Significance-based display

• US 7,193,628 B1
• Filed: 07/13/2000
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: C4cast.com Incorporated
• Original Assignee: C4cast.com Incorporated
• Inventors: Jennings, William P., Phillips, G. Michael, Findlay, M. Chapman III, Klein, Stephen A., Rice, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella; Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAHMJOO, MANUCHEHR
• Application Number:
  US09/615,026
• Time in Patent Office: 2,441 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/440.2, 345/440.1
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

Provided is a technique for displaying information. Initially, a number of data points is obtained, each data point including an estimated statistic. A measure of the statistical significance for each estimated statistic also is obtained, and a graph of the data points is displayed. According to this aspect of the invention, a display characteristic (such as intensity, size, brightness, hue, saturation or any other color characteristic) of each data point is a function of the measure of statistical significance of the estimated statistic included in such data point.

Claims

1. A method for displaying information, said method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of estimated data values, each comprising an estimate of a corresponding data value;

obtaining a calculated measure of statistical significance for each said estimated data value; and

displaying a graph of said plurality of estimated data values,

wherein each said estimated data value is displayed at an intensity level that is a function of the calculated measure of statistical significance for said estimated data value, and

wherein the calculated measure of statistical significance for an estimated data value comprises an estimate of certainty regarding the estimate of the corresponding data value.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein each said estimated data value pertains to an asset and comprises a measure of a tendency of a value of the asset to change as a result of a change in a data value for an exogenous variable.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said estimated data values are displayed in a bar graph that includes a separate bar for each asset.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein each said bar is displayed at an intensity level that is a function of the calculated measure of statistical significance of the measure of the tendency of the value of the asset corresponding to said bar to change.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein a height of each said bar is a second function of the measure of the tendency of the value of the asset to change as a result of a change in the data value for the exogenous variable.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein each said estimated data value was estimated using a regression equation, and wherein the calculated measure of statistical significance is a p value that was calculated from the regression equation.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the function is linear.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the function is non-linear.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein each said estimated data value is displayed as a bar in a bar graph.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said calculated measure of statistical significance is an estimate of a probability that an actual value for said estimated data value is outside of a specified confidence interval around an estimated value for said estimated data value.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein calculation of the intensity for each said estimated data value comprises determining 1 minus said estimate of said probability.

12. A method for displaying information, said method comprising:

obtaining a plurality of estimated data values, each comprising an estimate of a corresponding data value;

obtaining a calculated measure of statistical significance for each said estimated data value; and

displaying a graph of said plurality of estimated data values,

wherein a display characteristic of each said estimated data value is a function of the calculated measure of statistical significance for said estimated data value, and

wherein the calculated measure of statistical significance for an estimated data value comprises an estimate of certainty regarding the estimate of the corresponding data value.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein said display characteristic is a size of a data point displayed for said estimated data value.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein said display characteristic is a hue at which said estimated data value is displayed.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein said display characteristic is a saturation at which said estimated data value is displayed.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein said display characteristic is a brightness at which said estimated data value is displayed.

17. A method according to claim 12, wherein said display characteristic is a color characteristic with which said estimated data value is displayed.

18. A method according to claim 12, wherein each said estimated data value is displayed as a bar in a bar graph.

19. An apparatus for displaying information, said apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a plurality of estimated data values, each comprising an estimate of a corresponding data value;

means for obtaining a calculated measure of statistical significance for each said estimated data value; and

means for displaying a graph of said plurality of estimated data values,

wherein each said estimated data value is displayed at an intensity level that is a function of the calculated measure of statistical significance for said estimated data value, and

wherein the calculated measure of statistical significance for an estimated data value comprises an estimate of certainty regarding the estimate of the corresponding data value.

20. An apparatus for displaying information, said apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a plurality of estimated data values, each comprising an estimate of a corresponding data value;

means for obtaining a calculated measure of statistical significance for each said estimated data value; and

means for displaying a graph of said plurality of estimated data values,

wherein a display characteristic of each said estimated data value is a function of the calculated measure of statistical significance for said estimated data value, and

wherein the calculated measure of statistical significance for an estimated data value comprises an estimate of certainty regarding the estimate of the corresponding data value.

21. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps for displaying information, said process steps comprising steps to:

obtain a plurality of estimated data values, each comprising an estimate of a corresponding data value;

obtain a calculated measure of statistical significance for each said estimated data value; and

display a graph of said plurality of estimated data values,

wherein each said estimated data value is displayed at an intensity level that is a function of the calculated measure of statistical significance for said estimated data value, and

wherein the calculated measure of statistical significance for an estimated data value comprises an estimate of certainty regarding the estimate of the corresponding data value.

22. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps for displaying information, said process steps comprising steps to:

obtain a plurality of estimated data values, each comprising an estimate of a corresponding data value;

obtain a calculated measure of statistical significance for each said estimated data value; and

display a graph of said plurality of estimated data values,

wherein a display characteristic of each said estimated data value is a function of the calculated measure of statistical significance for said estimated data value, and

wherein the calculated measure of statistical significance for an estimated data value comprises an estimate of certainty regarding the estimate of the corresponding data value.