Computer-implemented systems and methods for time series exploration using structured judgment

• US 9,037,998 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2012
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAS Institute Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SAS Institute Incorporated
• Inventors: Leonard, Michael James, Chipley, Michael Ryan, Ambulgekar, Kshitija, Mainkar, Sagar Arun, Dixit, Ashwini Bhalchandra, Shrotriya, Sarika, Sglavo, Udo V., Apte, Dinesh P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Titcomb, William
• Application Number:
  US13/551,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20140019909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 715/804
• US Class Current: 715/804
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/34 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/10 Complex mathematical operations function generation by table look-up G06F1/03; evaluation of elementary functions by calculation G06F7/544
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/18 for evaluating statistical data , e.g. average values, frequency distributions, probability functions, regression analysis forecasting specially adapted for a specific administrative, business or logistic context G06Q10/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for analyzing unstructured time stamped data. A first series of user display screens are provided, where the first series of user display screens are configured to be displayed in a step-wise manner so that a user can specify a first approach through a series of predetermined steps on how the unstructured data is to be structured. A second series of user display screens are provided, where the second series of user display screens are configured to be displayed in a step-wise manner so that the user can specify a second approach through the series of predetermined steps on how the unstructured data is to be structured. Tracking data enables alternate viewing of the first and second approach to facilitate a decision whether to format the unstructured time stamped data according to the first approach or the second approach.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of using graphical user interfaces to analyze unstructured time stamped data of a physical process in order to generate structured hierarchical data for a hierarchical forecasting application, said method comprising:

providing, using one or more data processors, a first series of user display screens that are displayed through one or more graphical user interfaces, wherein the first series of user display screens are configured to be displayed in a step-wise manner so that a user can specify a first approach through a series of predetermined steps on how the unstructured data is to be structured;

storing, using the one or more data processors, in a tracking data structure what information the user has specified in the first series of screens and where in the first series of user display screens the user is;

providing, using the one or more data processors, a second series of user display screens that are displayed through one or more graphical user interfaces, wherein the second series of user display screens are configured to be displayed in a step-wise manner so that the user can specify a second approach through the series of predetermined steps on how the unstructured data is to be structured;

storing, using the one or more data processors, in the tracking data structure what information the user has specified in the second series of screens and where in the second series of user display screens the user is;

using, using the one or more data processors, tracking data that is stored in the tracking data structure to facilitate the user going back and forth between the first and second series of user display screens without losing information or place in either the first or second user display screens; and

structuring, using the one or more data processors, the unstructured data into a hierarchical structure based upon information provided by the user through the first or second series of user display screens, wherein the structured hierarchical data is provided to an application for analysis using one or more time series analysis functions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a time series statistical analysis on the structured data;

providing a graphical interface depicting one or more patterns identified in the time series statistical analysis; and

receiving selection of a data model, wherein the selected data model is used to perform a second statistical analysis of the physical process.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the time series statistical analysis includes a univariate analysis that identifies a pattern for a single time series in the structured data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the univariate analysis includes an auto correlation operation or a decomposition analysis operation.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the time series statistical analysis is a multivariate analysis that identifies a pattern for multiple time series in the structured data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a clustering analysis on the structured data to identify a proposed cluster structure;

providing the proposed cluster structure via a graphical interface; and

receiving a selection of a structure cluster structure, wherein the statistical analysis is performed on the structured data that is structured according to the selected cluster structure.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a time slice analysis display using the structured data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said structuring of the unstructured data into a hierarchical structure is based upon information provided by the user through the first and second series of user display screens.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first approach includes a framework for structuring the data, wherein the framework is determined based on a user criteria or a statistical analysis criteria.

