System and method for visually querying a data set exhibited in a parallel coordinate system

• US 5,546,516 A
• Filed: 12/14/1994
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chatterjee, Avijit, Inselberg, Alfred, Austel, Vernon
• Primary Examiner(s): Jankus, Almis R.
• Application Number:
  US08/355,848
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 395/140, 395/119, 395/155-161, 382/113, 434/322, 434/323, 434/336, 434/350
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A multi-variate data set is displayed in a plurality of multi-dimensional presentations on a computer having a graphical interface and a keyboard input. The data set includes a plurality of independent variables and, for each independent variable, a plurality of dependent variables. A computer displays the data set in parallel coordinate form on the graphical interface so that each dependent variable of the data set is presented as a series of values along an axis, plural axes arranged in parallel. The graphical interface provides a polygonal line which connects a value on each parallel axis and illustrates a relationship between an independent variable and the dependent variables appearing on each axis. The user input enables a user to superimpose on the graphical interface graphical delimiters either on or between two succeeding parallel axes. The graphical delimiters identify a data subset that includes at least one independent variable and adjacent dependent variables. In response to placement of the graphical delimiters, the computer modifies a presentation of any polygonal lines connecting the adjacent dependent variables and which lies between the graphical delimiters, and differentiates then from other polygonal lines which represent remaining data subsets of the data set. The computer further enables an illustration of the delimited data subset in Cartesian coordinates.

Claims

1. A method for visualizing a multi-variate data set in a plurality of multi-dimensional presentations, said data set comprising a plurality of independent variables and for each independent variable, a plurality of dependent variables, said method performed by a computer having a graphical interface and user input means, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying said data set in parallel coordinate form on said graphical interface, so that each dependent variable of said data set is presented as a series of values along an axis, plural axes arranged in parallel, a polygonal line connecting values on said axes illustrating a relationship between said dependent variables and an independent variable;

superimposing on said graphical interface, through use of said user input means, graphical delimiters positioned on or between either of two adjacent parallel axes, said graphical delimiters identifying a data subset comprising at least one independent variable and dependent variables related thereto that are connected by a polygonal line extending between said adjacent parallel axes;

modifying a presentation of said polygonal line representing said data subset to differentiate said polygonal line from other polygonal lines representing remaining data subsets of said data set; and

displaying said data subset identified by said graphical delimiters in an alternate coordinate form on said graphical interface, so that each dependent variable value of said data subset, connected by a differentiated polygonal line between adjacent axes of said parallel coordinate form, is represented by a point on a pair of orthogonally intersecting axes, and said independent variable is represented by a point in space that is an intersection of projections of said dependent variable values, and further displaying boundaries representative of a limit or limits established by said graphical delimiters.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said superimposing step causes said graphical delimiters to be superimposed and spaced apart on one said parallel axis of said parallel coordinate form, said data subset that is identified by said graphical delimiters being displayed on said graphical interface in said alternate coordinate form, said data subset delimited by opposed parallel boundaries, each boundary intersecting one said axis at a dependent variable value denoted by a graphical delimiter in said parallel coordinate form.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said superimposing step causes said graphical delimiters to be displayed on said graphical interface in a spaced apart manner, said data subset that is identified by said graphical delimiters displayed on said graphical interface in said alternate coordinate form and falling within two coincident half spaces, one half space including and positioned to one side of a first line whose coordinates in said alternate coordinate form are determined by coordinates of one said graphical delimiter in said parallel coordinate form, and a second half space including and positioned to a side of a second line that is opposed to said first line, said second line having coordinates in said alternate coordinate form that are defined by coordinates of a second of said graphical delimiters in said parallel coordinate form.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein a first said graphical delimiter is positioned along a first line that is parallel to and spaced between parallel axes of said parallel coordinate form and a second said graphical delimiter is positioned along a second line that is parallel to and spaced between parallel axes of said parallel coordinate form.

5. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said graphical delimiters are positioned along a first line that is parallel to and spaced between parallel axes of said parallel coordinate form.

6. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said graphical delimiters are positioned along a first axis of said parallel coordinate form, and said first and second half spaces are further delimited by lines connecting each of said graphical delimiters to a dependent variable value on an adjacent parallel axis.

7. A computer system for visualizing a multi-variate data set in a plurality of multi-dimensional presentations, said data set comprising a plurality of independent variables and for each independent variable, a plurality of dependent variables, said computer system comprising:

means for displaying said data set in parallel coordinate form on said graphical interface, so that each dependent variable of said data set is presented as a series of values along an axis, plural axes arranged in parallel, a polygonal line connecting a value on each axis illustrating a relationship between said dependent variables and an independent variable;

user operated means for superimposing on said graphical interface, graphical delimiters and for positioning said graphical delimiters on or between either of two adjacent parallel axes, said graphical delimiters identifying a data subset comprising at least one independent variable and dependent variables related thereto that are connected by a polygonal line extending between said adjacent parallel axes;

means for modifying said graphical interface to alter a presentation of said polygonal line representing said data subset so as to differentiate said polygonal line from other polygonal lines representing remaining data subsets of said data set; and

means for displaying said data subset identified by said graphical delimiters in an alternate coordinate form on said graphical interface, so that each dependent variable value of said data subset, connected by a differentiated polygonal line between said adjacent axes of said parallel coordinate form, is represented by points on a pair of orthogonally intersecting axes, and said independent variable is represented by a point in space that is an intersection of projections of each said dependent variable value, said means for displaying also showing boundaries representative of a limit or limits established by said graphical delimiters.

8. The computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein said user operated means causes said graphical delimiters to be superimposed and spaced apart on one said parallel axis of said parallel coordinate form, said data subset that is identified by said graphical delimiters thereby displayed on said means for displaying in said alternate coordinate form, said data subset delimited by opposed parallel boundaries, each boundary intersecting one said axis at a dependent variable value denoted by a graphical delimiter in said parallel coordinate form.

9. The computer system as recited in claim 7, wherein said user operated means causes said graphical delimiters to be displayed on said means for displaying, in a spaced apart manner, said data subset that is identified by said graphical delimiters displayed on said means for displaying in said alternate coordinate form and falling within two coincident half spaces, one half space including and positioned to one side of a first line whose coordinates in said alternate coordinate form are determined by coordinates of one said graphical delimiter in said parallel coordinate form, and a second half space including and positioned to a side of a second line that is opposed to said first line, said second line having coordinates in said alternate coordinate form that are defined by coordinates of a second of said graphical delimiters in said parallel coordinate form.

10. The computer system as recited in claim 9, wherein a first said graphical delimiter is positioned along a first line that is parallel to and spaced between parallel axes of said parallel coordinate form and a second said graphical delimiter is positioned along a second line that is parallel to and spaced between parallel axes of said parallel coordinate form.

11. The computer system as recited in claim 9, wherein said graphical delimiters are positioned along a first line that is parallel to and spaced between parallel axes of said parallel coordinate form.

12. The computer system as recited in claim 9, wherein said graphical delimiters are positioned along a first axis of said parallel coordinate form, and said first and second half spaces are further delimited by lines connecting each of said graphical delimiters to a dependent variable value on an adjacent parallel axis.

13. The computer system as recited in claim 7 wherein said means for displaying causes a substitute dependent variable value that is outside a range of dependent variable values plotted on an axis, to be juxtaposed to an extremity of said axis, when no value of said dependent variable is preassigned to an independent variable represented by a polygonal line, said polygonal line intersecting said substitute dependent variable value.