.

11. The data processing appliance as claimed in claim 7, wherein the data processing appliance includes a selection means for selecting at least one area or area element of one of said plural presented graphs;

and wherein the data processing appliance is configured to present a complete presentation of the one of said plural presented graphs, and the associated area thereof, of which the selection means has selected the at least one area or area element.

12. The data processing appliance as claimed in claim 9, wherein the selection means comprises a cursor moved by a computer mouse or selected by a touch-sensitive screen.

13. The data processing appliance as claimed in claim 9, wherein the data processing appliance is configured to complete presentation of a selected one of the graphs in a topmost presentation plane and present the other graphs in underlying presentation planes.

14. The data processing appliance as claimed in claim 12, wherein the data processing appliance is configured to complete presentation of a selected one of the graphs in a topmost presentation plane and present the other graphs in underlying presentation planes.