User interface for graphically displaying the impact of weather on managerial planning
First Claim
1. A graphical user interface in a computer based system, comprising:
- a plurality of computer based databases having stored therein weather data and sales data, said sales data including prior actual sales data, prior deweatherized sales data, predicted sales data, and predicted weatherized sales data;
command receiving means for receiving a command from an operator;
determining means for determining whether said command designates a location analysis function; and
location analysis performing means, responsive to said determining means, for performing location analysis if said command designates a location analysis function;
wherein said location analysis performing means comprises;
means for prompting the operator for a time period;
means for receiving from the operator information identifying a time period;
geographical area image displaying means for displaying an image of a geographical area having a plurality of metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs);
weather data retrieving means for retrieving from said databases weather data for said time period and said geographical area;
weather data displaying means for displaying over said image of said geographical area graphical objects that represent said weather data;
MSA selecting means for enabling the operator to select one of said MSAs;
means, responsive to said MSA selecting means, for receiving from the operator information that identifies a MSA selected by the operator; and
MSA-level product report displaying means for displaying a MSA-level product report containing information corresponding to said MSA selected by the operator, said MSA-level product report displaying means comprising;
means for retrieving from said databases prior actual sales data, prior deweatherized sales data, predicted sales data, and predicted weatherized sales data for said MSA selected by the operator; and
means for displaying said prior actual sales data, prior deweatherized sales data, predicted sales data, and predicted weatherized sales data in said MSA-level product report.
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Abstract
The present invention is a graphical user interface (GUI) for use in an Executive Information System (EIS) for managerial planning applications that experience long-range weather impact. The EIS is referred to as a Long-range Executive Weather Information System (LEWIS™). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the LEWIS™ system is used to calculate and display to a user the impact of weather on retail planning applications. However, the present invention applies to all industries beyond retailing that experience weather impact, including, but not limited to, personal care, utilities, energy, agriculture, consumer products, insurance, transportation, outdoor events, chemicals, pharmaceutical, and construction.
187 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A graphical user interface in a computer based system, comprising:
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a plurality of computer based databases having stored therein weather data and sales data, said sales data including prior actual sales data, prior deweatherized sales data, predicted sales data, and predicted weatherized sales data; command receiving means for receiving a command from an operator; determining means for determining whether said command designates a location analysis function; and location analysis performing means, responsive to said determining means, for performing location analysis if said command designates a location analysis function; wherein said location analysis performing means comprises; means for prompting the operator for a time period; means for receiving from the operator information identifying a time period; geographical area image displaying means for displaying an image of a geographical area having a plurality of metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs); weather data retrieving means for retrieving from said databases weather data for said time period and said geographical area; weather data displaying means for displaying over said image of said geographical area graphical objects that represent said weather data; MSA selecting means for enabling the operator to select one of said MSAs; means, responsive to said MSA selecting means, for receiving from the operator information that identifies a MSA selected by the operator; and MSA-level product report displaying means for displaying a MSA-level product report containing information corresponding to said MSA selected by the operator, said MSA-level product report displaying means comprising; means for retrieving from said databases prior actual sales data, prior deweatherized sales data, predicted sales data, and predicted weatherized sales data for said MSA selected by the operator; and means for displaying said prior actual sales data, prior deweatherized sales data, predicted sales data, and predicted weatherized sales data in said MSA-level product report. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A graphical user interface in a computer system, comprising:
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a plurality of databases having stored therein weather data, product data, client data, and correlation data; command receiving means for receiving a command from an operator; determining means for determining whether said command designates a promotion analysis function; and promotion analysis performing means, responsive to said determining means, for performing promotion analysis if said command designates a promotion analysis function; wherein said promotion analysis performing means comprises; first prompting means for prompting the operator for a product; means, responsive to said first prompting means, for receiving from the operator information identifying a product; second prompting means for prompting the operator for a time period; means, responsive to said second prompting means, for receiving from the operator information identifying a time period; data retrieving means for retrieving from said databases sales data and weather data corresponding to said product and said time period; and data displaying means for displaying said retrieved sales data and weather data in such a manner to indicate positive and negative effects of weather on sales of said product over said time period; wherein said database store data for a plurality of metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), said promotion analysis performing means further comprising; means for enabling the operator to identify any number of said MSAs; wherein said data retrieving means retrieves from said databases sales data and weather data corresponding to said product and said time period for said identified MSAs; and wherein said data displaying means displays said retrieved sales data and weather data in such a manner to indicate positive and negative effects of weather on sales of said product in each of said identified MSAs over time period. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A graphical user interface in a computer system, comprising:
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a plurality of multi-dimensional databases having stored therein weather data, product data, client data, and correlation data; command receiving means for receiving a command from an operator; determining means for determining whether said command designates a view function; and view function performing means, responsive to said determining means, for performing a view function if said command designates a view function; wherein said view function performing means comprises; means for generating and displaying a view screen having a down section, an across section, a By1 section, and a By2 section; first dimension associating means for enabling the operator to associate a first dimension of said databases with said down section, and for enabling the operator to enter a value for said first dimension; second dimension associating means for enabling the operator to associate a second dimension of said databases with said across section, and for enabling the operator to enter a value for said second dimension; third dimension associating means for enabling the operator to associate a third dimension of said databases with said By1 section, and for enabling the operator to enter a value for said third dimension; fourth dimension associating means for enabling the operator to associate a fourth dimension of said databases with said By2 section, and for enabling the operator to enter a value for said fourth dimension; data retrieval means for retrieving from said databases sales and weather data corresponding to said values for said first, second, third, and fourth dimensions; and data displaying means for displaying said retrieved sales and weather data in said down and across sections; wherein said databases store data for a plurality metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), said view function performing means further comprising; means for enabling the operator to identify any number of said MSAs; wherein said data retrieval means retrieves from said databases sales data and weather data for said identified MSAs; and wherein said data displaying means displays said retrived sales data and weather data for said identified MSAs. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification