User interface for representing multiple data sets on a common graph

• US 7,248,263 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Freeman, Kenya, Parvin, W A III, Etgen, Michael P
• Primary Examiner(s): Tung; Kee M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASCHERA, ANTONIO A
• Application Number:
  US10/843,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20050248588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: 345/660, 715/800, 715/830, 715/812, 715/15, 715/824, 715/859, 715/861
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/323 Visualisation of programs or trace data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A method and user interface are provided for independently and conveniently scaling y-values of multiple data sets whereby the data sets may be plotted against a common y-axis and provide satisfactory variability. A multiplier is selected by which data points in a data set are multiplied, allowing plots of multiple data sets to be graphed against a common range of y-axis values. The initial multiplier may be calculated and selected automatically by the computer on which the graphing is performed or may be manually selected by a user. If the results of the graphing are not satisfactory to the user, the user may change the multiplier for any data set. A spin button may be provided to enable the user to easily increment or decrement a multiplier in predefined steps, such as by factors of 10. Additionally, a computer-generated indicator may be displayed to assist the user in selecting a different multiplier.

Claims

1. A method for displaying data in a graphical format, comprising:

a) storing graphable data sets, each data set having a plurality of data points, each data point having a first variable value and a second variable value;

b) displaying a graph outline in a first frame of a display, the graph outline comprising;

a first axis spanning a range of first axis values representative of the first variable; and

a second axis spanning a range of second axis values representative of the second variable, dependent upon the first variable;

c) retrieving a first of the graphical data sets;

d) selecting a first multiplier to apply to the second variable values of the first data set;

e) displaying the first multiplier in a second frame of the display;

f) multiplying each second variable value of the first data set by the first multiplier whereby a multiplied first data set is generated having multiplied second variable values;

g) determining if all of the multiplied second variable values of the multiplied first data set are within the range of second axis values;

h) if all of the multiplied second variable values of the multiplied first data set are within the range of second axis values, plotting the multiplied first data set within the graph outline; and

i) if not all of the multiplied second variable values of the multiplied first data set are within the range of second axis values;

receiving a user instruction selecting a new multiplier;

multiplying each second variable value of the first data set by the new multiplier whereby a newly multiplied first data set is generated having newly multiplied second variable values;

determining if all of the newly multiplied second variable values of the newly multiplied first data set are within the range of second axis values; and

if all of the newly multiplied second variable values of the newly multiplied first data set are within the range of second axis values. plotting the newly multiplied first data set within the graph outline; and

i) displaying a fit indicator in the second frame of the display, wherein the fit indicator indicates a relationship between a range of the multiplied second variable values and the range of second axis values.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising repeating steps c)-ij) for each other of the graphical data sets.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the fit indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

a good fit indicator, a range exceeded indicator, and an insufficient range indicator;

wherein the good fit indicator is an indication that the multiplied second variable values to are within the range of second axis values, the range exceeded indicator is an indication that at least one of the multiplied second variables values is greater than the maximum second axis values, and the insufficient range indicator is an indication that at least one of the multiplied second variable values is less than the minimum second axis values.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first multiplier comprises a processor-based computation of the first multiplier.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the first multiplier comprises a user selecting the first multiplier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting the first multiplier and the new multiplier comprise a user activating a spin button displayed in the second frame of the display.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein activating the spin button selectively increments and decrements the first multiplier by factors of ten.

8. A graphical display system, comprising:

a storage device for storing data sets, each data set having a plurality of data points, each data point having a first variable value and a second variable value;

means for retrieving one of the graphical data sets;

means for selecting a first multiplier to apply to the second variable values of the retrieved data set;

a monitor having a first frame and a second frame;

wherein the first multiplier is displayed in the second frame and a graph outline is displayed in the first frame, the graph outline comprising;

a first axis spanning a range of first axis values representative of the first variable, and

a second axis spanning a range of second axis values representative of the second variable, dependent upon the first variable;

means for multiplying each second variable value of the retrieved data set by the first multiplier whereby a multiplied retrieved data set is generated having multiplied second variable values;

means for determining if all of the multiplied second variable values of the multiplied retrieved data set are within the range of second axis values;

means for plotting the multiplied retrieved data set within the graph outline if all of the multiplied second variable values of the multiplied retrieved data set are within the range of second axis values; and

