Systems and methods for organizing data
First Claim
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1. A method for displaying and correlating data records in a visually comprehendible manner so as to effectively communicate relationships amongst data records comprising the steps of:
- A. defining the input parameters for searching, said input parameters being dependent on the data and descriptive of the fields in a data record, B. searching databases comprised of said data records using said input parameters as filters to identify associated data records, C. capturing associated data from said databases to create the working set containing a unique set of data records, D. augmenting the working set and performing additional processing to determine connections amongst the data records in the working set and other data records to identify relationships between the data records and the working set and bring to light additional information and knowledge that illustrate and infer relationships not readily apparent from the data records alone, E. presenting the combined and processed data records in an graphical fashion relative to a time axis to create an expanded display set depicting relationships indicated by connections which allow for communication of issues related to planning, assessment, and implementation, where said connectors are lines calculated and placed to minimize amount of crossing and length which connect the data records represented by a single geometric shape and wherein each shape is placed to minimize overlapping and total space required, where said time axis is scalable throughout the entire time range and independently scalable across and within multiple sub-time ranges and any of the various search parameters may be represented in a number of various methods by employing the use colors, shapes, and/or patterns allowing one to communicate additional information and further distinguish the display set.
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Abstract
The software system described processes a user query for information and organizes, analyzes and presents in a graphic representation, the relevant data for the user, allowing the user to immediately and intrinsically infer the existence of relationships and trends that would normally not have been apparent otherwise. This method supports decision making to an improved level and is capable of presenting data relationships across multiple planes and accessing dissimilar data sets. The ability to then access the underlying data is also disclosed.
209 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for displaying and correlating data records in a visually comprehendible manner so as to effectively communicate relationships amongst data records comprising the steps of:
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A. defining the input parameters for searching, said input parameters being dependent on the data and descriptive of the fields in a data record, B. searching databases comprised of said data records using said input parameters as filters to identify associated data records, C. capturing associated data from said databases to create the working set containing a unique set of data records, D. augmenting the working set and performing additional processing to determine connections amongst the data records in the working set and other data records to identify relationships between the data records and the working set and bring to light additional information and knowledge that illustrate and infer relationships not readily apparent from the data records alone, E. presenting the combined and processed data records in an graphical fashion relative to a time axis to create an expanded display set depicting relationships indicated by connections which allow for communication of issues related to planning, assessment, and implementation, where said connectors are lines calculated and placed to minimize amount of crossing and length which connect the data records represented by a single geometric shape and wherein each shape is placed to minimize overlapping and total space required, where said time axis is scalable throughout the entire time range and independently scalable across and within multiple sub-time ranges and any of the various search parameters may be represented in a number of various methods by employing the use colors, shapes, and/or patterns allowing one to communicate additional information and further distinguish the display set. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 20)
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7. A method for displaying and correlating patent data in a visually comprehendible manner so as to effectively communicate citation relationships amongst the patents, comprising
A. defining the input parameters for searching, said input parameters being dependent on the fields typically found in a patent such as inventor, class/subclass, assignee, title, abstract, references, firm, filing date, issue date, keyword, B. searching patent databases comprised of patents using said input parameters as filters to identify associated patents, C. capturing patents from said patent database to create the working set containing a unique set of patents, D. augmenting the working set and performing additional processing to determine connections amongst the patents in the working set to other patents to identify relationships between all patents and the patents in the working set and bring to light additional information and knowledge that illustrate and infer relationships not readily apparent from the patents alone, E. presenting the combined and processed patents in an graphical fashion relative to a time axis to create an expanded display set depicting citation relationships indicated by connections which allow for communication of issues related to planning, assessment, and implementation, where said connectors are lines calculated and placed to minimize amount of crossing and length which connect the data records represented by a single geometric shape and wherein each shape is placed to minimize overlapping and total space required, where said time axis is scalable throughout the entire time range and independently scalable across and within multiple sub-time ranges and any of the various search parameters may be represented in a number of various methods by employing the use colors, shapes, and/or patterns allowing one to communicate additional information and further distinguish the display set.
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16. A method where each database is comprised of unique domains similar in format, number and type of fields within the first domain, but are different in content and format relative to other domains, where all domains are readily searchable by using the same algorithm and employing database translators to determine the direct and indirect relationships amongst the data records of different domains and presenting these relationships both amongst and across all the domains where said database translators are capable of equating similar information which appears in dissimilar formats in each of the domains where each data record in a common domain is identified by a unique geometric shape;
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where optimization routines are employed to allow for more effective pattern matching and visualization across databases or planes of “
n”
dimensions where “
n”
represents the number of planes or alternatively types of databases being analyzed and the effect of the optimization routine is to improve the visual representation of the complex interrelationships of multiple databases which allows for more inferences to be made and more effective mental interaction with the database, where each data record in a data base is represented as a node and each relationship or link is represented as a line(edge), and where each node location is determined by the algorithm where the algorithm ensures no overlapping of nodes and where each line can be directed, representing a one-way link or undirected, representing a two way link.- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification