Intelligent leading indicator display

• US 8,094,154 B1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Silberg, Eric J., Nguyen, Phong Hua, Bi, Naipei P., Everson, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): HARRISON, CHANTE E
• Application Number:
  US12/006,753
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/440.2
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration

Abstract

According to typical inventive practice, a baseline describing a statistical distribution is established for a set of historical occurrences of an event. Comparison is made between the baseline and at least one current occurrence of the same event. Any current occurrence that is anomalous vis-à-vis the baseline is considered a possible leading indicator. According to some inventive embodiments of graphical presentation of such comparison, at least one graphical baseline comparative display component is rendered that includes a “bar” (describing a historical statistical distribution with respect to a criterion pertaining to occurrence of an event) and a “slider” (describing one or more current occurrences of the event). The bar includes at least one band representing a statistical mean range, and at least one band representing a statistical outlier range. Situation of the slider along the bar indicates whether and to what extent the current occurrence(s) is/are anomalous vis-à-vis the baseline.

Claims

1. A method for graphically displaying relative performance of an activity, the method comprising:

displaying at least two bars in parallel juxtaposition with respect to each other, each said bar being characterized by a bar length and a bar middle bisecting said bar length, said at least two bars being aligned so that a geometric mean line perpendicularly intersects each said bar through the corresponding said bar middle, said displaying of at least two said bars including using a computer, each said bar corresponding to a quantifiable criterion for performance of an activity, at least two said bars corresponding to different said quantifiable criteria, each said bar representing a baseline describing a statistical distribution for plural historical performances of an activity with respect to a scale of quantitative values of said criterion, said scale of quantitative values indicated to be applicable to said bar along said bar length, each said bar including at least five bands, each said band extending a portion of said bar length and being characterized by a band length and two band demarcations of said bar length, one said band representing a statistical normative range, at least four said bands representing a statistical non-normative range, each said bar middle representing the statistical mean of the corresponding said bar and representing the zero quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values;

displaying at least one slider, each said slider associated with a said bar and positionable along said bar length, said displaying of at least one said slider including using said computer, each said slider being visually situated upon a said bar in one of a said statistical normative range and a said statistical non-normative range, each said slider representing a subject performance of said activity with respect to said criterion to which corresponds said bar upon which said slider is visually situated, each said slider being both statistically and quantitatively informative with respect to deviation above or below said statistical mean;

wherein each said bar is further characterized by the following;

a first said band is the middle said band of said bar, represents a said statistical normative range, is bisected by said bar middle, and is delimited on its opposite longitudinal sides by two first said band demarcations, each said first band demarcation representing one standard deviation with respect to said statistical mean, said bar middle bisecting said first band, one said first band demarcation representing positive one standard deviation with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a positive first quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, the other said first band demarcation representing negative one standard deviation with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a negative first quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, said positive first quantitative value and said negative first quantitative value being equal in absolute value;

a pair of second said bands of equal said band length are adjacent to and on opposite longitudinal sides of said first band and respectively represent statistical non-normative ranges, each said second band being delimited on its longitudinal side closer to said bar middle by an inner second said band demarcation, each said inner second band demarcation coinciding with and equating to one said first band demarcation, each said second band being delimited on its longitudinal side further from said bar middle by an outer second said band demarcation, one said outer second band demarcation representing positive two standard deviations with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a positive second value of said scale of values, the other said outer second band demarcation representing negative two standard deviations with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a second negative quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, said positive second quantitative value and said negative second quantitative value being equal in absolute value;

a pair of third said bands are at opposite ends of said bar and respectively represent statistical non-normative ranges, each said third band being adjacent to a second said band, each said third band being delimited on its longitudinal side closer to said bar middle by an inner third said band demarcation, each said inner third band demarcation coinciding with and equating to one said outer second band demarcation.

2. The method for graphically displaying of claim 1, wherein in each said bar all of said bands are visually differentiated from each other by at least one visual characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, shade, and pattern.