if not all of the multiplied second variable values of the multiplied retrieved data set are within the range of second axis values;

means for receiving a user instruction selecting a new multiplier;

means for multiplying each second variable value of the retrieved data set by the new multiplier whereby a newly multiplied retrieved data set is generated having newly multiplied second variable values;

means for determining if all of the newly multiplied second variable values of the newly multiplied retrieved data set are within the range of second axis values; and

means for plotting the newly multiplied retrieved data set within the graph outline if all of the newly multiplied second variable values of the newly multiplied retrieved data set are within the range of second axis; and

means for displaying a fit indicator in the second frame of the display, wherein the fit indicator indicates a relationship between a range of the multiplied second variable values and the range of second axis values.

9. The graphical display system of claim 8, wherein the fit indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

a good fit indicator, a range exceeded indicator, and an insufficient range indicator;

wherein the good fit indicator is an indication that the multiplied second variable values are within the range of second axis values, the range exceeded indicator is an indication that at least one of the multiplied second variables values is greater than the maximum second axis values, and the insufficient range indicator is an indication that at least one of the multiplied second variable values is less than the minimum second axis values.

10. The graphical display system of claim 8, wherein selecting the first multiplier comprises a processor-based computation of the first multiplier.

11. The graphical display system of claim 8, wherein selecting the first multiplier comprises a user selecting the first multiplier.

12. The graphical display system of claim 11, wherein selecting the first multiplier and the new multiplier comprise a user activating a spin button displayed in the second frame of the display.

13. The graphical display system of claim 12, wherein activating the spin button selectively increments and decrements the first multiplier by factors of ten.

14. A computer program product stored on a computer readable medium usable with a programmable computer, the computer program product having computer-readable code embodied therein for displaying data in a graphical format, the computer-readable code comprising instructions for:

a) storing graphable data sets, each data set having a plurality of data points, each data point having a first variable value and a second variable value;

b) displaying a graph outline in a first frame of a display, the graph outline comprising;

a first axis spanning a range of first axis values representative of the first variable; and

a second axis spanning a range of second axis values representative of the second variable, dependent upon the first variable;

c) retrieving a first of the graphical data sets;

d) selecting a first multiplier to apply to the second variable values of the first data set;

e) displaying the first multiplier in a second frame of the display;

f) multiplying each second variable value of the first data set by the first multiplier whereby a multiplied first data set is generated having multiplied second variable values;

g) determining if all of the multiplied second variable values of the multiplied first data set are within the range of second axis values;

h) plotting the multiplied first data set within the graph outline if all of the multiplied second variable values of the multiplied first data set are within the range of second axis values; and

i) if not all of the multiplied second variable values of the multiplied first data set are within the range of second axis values;

receiving a user instruction selecting a new multiplier;

multiplying each second variable value of the first data set by the new multiplier whereby a newly multiplied first data set is generated having newly multiplied second variable values;

determining if all of the newly multiplied second variable values of the newly multiplied first data set are within the range of second axis values; and

plotting the newly multiplied first data set within the graph outline if all if the newly multiplied second variable values of the newly multiplied first data set are within the range of second axis values; and

j) displaying a fit indicator in second frame of the display, wherein the fit indicator indicates a relationship between a range of the multiplied second variable values and the range of second axis values.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising instructions for repeating instructions c)-ij) for each other of the graphical data sets.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the fit indicator is selected from the group consisting of:

a good fit indicator, a range exceeded indicator, and an insufficient range indicator;

wherein the good fit indicator is an indication the multiplied second variable values are within the range of second axis values, the range exceeded indicator is an indication that at least one of the multiplied second variables values is greater than the maximum second axis values, and the insufficient range indicator is an indication that at least one of the multiplied second variable values is less than the minimum second axis values.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the instructions for selecting the first multiplier comprise instructions for a processor-based computation of the first multiplier.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the instructions for selecting the first multiplier comprise instructions for receiving a user selecting the first multiplier.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the instructions for selecting the first multiplier and the new multiplier comprise instructions for receiving input from a user-activated spin button displayed in the second frame of the display.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the instructions for receiving input from the spin button comprise instructions for selectively incrementing and decrementing the first multiplier by factors of ten.