Data analysis method for clarification of perceptions

• US 6,430,546 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1999
• Issued: 08/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enquire Within Developments Limited
• Original Assignee: Enquire Within Developments Limited
• Inventors: Mayes, Christopher John, Stewart, Valerie Glenys
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Booker, Kelvin
• Application Number:
  US09/284,963
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 706/45, 706/60, 706/61, 706/50, 706/48, 707/102, 707/2
• US Class Current: 706/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for analyzing thoughts, perceptions, knowledge, feelings etc., of an individual. A set of elements are input or selected by a user. A single element and a pair of elements are formed. A user inputs similar characteristics between the pair of elements and different characteristics between the single element and pair of elements. This is performed for a number of iterations and elements and characteristic combinations. The elements are then ranked by a user in relation to each characteristic and the rankings are analyzed to determine the correlation between elements and characteristics. The analysis may be expanded or refined and further elements and characteristics may be added at any stage.

Claims

1. An apparatus for analysing data comprising:

means for inputting or selecting a plurality of data elements according to user command;

means for grouping data elements into a singleton and a pair of elements;

means for communicating the elements of the groups to a user;

means for inputting or selecting a common characteristic between the pair of elements and a difference characteristic between the pair of elements and the singleton,

means responsive to user command for ranking data elements in relation to selected characteristics; and

means for comparing rankings between elements and/or characteristics and for determining the elements and/or characteristics having selected degrees of correlation including means for selecting a user defined correlation threshold and displaying those elements or characteristics above or below the correlation threshold.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data elements may be inputted by a user or selected from a pre-existing selection of data elements stored in the apparatus.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the user may select an automated element creation option in which the apparatus produces questions to assist a user in creating a set of elements.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a user is prompted to input the common and difference characteristics in relation to a defined qualifier.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein a plurality of qualifiers may be input by a user or selected from a selection of stored qualifiers.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus prompts a user to provide common and difference characteristics for a plurality of element groupings.

7. An apparatus as claimed claim 1 wherein a user can select the elements to be compared.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a user may reorder selected data elements into different groupings.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the characteristics input by a user are stored by the apparatus.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, upon user selection, a window prompts the user to generalize a selected characteristic and store a new characteristic.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein, upon user actuation, a window appears to prompt a user to more specifically define a characteristic and store a new characteristic.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for ranking data elements includes means responsive to user input for defining a measurement range.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein a user may enter a value within the measurement range for each characteristic in relation to each data element.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the apparatus forms a matrix having the data elements along one axis, the characteristics along the other and the values entered forming the matrix.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the apparatus compares the values for each column of elements and/or each row of characteristics to find the closest correlation, forms a new column and/or row combining the most closely correlated rows and/or columns respectively and continues to compare rows and/or columns in this manner until only two rows and/or columns are left.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the apparatus stores figures representative of the correlation between rows and columns of the matrixes.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the correlation between columns and rows is shown graphically on a display device.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the rows and/or columns are arranged by iteratively comparing the two rows and/or columns forming a selected row and/or column and placing the most recently formed row and/or column to the right of the selected row and/or column and the other row and/or column to the left.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein the correlation between columns and rows is shown dendritically.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein color is used to indicate columns or rows having levels of correlation within predefined ranges.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including differentiation means which displays elements or characteristics having a required degree of correlation to prompt a user to review the elements or characteristics.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein a user has the option of combining any pair of closely correlated elements or characteristics.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein a user may enter a new characteristic to define a difference between two correlated elements or characteristics.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein all elements may be re-rated in respect of the new characteristic to construct a new matrix.

25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a new characteristic may be added at any stage, ranked in relation to each element and processed to form a new matrix.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes checking means which checks to ensure that a predetermined number of data elements and characteristics have been entered and rated so as to provide useful results.

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein a window appears if insufficient information is provided informing a user that more information must be inputted.

28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus includes means for comparing the results of an analysis with the results of a previous analysis.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein data is archived as a user modifies data.

