System and method for utilizing thresholds during a dynamic display of data relationships between static charts

• US 6,417,855 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 07/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yonts, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAJOUS, WESNER
• Application Number:
  US09/322,061
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/441, 345/112, 345/113, 345/121, 345/133, 345/140, 345/520, 345/522, 345/523, 345/4, 345/5, 345/10, 345/11, 345/30, 345/35, 345/418, 345/619, 345/629, 345/630, 345/440.1, 345/440.2, 345/722-723, 345/736, 364/551.01, 364/300, 709/106, 717/6, 702/186
• US Class Current: 345/473
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

Method and system aspects for utilizing thresholds during the display of dynamically displayed charts are described. The aspects include obtaining data from first and second static charts and setting a value criteria. Data from the first static chart is displayed as a beginning chart, and the displayed data is adjusted from the first static chart to visually indicate a change in the data required by the data from the second static chart as an ending chart. The aspects further include comparing the value criteria to the displayed data, and halting the displaying of the data when the value criteria has been met.

Claims

1. A method for utilizing thresholds during the display of dynamically displayed charts, the method comprising:

obtaining data from first and second static charts;

setting a value criteria;

displaying data from the first static chart as a beginning chart;

adjusting the displayed data from the first static chart to visually indicate a change in the data required by the data from the second static chart as an ending chart;

comparing the value criteria to the displayed data to determine whether to halt the display; and

halting the displaying of the data when the value criteria has been met.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein setting the value criteria further comprises setting a maximum value threshold.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the maximum value threshold further comprises maximum category threshold.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the maximum threshold further comprises a maximum series threshold.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein setting the value criteria further comprises setting a minimum threshold.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the minimum value threshold further comprises minimum category threshold.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the minimum value threshold further comprises a minimum series threshold.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting further comprises determining a number of steps desired between the first and second static charts, selecting an interpolation algorithm to process changes in data between the first and second static charts, generating intermediate charts from the obtained data wherein the number of steps desired determines a number of intermediate charts generated, and displaying the intermediate charts through overlaying of one intermediate chart over another to visually indicate the change in data between the intermediate charts.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein halting the displaying of data further comprises generating a stop control event to halt the displaying of the data at the intermediate chart that meets the value criteria.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein generating a stop control event further comprises adjusting the display with an infinite delay interval.

11. A system for utilizing thresholds during a dynamic display of static chart data, the system comprising:

memory storage for storing data from at least two static charts;

a display for displaying the stored data; and

a processor coupled to the display and to the memory storage for supporting a process of obtaining data from first and second static charts stored in the memory, setting a value criteria, displaying the data from the first static chart as a beginning chart on the display, adjusting the displayed data from the first static chart to visually indicate a change in the data required by the data from the second static chart to display as an ending chart, comparing the value criteria to the displayed data to determine whether to halt the display, and halting the displaying when the value criteria has been met.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein adjusting further comprises determining a number of steps desired between the first and second static charts, selecting an interpolation algorithm to process changes in data between the first and second static charts, generating intermediate charts from the obtained data wherein the number of steps desired determines a number of intermediate charts generated, and displaying the intermediate charts through overlaying of one intermediate chart over another in the direction and with a preset delay interval to visually indicate the change in data between the intermediate charts.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein halting further comprises generating a stop control event.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein a stop control event further comprises adjusting the display with an infinite delay interval.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the value criteria further comprises a category having a maximum value or minimum value threshold.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the value criteria further comprises a series having a maximum value or minimum value threshold.

17. A method for utilizing thresholds during a dynamic display of data between two static charts, the method comprising:

determining a number of intermediate charts between first and second static charts;

retrieving data for the first static chart;

retrieving data for the second static chart;

setting a threshold value;

generating the number of intermediate charts;

displaying the first static chart; and

overlaying the display with each generated intermediate chart by determining that the generated intermediate chart does not violate the threshold value to control the dynamic display of the data from the first static chart to the second static chart by not halting the dynamic display.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein when the generated intermediate chart does violate that threshold value, the method further comprises generating a stop control event.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein generating a stop control event establishes an infinite delay to halt the dynamic display.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein setting a threshold value further comprises setting a limit for a range of values for one of the group consisting of a category and a series value.