3. The method for graphically displaying of claim 1, wherein in each said bar said slider is visually differentiated from every said band by at least one visual characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, shade, and pattern.

4. The method for graphically displaying of claim 1, wherein if a said slider is visually situated upon a said bar in a said statistical non-normative range, the visual situation of said slider upon said bar is indicative of a degree of anomalousness of said subject performance versus said plural historical performances.

5. The method for graphically displaying of claim 4, wherein the method comprises earmarking said subject performance as a possible leading indicator.

6. The method for graphically displaying of claim 1, wherein in each said bar:

all of said bands are visually differentiated from each other by at least one visual characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, shade, and pattern;

said slider is visually differentiated from every said band by at least one visual characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, shade, and pattern.

7. The method for graphically displaying of claim 6, wherein in each said bar:

the first said band is green;

each second said band is yellow;

each third said band is red;

said slider is at least substantially white.

8. The method for graphically displaying of claim 1, wherein each said bar is horizontal and each said slider is vertical, and wherein in each said bar:

the lefthand second said band and the righthand second said band equivalently but oppositely represent the same statistical non-normative range;

the lefthand third said band and the righthand third said band equivalently but oppositely represent the same statistical non-normative range.

9. A computer program product for residence in memory of a computer, said computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon, said computer program logic being embodied in computer code for enabling said computer to graphically display relative performance of an activity, said graphical display of relative performance including:

displaying at least two bars in parallel juxtaposition with respect to each other, each said bar being characterized by a bar length and a bar middle bisecting said bar length, said at least two bars being aligned so that a geometric mean line perpendicularly intersects each said bar through the corresponding said bar middle, each said bar corresponding to a quantifiable criterion for performance of an activity, at least two said bars corresponding to different said quantifiable criteria, each said bar representing a baseline describing a statistical distribution for plural historical performances of an activity with respect to a scale of quantitative values of said criterion, said scale of quantitative values indicated to be applicable to said bar along said bar length, each said bar including at least five bands, each said band extending a portion of said bar length and being characterized by a band length and two band demarcations of said bar length, one said band representing a statistical normative range, at least four said bands representing a statistical non-normative range, each said bar middle representing the statistical mean of the corresponding said bar and representing the zero quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values;

displaying at least one slider, each said slider associated with a said bar and positionable along said bar length, each said slider being visually situated upon a said bar in one of a said statistical normative range and a said statistical non-normative range, each said slider representing a subject performance of said activity with respect to said criterion to which corresponds said bar upon which said slider is visually situated, each said slider being both statistically and quantitatively informative with respect to deviation either above or below said statistical mean;

wherein each said bar is further characterized by the following;

a first said band is the middle said band of said bar, represents a said statistical normative range, is bisected by said bar middle, and is delimited on its opposite longitudinal sides by two first said band demarcations, each said first band demarcation representing one standard deviation with respect to said statistical mean, said bar middle bisecting said first band, one said first band demarcation representing positive one standard deviation with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a positive first quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, the other said first band demarcation representing negative one standard deviation with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a negative first quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, said positive first quantitative value and said negative first quantitative value being equal in absolute value;

a pair of second said bands of equal said band length are adjacent to and on opposite sides of said first band and respectively represent statistical non-normative ranges, each said second band being delimited on its longitudinal side closer to said bar middle by an inner second said band demarcation, each said inner second band demarcation coinciding with and equating to one said first band demarcation, each said second band being delimited on its longitudinal side further from said bar middle by an outer second said band demarcation, one said outer second band demarcation representing positive two standard deviations with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a positive second quantitative value of said scale of values, the other said outer second band demarcation representing negative two standard deviations with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a second negative quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, said positive second quantitative value and said negative second quantitative value being equal in absolute value;

a pair of third said bands are at opposite ends of said bar and respectively represent statistical non-normative ranges, each said third band being adjacent to a second said band, each said third band being delimited on its longitudinal side closer to said bar middle by an inner third said band demarcation, each said inner third band demarcation coinciding with and equating to one said outer second band demarcation.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein in each said bar:

all of said bands are visually differentiated from each other by at least one visual characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, shade, and pattern;

said slider is visually differentiated from every said band by at least one visual characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, shade, and pattern.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein:

if a said slider is visually situated upon a said bar in a said statistical non-normative range, the visual situation of said slider upon said bar is indicative of a degree of anomalousness of said subject performance versus said plural historical performances;

said graphical display of relative performance includes earmarking said subject performance as a possible leading indicator.

12. A computer program product for residence in memory of a computer, said computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon, said computer program logic being embodied in computer code for enabling said computer to graphically display relative performance of an activity, said graphical display of relative performance including:

displaying at least two bars in parallel juxtaposition with respect to each other, each said bar being characterized by a bar length and a bar middle bisecting said bar length, said at least two bars being aligned so that a geometric mean line perpendicularly intersects each said bar through the corresponding said bar middle, each said bar corresponding to a quantifiable criterion for performance of an activity, at least two said bars corresponding to different said quantifiable criteria, each said bar representing a baseline describing a statistical distribution for plural historical performances of an activity with respect to a scale of quantitative values of said criterion, said scale of quantitative values indicated to be applicable to said bar along said bar length, each said bar including at least five bands, each said band extending a portion of said bar length and being characterized by a band length and two band demarcations of said bar length, one said band representing a statistical normative range, at least four said bands representing a statistical non-normative range, each said bar middle representing the statistical mean of the corresponding said bar and representing the zero quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values;

displaying at least one slider, each said slider associated with a said bar and positionable along said bar length, each said slider being visually situated upon a said bar in one of a said statistical normative range and a said statistical non-normative range, each said slider representing a subject performance of said activity with respect to said criterion to which corresponds said bar upon which said slider is visually situated, each said slider being both statistically and quantitatively informative with respect to deviation above or below said statistical mean;

wherein each said bar is horizontal and each said slider is vertical, and wherein each said bar is further characterized by the following;

a first said band is the middle said band of said bar, represents a said statistical normative range, is bisected by said bar middle, and is delimited on its opposite longitudinal sides by two first said band demarcations, each said first band demarcation representing a first statistical deviational value with respect to said statistical mean, said bar middle bisecting said first band, the righthand said first band demarcation representing positive said first statistical deviational value with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a positive first quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, the lefthand said first band demarcation representing negative said first statistical deviational value with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a negative first quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, said positive first quantitative value and said negative first quantitative value being equal in absolute value;

a pair of second said bands of equal said band length are adjacent to and on opposite sides of said first band and respectively represent statistical non-normative ranges, each said second band being delimited on its longitudinal side closer to said bar middle by an inner second said band demarcation, each said inner second band demarcation coinciding with and equating to one said first band demarcation, each said second band being delimited on its longitudinal side further from said bar middle by an outer second said band demarcation, the righthand said outer second band demarcation representing a positive said second statistical deviational value with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a positive second quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, the lefthand said outer second band demarcation representing a negative second statistical deviational value with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a second negative quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, said positive second quantitative value and said negative second quantitative value being equal in absolute value;

a pair of third said bands are at opposite ends of said bar and respectively represent statistical non-normative ranges, each said third band being adjacent to a second said band, each said third band being delimited on its longitudinal side closer to said bar middle by an inner third said band demarcation, each said inner third band demarcation coinciding with and equating to one said outer second band demarcation;

the lefthand said second band and the righthand said second band equivalently but oppositely represent the same statistical non-normative range;

the lefthand said third band and the righthand said third band equivalently but oppositely represent the same statistical non-normative range.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein in each said bar:

all of said bands are visually differentiated from each other by at least one visual characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, shade and pattern;

said slider is visually differentiated from every said band by at least one visual characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, shade and pattern.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein in each said bar:

the first said band is green;

each second said band is yellow;

each third said band is red;

said slider is at least substantially white.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein if a said slider is visually situated upon a said bar in a said statistical non-normative range, the visual situation of said slider upon said bar is indicative of a degree of anomalousness of said subject performance versus said plural historical performances.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said graphical display of relative performance includes earmarking said subject performance as a possible leading indicator.