30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is a data processing means having a visual display for communicating information to a user.

31. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a keyboard and or mouse for data entry or selection.

32. A computer controlled method of analysing data comprising:

inputting a plurality of data elements into a data processor or selecting a plurality of elements. stored in memory of the data processor;

actuating the data processor to group the data elements into a singleton and a pair of elements;

inputting or selecting a common characteristic between the pair of elements and a difference characteristic between the pair of elements and the singleton;

inputting ranking information to the data processor to rank the data elements in relation to the characteristics;

processing rankings between elements and/or characteristics in the data processor to determine elements and/or characteristics having selected levels of correlation;

inputting a correlation threshold; and

displaying those elements or characteristics having a degree of correlation above or below the correlation threshold.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the data processor automatically groups the data elements upon user actuation.

34. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the data processor groups the data elements according to user selection.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein the data processor processes rankings only if a required number of data elements and characteristics have been entered and rated.

36. A method as claimed in claim 34 wherein the data processor compares the result of an analysis with results of a previous analysis.

37. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the data processor displays a qualifier in association with the grouped elements and a user is required to input characteristics in relation to the qualifier.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37 wherein a user inputs a qualifier to the data processor.

39. A method as claimed in claim 37 wherein the qualifier is selected by a user from a plurality of qualifiers stored in said data processor.

40. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein a plurality of characteristics are input for a plurality of different element groupings.

41. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the data processor prompts a user to input a generalization of a characteristic upon user actuation.

42. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the data processor prompts a user to more specifically define a characteristic upon user actuation.

43. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein elements are ranked in relation to a characteristic by a user entering or selecting a value within a measurement range to the data processor.

44. A method as claimed in claim 43 wherein the data processor processes the values into a matrix in which the data elements define one axis and the characteristics define the other axis.

45. A method as claimed in claim 44 wherein the data processor compares the values for each column of elements and/or row of characteristics to find the closest correlation, forms a new column and/or row combining the most closely correlated rows and/or columns respectively and continues to compare rows and/or columns in this manner until only two rows and/or columns are left.

46. A method as claimed in claim 45 wherein the data processor displays the correlation between columns and rows of the matrix, representing the correlation between elements and characteristics.

47. A method as claimed in claim 46 wherein the data processor shows the correlation between rows and columns dendritically.

48. A method as claimed in claim 45 wherein the rows and/or columns are arranged by iteratively comparing the two rows and/or columns forming a selected row and/or column and placing the most recently formed row and/or column to the right of the selected row and/or column and the other row and/or to the left.

49. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the data processor prompts a user to review elements or characteristics having a defined degree of correlation.

50. A method as claimed in claim 49 wherein the data processor displays sets of two closely correlated elements or characteristics and combines them on user selection.

51. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the data processor processes rankings only if a required number of data elements and characteristics have been entered and rated.

52. A method as claimed in claim 32 wherein the data processor compares the result of an analysis with results of a previous analysis.

53. An apparatus for analysing data comprising:

means for inputting or selecting a plurality of data elements according to user command;

means for grouping data elements into groups;

means for communicating the elements of the groups to a user and prompting the user to input common and different characteristics in relation to a defined qualifier;

means for inputting or selecting characteristics within and/or between data element groups according to user command;

means responsive to user command for ranking data elements in relation to selected characteristics; and

means for comparing rankings between elements and/or characteristics and for determining the elements and/or characteristics having selected degrees of correlation.

54. An apparatus for analysing data comprising:

means for inputting or selecting a plurality of data elements according to user command;

means for grouping data elements into groups;

means for communicating the elements of the groups to a user;

means for inputting or selecting characteristics within and/or between data element groups according to user command;

means responsive to user command for ranking data elements in relation to selected characteristics;

means for comparing rankings between elements and/or characteristics and for determining the elements and/or characteristics having selected degrees of correlation; and

means which, upon user selection, prompts a user to generalize or to more specifically to define a characteristic and store a new characteristic input by the user.