10. A system for using graphical user interfaces to analyze unstructured time stamped data of a physical process in order to generate structured hierarchical data for a hierarchical forecasting application, comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more computer-readable storage mediums containing instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including;

providing a first series of user display screens that are displayed through one or more graphical user interfaces, wherein the first series of user display screens are configured to be displayed in a step-wise manner so that a user can specify a first approach through a series of predetermined steps on how the unstructured data is to be structured;

storing in a tracking data structure what information the user has specified in the first series of screens and where in the first series of user display screens the user is;

providing a second series of user display screens that are displayed through one or more graphical user interfaces, wherein the second series of user display screens are configured to be displayed in a step-wise manner so that the user can specify a second approach through the series of predetermined steps on how the unstructured data is to be structured;

storing in the tracking data structure what information the user has specified in the second series of screens and where in the second series of user display screens the user is;

using tracking data that is stored in the tracking data structure to facilitate the user going back and forth between the first and second series of user display screens without losing information or place in either the first or second user display screens; and

structuring the unstructured data into a hierarchical structure based upon information provided by the user through the first or second series of user display screens, wherein the structured hierarchical data is provided to an application for analysis using one or more time series analysis functions.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further include:

performing a time series statistical analysis on the structured data;

providing a graphical interface depicting one or more patterns identified in the time series statistical analysis; and

receiving selection of a data model, wherein the selected data model is used to perform a second statistical analysis of the physical process.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the time series statistical analysis includes a univariate analysis that identifies a pattern for a single time series in the structured data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the univariate analysis includes an autocorrelation operation or a decomposition analysis operation.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the time series statistical analysis is a multivariate analysis that identifies a pattern for multiple time series in the structured data.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further include:

performing a clustering analysis on the structured data to identify a proposed cluster structure;

providing the proposed cluster structure via a graphical interface; and

receiving a selection of a structure cluster structure, wherein the statistical analysis is performed on the structured data that is structured according to the selected cluster structure.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further include:

providing a time slice analysis display using the structured data.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein said structuring of the unstructured data into a hierarchical structure is based upon information provided by the user through the first and second series of user display screens.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the information provided by the user includes a selection of a framework for structuring the data, wherein the framework is determined based on a user criteria or a statistical analysis criteria.

19. A computer program product for using graphical user interfaces to analyze unstructured time stamped data of a physical process in order to generate structured hierarchical data for a hierarchical forecasting application, tangibly embodied in a machine-readable non-transitory storage medium, including instructions configured to cause a data processing system to:

provide a first series of user display screens that are displayed through one or more graphical user interfaces, wherein the first series of user display screens are configured to be displayed in a step-wise manner so that a user can specify a first approach through a series of predetermined steps on how the unstructured data is to be structured;

store in a tracking data structure what information the user has specified in the first series of screens and where in the first series of user display screens the user is;

provide a second series of user display screens that are displayed through one or more graphical user interfaces, wherein the second series of user display screens are configured to be displayed in a step-wise manner so that the user can specify a second approach through the series of predetermined steps on how the unstructured data is to be structured;

store in the tracking data structure what information the user has specified in the second series of screens and where in the second series of user display screens the user is;

use tracking data that is stored in the tracking data structure to facilitate the user going back and forth between the first and second series of user display screens without losing information or place in either the first or second user display screens; and

structure the unstructured data into a hierarchical structure based upon information provided by the user through the first or second series of user display screens, wherein the structured hierarchical data is provided to an application for analysis using one or more time series analysis functions.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, further including instructions configured to cause the data processing system to:

perform a time series statistical analysis on the structured data;

provide a graphical interface depicting one or more patterns identified in the time series statistical analysis; and

receive selection of a data model, wherein the selected data model is used to perform a second statistical analysis of the physical process.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the time series statistical analysis includes a univariate analysis that identifies a pattern for a single time series in the structured data.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the univariate analysis includes an autocorrelation operation or a decomposition analysis operation.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the time series statistical analysis is a multivariate analysis that identifies a pattern for multiple time series in the structured data.

24. The computer program product of claim 19, further including instructions configured to cause the data processing system to:

perform a clustering analysis on the structured data to identify a proposed cluster structure;

provide the proposed cluster structure via a graphical interface; and

receive a selection of a structure cluster structure, wherein the statistical analysis is performed on the structured data that is structured according to the selected cluster structure.

25. The computer program product of claim 19, further including instructions configured to cause the data processing system to:

provide a time slice analysis display using the structured data.

26. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein structuring of the unstructured data into a hierarchical structure is based upon information provided by the user through the first and second series of user display screens.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, wherein the information provided by the user includes a selection of a framework for structuring the data, wherein the framework is determined based on a user criteria or a statistical analysis criteria.