Computer-based visual data evaluation
DCFirst Claim
1. A method in a data processing system for accessing information in a data set, the data set information accessing method comprising the steps of:
- creating a visual chart representation of the data set and displaying the data set in the chart;
selecting a second data set which is a subset of the displayed data set through interaction between the user and the system within the chart of the data set;
developing information from the second data set substantially simultaneously during the data subset selection step; and
displaying the results of the data subset selecting step, wherein any subset of the second data set may be selected in succeeding data selection steps.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to a method and a system for computer-based visual data evaluation which allows on-the-fly viewing, evaluation and querying of complex databases with simple user operations. A visual chart representation of the data set is used to select for display data subsets through interaction between the user and the system within the chart of the data set. The results of the user'"'"'s data subset selections are displayed in the chart. A chart of only the data subset may then be selected and displayed through interaction between the user and the system within the displayed data subset. The steps of selecting and displaying the results of data subset selections may be continued in an iterative visual data evaluation process. A record of the user selected data subsets is maintained, including a textual record of the data subset and distinct visual symbols for each of the data subsets created. The visual symbols and textual records are arranged and displayed representing the structural hierarchical relationship among the data subsets as defined by the user'"'"'s data subset selection. The visual symbols may be used as software buttons for selecting for display the associated data subset and other operations. The present invention thus provides a computerized interactive method for providing visual data evaluation including browsing, querying and manipulation of data and other information within a database by providing chart representations of database data and operating only on the attributes of the chart and within the data area of the chart.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method in a data processing system for accessing information in a data set, the data set information accessing method comprising the steps of:
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creating a visual chart representation of the data set and displaying the data set in the chart; selecting a second data set which is a subset of the displayed data set through interaction between the user and the system within the chart of the data set; developing information from the second data set substantially simultaneously during the data subset selection step; and displaying the results of the data subset selecting step, wherein any subset of the second data set may be selected in succeeding data selection steps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method in a data processing system for maintaining a record of a user selected data subset selected from a data set, the data subset record maintaining method comprising the steps of:
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creating a record of the data set and the data subset; creating and displaying a distinct visual symbol for each of the data set and the data subset; and arranging the displayed visual symbols in a network of interconnected visual symbols representing the structural hierarchical relationship among the data set and the data subset as defined by the data subset selecting step, wherein the steps of the data subset record maintaining method occur substantially simultaneously with user data subset selection. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A method in a data processing system for maintaining a record of a user selected data subset selected from a data set, the data subset record maintaining method comprising the steps of:
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creating a textual record of and values of chart attributes which define the data set and data subset; displaying the textual record for each of the data set and the data subset; and arranging the textual records to represent the structural hierarchical relationship among the data set and the data subset as defined by the data subset selecting step, wherein the steps of the data subset record maintaining method occur substantially simultaneously with user data subset selection. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A data processing system for accessing information in a data set, the data set information accessing system comprising:
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means for creating a visual chart representation of the data set; means for selecting a data set which is a subset of the displayed data set through interaction between the user and the system within the chart of the data set; means for developing information from the second data set substantially simultaneously during the data subset selection step; and means for displaying the results of the data subset selection, wherein any subset of the second data set may be selected in succeeding data selection steps. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification