Graph viewer displaying predicted account balances and expenditures

• US 8,473,858 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 06/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Buchanan, James Brooks, Corvo, Rosie Susan, Phillips, Gregory S., Pratt, Mark Colin, Richardson, Julia Claire, Daun, Susan Claire, Wood, Paul Robert, Jameson, Crispin Alexander Conrad, Brennan, Timothy Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOWENBERGER, AARON J
• Application Number:
  US12/533,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20110087985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 715/784, 715/786, 715/833, 715/801, 715/771, 715/962, 705/33, 705/42
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatuses and methods for providing a graphical user interface on the display device, where the graphical user interface includes a graph viewing tool for charting data. The graph viewing tool includes: (a) a first display area displaying a first axis and a second axis of a graph, the first axis representing a first parameter of the data over a first range of values; (b) a second display area displaying a third axis representing the first parameter over a second range of values; and (c) a first tool and a second tool displayed in the second display area proximate the third axis, wherein the first tool and the second tool are configured such that they can be moved relative to each other and relative to the third axis to increase or decrease the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a memory having data stored therein, wherein the data comprises, at least, information associated with one or more financial accounts associated with a consumer;

a communication interface configured to provide information to be displayed on a display device; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory and the communication interface and configured to use the communication interface to provide a graphical user interface to be displayed on the display device, wherein the graphical user interface comprises a graph viewing tool configured to display a graph of balances and expenditures versus time, wherein the graph of balances and expenditures versus time is based at least partially on transaction data and financial information associated with the one or more financial accounts associated with the consumer, wherein the graph viewing tool is further configured to display, at least, a first element representing balances versus time and a second element representing expenditures versus time on the graph of balances and expenditures versus time, and wherein the graph viewing tool is further configured to display projected expenditures and balances versus time based at least partially on the transaction data and financial information associated with the one or more financial accounts associated with the consumer, the graph viewing tool comprising;

a first display area displaying a first axis and a second axis of the graph, the first axis representing a first parameter of the data over a first range of values;

a second display area displaying a third axis representing the first parameter over a second range of values; and

a first tool and a second tool displayed in the second display area proximate the third axis, wherein the first tool and the second tool are configured such that they can be moved relative to each other and relative to the third axis to increase or decrease the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area, wherein a portion of the second display area that is not between the first and the second tool is configured to display the projected balances and expenditures versus time of the one or more financial accounts associated with the consumer;

wherein, when the first and second tools are moved relative to each other to increase or decrease the first range of values displayed along the first axis, the range of parameters represented by the second axis changes automatically based on high and low values of the parameter in the data captured within the range of the first axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second range of values is greater than and includes the first range of values.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third axis represents an entire range of values stored in the memory for the first parameter of the data.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graph viewing tool further comprises:

a sliding tool displayed in the second display area that is configured to allow a user to move the first tool and the second tool simultaneously relative to the third axis, while keeping a distance between the first tool and the second tool constant, wherein the sliding tool allows the user to change the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first tool and the second tool comprise a first bar and a second bar, respectively, perpendicular to the third axis, and wherein the sliding tool comprises a third bar parallel to the third axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sliding tool comprises a scroll button proximate to an end of the third axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tool and the second tool each comprise a bar perpendicular to the third axis.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graph viewing tool is configured such that when the first tool and the second tool are moved toward each other, the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area is decreased, and when the first tool and the second tool are moved away from each other, the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area is increased.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second axis represents a second parameter of the data, and wherein the second display area further displays a fourth axis representing the second parameter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second axis and the fourth axis display the same range of values for the second parameter.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second axis represents a second parameter of the data over a second range of values, and wherein the graph displays a line graph of the second parameter as a function of the first parameter.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first parameter is a measure of time.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first display area and the second display area provide line graphs of monetary parameters as a function of time.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first display area and the second display area chart at least one price history for at least one security.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the graph viewing tool comprises buttons that the user can select to show or hide at least one price history for at least one security.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first display area and the second display area chart assets or liabilities.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first display area and the second display area chart assets or liabilities for a plurality of financial accounts.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the graph viewing tool comprises buttons that the user can select to show or hide one or more of a plurality of financial account histories or projections.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the graph viewing tool is configured so that the second display area is displayed beneath and lined up with the first display area.

20. A method of displaying data, the method comprising:

providing a graphical user interface for display on a user terminal, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a graph of balances and expenditures versus time, wherein the graph of balances and expenditures versus time is based at least partially on transaction data and financial information associated with one or more financial accounts associated with a consumer, wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to display, at least, a first element representing balances versus time and a second element representing expenditures versus time on the graph of balances and expenditures versus time, and wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to display projected expenditures and balances versus time based at least partially on the transaction data and financial information associated with the one or more financial accounts associated with the consumer, wherein the graphical user interface comprises;

a first display area displaying a first axis and a second axis of the graph, the first axis representing a first parameter of the data over a first range of values;

a second display area displaying a third axis representing the first parameter over a second range of values; and

a first tool and a second tool displayed in the second display area proximate the third axis, wherein the first tool and the second tool are configured such that they can be moved relative to each other and relative to the third axis to increase or decrease the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area, wherein a portion of the second display area that is not between the first and the second tool is configured to display the projected balances and expenditures versus time of the one or more financial accounts associated with the consumer;

receiving an electronic communication from the user terminal indicating that a user moved the first and second tools relative to each other to increase or decrease the first range of values displayed along the first axis; and

using a processor to increase or decrease the amount of the data displayed by the first display area based on the user'"'"'s movement of the first and second tools relative to each other and relative to the second display area and wherein the processor automatically changes a range of parameters represented by a second axis based on high and low values of the data displayed by the first display area.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the graphical user interface further comprises:

a sliding tool displayed in the second display area that is configured to allow a user to move the first tool and the second tool simultaneously relative to the third axis, while keeping a distance between the first tool and the second tool constant, wherein the sliding tool allows the user to change the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the electronic communication indicates that a user moved the first tool and the second tool toward each other, and wherein the method further comprises:

using the processor to decrease the amount of the data displayed by the first display area based on the extent that the user moved the first and second tools toward each other.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the electronic communication indicates that a user moved the first tool and the second tool away from each other, and wherein the method further comprises:

using the processor to increase the amount of the data displayed by the first display area based on the extent that the user moved the first and second tools away from each other.

24. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable program code stored therein, the computer-executable program code comprising:

computer-executable code portion configured to provide a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a graph of balances and expenditures versus time, wherein the graph of balances and expenditures versus time is based at least partially on transaction data and financial information associated with one or more financial accounts associated with a consumer, wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to display, at least, a first element representing balances versus time and a second element representing expenditures versus time on the graph of balances and expenditures versus time, and wherein the graphical user interface is further configured to display a projected expenditures and balances versus time based at least partially on the transaction data and financial information associated with the one or more financial accounts associated with the consumer, the graphical user interface comprising;

a first display area displaying a first axis and a second axis of the graph, the first axis representing a first parameter of the data over a first range of values;

a second display area displaying a third axis representing the first parameter over a second range of values; and

a first tool and a second tool displayed in the second display area proximate the third axis, wherein the first tool and the second tool are configured such that they can be moved relative to each other and relative to the third axis to increase or decrease the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area, wherein a portion of the second display area that is not between the first and the second tool is configured to display the projected balances and expenditures versus time of the one or more financial accounts associated with the consumer;

computer-executable program code portion configured to receive a communication indicating that a user moved the first and second tools relative to each other to increase or decrease the first range of values displayed along the first axis; and

computer-executable program code portion configured to increase or decrease the amount of the data displayed by the first display area based on the received communication indicating the user'"'"'s movement of the first and second tools and automatically change a range of parameters represented by a second axis based on high and low values of the data displayed by the first display area.

25. The computer program product of claim 24, wherein said graphical user interface further comprises:

a sliding tool displayed in the second display area that is configured to allow a user to move the first tool and the second tool simultaneously relative to the third axis, while keeping a distance between the first tool and the second tool constant, wherein the sliding tool allows the user to change the first range of values displayed along the first axis in the first display area.