17. A method for graphically displaying relative performance of an activity, the method comprising:

displaying at least two bars in parallel juxtaposition with respect to each other, each said bar being characterized by a bar length and a bar middle bisecting said bar length, said at least two bars being aligned so that a geometric mean line perpendicularly intersects each said bar through the corresponding said bar middle, said displaying of at least two said bars including using a computer, each said bar corresponding to a quantifiable criterion for performance of an activity, at least two said bars corresponding to different said quantifiable criteria, each said bar representing a baseline describing a statistical distribution for plural historical performances of an activity with respect to a scale of quantitative values of said criterion, said scale of quantitative values indicated to be applicable to said bar along said bar length, each said bar including at least five bands, each said band extending a portion of said bar length and being characterized by a band length and two band demarcations of said bar length, one said band representing a statistical normative range, at least four said bands representing a statistical non-normative range, each said bar middle representing the statistical mean of the corresponding said bar and representing the zero quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values;

displaying at least one slider, each said slider associated with a said bar and positionable along said bar length, said displaying of at least one said slider including using said computer, each said slider being visually situated upon a said bar in one of a said statistical normative range and a said statistical non-normative range, each said slider representing a subject performance of said activity with respect to said criterion to which corresponds said bar upon which said slider is visually situated, each said slider being both statistically and quantitatively informative with respect to deviation above or below said statistical mean;

wherein each said bar is horizontal and each said slider is vertical, and wherein each said bar is further characterized by the following;

a first said band is the middle said band of said bar, represents a said statistical normative range, is bisected by said bar middle, and is delimited on its opposite longitudinal sides by two first said band demarcations, each said first band demarcation representing a first statistical deviational value with respect to said statistical mean, said bar middle bisecting said first band, the righthand said first band demarcation representing positive said first statistical deviational value with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a positive first quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, the lefthand said first band demarcation representing negative said first statistical deviational value with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a negative first quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, said positive first quantitative value and said negative first quantitative value being equal in absolute value;

a pair of second said bands of equal said band length are adjacent to and on opposite sides of said first band and respectively represent statistical non-normative ranges, each said second band being delimited on its longitudinal side closer to said bar middle by an inner second said band demarcation, each said inner second band demarcation coinciding with and equating to one said first band demarcation, each said second band being delimited on its longitudinal side further from said bar middle by an outer second said band demarcation, the righthand said outer second band demarcation representing a positive said second statistical deviational value with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a positive second quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, the lefthand said outer second band demarcation representing a negative second statistical deviational value with respect to said statistical mean and corresponding to a second negative quantitative value of said scale of quantitative values, said positive second quantitative value and said negative second quantitative value being equal in absolute value;

a pair of third said bands are at opposite ends of said bar and respectively represent statistical non-normative ranges, each said third band being adjacent to a second said band, each said third band being delimited on its longitudinal side closer to said bar middle by an inner third said band demarcation, each said inner third band demarcation coinciding with and equating to one said outer second band demarcation;

the lefthand said second band and the righthand said second band equivalently but oppositely represent the same statistical non-normative range;

the lefthand said third band and the righthand said third band equivalently but oppositely represent the same statistical non-normative range.

18. The method for graphically displaying of claim 17, wherein in each said bar:

all of said bands are visually differentiated from each other by at least one visual characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, shade, and pattern;

said slider is visually differentiated from every said band by at least one visual characteristic selected from the group consisting of color, shade, and pattern.

19. The method for graphically displaying of claim 17, wherein if a said slider is visually situated upon a said bar in a said statistical non-normative range, the visual situation of said slider upon said bar is indicative of a degree of anomalousness of said subject performance versus said plural historical performances.

20. The method for graphically displaying of claim 19, wherein the method comprises earmarking said subject performance as a possible leading indicator.