Computer user interface for graphical analysis of information using multiple attributes

• US 6,275,229 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manning & Napier Information Services LLC
• Original Assignee: Manning & Napier Information Services LLC
• Inventors: Weiner, Michael, Chronis, Thomas T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAUTISTA, XIOMARA L
• Application Number:
  US09/309,363
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 345/339-340, 345/348-349, 345/357, 345/440, 345/968, 395/600, 395/603, 395/605-606, 707/3, 707/5-6
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

A method and apparatus for efficiently analyzing information on a computer is provided. The information contains information items where each information item has a plurality of attributes. The information is re-organized based on the attributes and displayed in graphical form on a computer display screen. By viewing the information in graphical form, a user can quickly analyze the information to determine trends or qualities. In addition, the graphical form provides a way for the user to quickly identify the information items most relevant to specific criteria.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing information on a computer system, said computer system having a processor, display screen and a user input device, said information comprising a plurality of information records, wherein each information record comprises a first attribute and a second attribute, said method comprising the steps of:

grouping the plurality of information records by the first attribute into information groups;

assigning each information record a screen icon, so that each of the information records is assigned a separate screen icon;

defining a first display window on the display screen;

assigning a count value for each of the information records in said information groups; and

displaying a graphical representation of the information in said first display window, wherein the information is displayed as an X-Y graph of the information in said first display window, wherein x-axis values represent said information groups and y-axis values represent said count values, and wherein said screen icons are displayed on said X-Y graph as a function of said information groups and said count values.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first attribute is a date value and said step of grouping comprises a step of grouping the plurality of information records by said date value into the information groups.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said second attribute is a confidence factor and said step of assigning comprises a step of assigning each information record said screen icon, wherein said screen icon is representative of said confidence factor.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said step of assigning comprises a step of assigning each information record said screen icon, wherein said screen icon has a display color representative of said confidence factor.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising steps of:

defining a second display window on the display screen; and

displaying a first set of information about a selected information record within said second display window responsive to an input from the user input device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the user input device comprises a mouse device coupled to a displayable screen cursor and said step of displaying comprises steps of:

moving said mouse device so that said displayable screen cursor appears over a selected screen icon representative of said selected information record; and

displaying said first set of information about said selected information record within said second display window.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising steps of:

defining a second display window on the display screen; and

displaying a first set of information about a selected information record within said second display window responsive to a first input from the user input device.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the user input device comprises a mouse device coupled to a displayable screen cursor and having at least one user operable button and said step of displaying a first set of information comprises steps of:

moving said mouse device so that said displayable screen cursor appears over a selected screen icon which is representative of said selected information record

depressing said at least one button; and

displaying said first set of information about said selected information record within said second display window.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising a step of displaying a second set of information about said selected information record within a third display window responsive to a second input from the user input device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of displaying a second set of information comprises steps of:

moving said mouse device so that said displayable screen cursor appears over an information link in said second display window;

depressing said at least one button;

defining a third display window on the display screen; and

displaying said second set of information about said selected information record within said third display window.