Data analysis tool for analyzing data stored in multiple text files

• US 7,571,151 B1
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gneiss Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gneiss Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Fontaine, Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham; John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Uddin; Mohammed R
• Application Number:
  US11/303,621
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A system for organizing data in multiple text data files and for automatically parsing data directly into named variables within a single, user-configurable graphical user interface (GUI) or workspace. Results organization, analysis algorithms, and file viewing all take place from within the workspace. No apriori knowledge of the dimensionality or length of data is required. Results may readily be placed into reports. Multiple data files may be processed using batch commands. Metafile capability is provided wherein data within a first level file may be the name of another data file allowing cascaded processing of data files. This unification of a user-configurable workspace, an integrated file viewing method and a parsing method minimizes distraction to a researcher allowing him or her to focus on analysis of experimental data rather than on the mechanics of data processing. The system of methods interacts with third party data analysis application software packages.

Claims

1. A data analysis parsing tool that is fully integratable into the workspace of other scientific analysis third-party graphical user interfaces (GUIs), said third-party GUIs comprising a comprehensive whiteboard-style workspace that makes available all necessary means for developing an ordered multi-step analysis using named variables, activating said multi-step analysis, performing numerical and non-numerical computations and graphically displaying the results of those analyses and computations, said data analysis parsing tool providing the third-party whiteboard GUI with new functions, capabilities and ways of usage, and comprising:

a) means for providing single file parsing functions that directly associates the user'"'"'s named analysis variable in the GUI workspace with a named data field contained within one named data file,

wherein said functions operate as to immediately search and parse said named data field from said named data file into said named variable in said whiteboard GUI workspace as the command is entered,

and thereafter said function once defined also automatically performs said search and parse operations each time it is called with a new named data file during the third-party'"'"'s GUI automation of said multi-step analysis,

and wherein each said named data field from within said named data file may be of the dimensions scalar, vector, or matrix,

and wherein the said data fields within the named data file may be a mixture of the data types numeric or text,

and wherein the user need have no prior knowledge of the dimensions of said data field prior to or during the parsing of that said data field;

b) means for providing multi-file parsing functions to batchfile process a vector list of named data files and return a corresponding collated vector list of single-file data field parsing results into a single named variable in said GUI workspace,

wherein said functions operate to immediately search and parse said named data field of the same name from each of multiple said named data files into said named variable in said GUI workspace,

and thereafter said functions once defined also automatically perform said search and parse operations each time they are called with a new vector list of named data files during the third-party'"'"'s GUI automation of said multi-step analysis,

and wherein each said named data field from within each file contained within the vector list of named data files may be of the dimensions scalar, vector, or matrix,

and wherein the said named data fields from within each file whose names are contained within the vector list of named data files may be a mixture of the data types numeric or text,

and wherein the user need have no prior knowledge of the dimensions of said data fields within any data file from the said vector list of named data files prior to or during the parsing of that said data field from any of those named data files;

c) a global file-selection index whose function is to change the selection of a new named data file from within a vector list of named data files and which is used as the means to initiate both the parsing and the computations of a multi-step analysis using information from data fields contained in that one newly selected named data file;

d) said data analysis parsing tool providing the third-party whiteboard GUI with a new capability of cascading data file access, whereby said named text data fields in said named data files contain the names of yet other data files and whereby those data file names are parsed, using the above-described parsing functions, and then said parsed file names are used as a means to access their contents, using one of the group;

the same above-described parsing methods, and by other file importation commands native to the third party GUI;

e) a raw text viewer freely positionable in said third-party GUI to provide an embedded view of the contents of said at least one text data file within said third-party GUI, to act as an aid for a user to visually inspect the contents of a data file and thus remember the names of the data fields and/or to observe their dimensions and their data types; and

f) means for transferring processed results obtained from the application of at least one of the above-mentioned techniques to a report by using a simple copy and paste operation on those results that were obtained by the combined use of the third-party whiteboard GUI and the integrated data analysis parsing tool.