Visualization of Decision Logic

• US 20090064053A1
• Filed: 08/29/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fair Isaac Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fair Isaac Corporation
• Inventors: Tolmanov, Sergei, Kolipaka, Kashyap Babu Rao, Doshi, Navin, Thorsen, Megan, Chhaparwal, Gaurav, Steele, Michael, Crawford, Stuart L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,312,389 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/854
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

Techniques for visualization of decision logic are provided. In one aspect, the techniques can be implemented by providing a control within a graphical user interface to a user. The control can display a plurality of graphical user interface elements corresponding to linked nodes within a hierarchical structure. An input identifying a selected graphical user interface element within the control can be generated by a user. A selected node within the hierarchical structure can be identified based on the selected graphical user interface element. In response to a request from a user, modifying an appearance of a subset of the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure based on a desired visualization criteria, the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure and the selected node.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method comprising:

providing a control within a graphical user interface to a user, the control comprising a plurality of graphical user interface elements corresponding to linked nodes within a hierarchical structure;

receiving a user-generated input identifying a selected graphical user interface element within the control;

identifying a selected node within the hierarchical structure corresponding to the selected graphical user interface element;

receiving a user-generated request for modifying an appearance of a subset of the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure based on desired visualization criteria, the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure and the selected node; and

,

modifying an appearance of one or more graphical user interface elements corresponding to the received request.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the desired visualization criteria comprise relation criteria and selection criteria.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the relation criteria comprise at least one of the parents, children, ancestors, descendants and siblings.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure corresponds to a condition variable and the relation criteria corresponds to the condition variable.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the selection criteria comprise at least one of the color, fading and visibility.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the selection criteria is based on data from a data set.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical structure is selected from the group consisting of DAG, EDAG, decision tree and action graph.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the hierarchical structure is leveled.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 8, wherein each level of the hierarchical structure is displayed by the control using alternating background colors.

10. A computer implemented method comprising:

providing a control within a graphical user interface to a user, the control comprising a plurality of graphical user interface elements corresponding to linked nodes within a hierarchical structure;

receiving a user-generated request for modifying an appearance of a subset of the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure based on selection criteria, the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure and data from a dataset; and

,

modifying an appearance of one or more graphical user interface elements corresponding to the received request.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein the selection criteria comprise at least one of the color, fading and visibility.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein the hierarchical structure is selected from the group consisting of DAG, EDAG, decision tree and action graph.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein the data corresponds to frequency information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the frequency information represents most executed paths.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the frequency information represents least executed paths.

16. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein the dataset is stored in at least one file or database.

17. The computer implemented method of claim 10, wherein the data is generated as a result of a simulation.

35. The article of claim 10, wherein the selection criteria comprise at least one of the color, fading and visibility.

18. A computer implemented method comprising:

providing a control within a graphical user interface to a user, the control comprising a plurality of graphical user interface elements corresponding to linked nodes within a hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure comprising at least one root node on a first end and at least one action node on a second end;

receiving a user-generated input identifying a selected graphical user interface element within the control, such that the selected graphical user interface element corresponds to a selected action node;

receiving a user-generated input corresponding to a request for generation of an action graph based on the selected action node and a desired visualization criteria;

generating the action graph based on the selected action node, the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure and the desired visualization criteria; and

,

displaying the action graph to the user.

19. The computer implemented method of claim 18, wherein the desired visualization criteria comprises:

replacing the root node with a first line;

connecting all nodes previously directly connected to the root node to the first line;

replacing the currently selected node with a second line; and

connecting all nodes previously directly connected to the currently selected node to the second line.

20. The computer implemented method of claim 18, wherein the action graph is leveled.

21. The computer implemented method of claim 20, wherein each level of the action graph is displayed by the control using alternating background colors.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 18, wherein the action graph is optimized.

23. The computer implemented method of claim 22, wherein the optimization is performed by modifying an order of levels.

24. The computer implemented method of claim 23, wherein the order of levels is modified to minimize a number of the linked nodes, while maintaining logical equivalence.

25. An article comprising a tangible machine-readable storage medium embodying instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprising:

providing a control within a graphical user interface to a user, the control comprising a plurality of graphical user interface elements corresponding to linked nodes within a hierarchical structure;

receiving a user-generated input identifying a selected graphical user interface element within the control;

identifying a selected node within the hierarchical structure corresponding to the selected graphical user interface element;

receiving a user-generated request for modifying an appearance of a subset of the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure based on a desired visualization criteria, the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure and the selected node; and

,

modifying an appearance of one or more graphical user interface elements corresponding to the received request.

26. The article of claim 25, wherein the desired visualization criteria comprise a relation criteria and a selection criteria.

27. The article of claim 26, wherein the relation criteria comprise at least one of the parents, children, ancestors, descendants and siblings.

28. The article of claim 26, wherein at least one of the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure corresponds to a condition variable and the relation criteria corresponds to the condition variable.

29. The article of claim 26, wherein the selection criteria comprise at least one of the color, fading and visibility.

30. The article of claim 26, wherein the selection criteria is based on data from a data set.

31. The article of claim 25, wherein the hierarchical structure is selected from the group consisting of DAG, EDAG, decision tree and action graph.

32. The article of claim 25, wherein the hierarchical structure is leveled.

33. The article of claim 32, wherein each level of the hierarchical structure is displayed by the control using alternating background colors.

34. An article comprising a tangible machine-readable storage medium embodying instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprising:

providing a control within a graphical user interface to a user, the control comprising a plurality of graphical user interface elements corresponding to linked nodes within a hierarchical structure;

receiving a user-generated request for modifying an appearance of a subset of the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure based on a selection criteria, the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure and a data from a dataset; and

,

modifying an appearance of one or more graphical user interface elements corresponding to the received request.

36. The article of claim 34, wherein the hierarchical structure is selected from the group consisting of DAG, EDAG, decision tree and action graph.

37. The article of claim 34, wherein the data corresponds to frequency information.

38. The article of claim 37, wherein the frequency information represents most executed paths.

39. The article of claim 37, wherein the frequency information represents least executed paths.

40. The article of claim 34, wherein the dataset is stored in at least one file or database.

41. The article of claim 34, wherein the data is generated as a result of a simulation.

42. An article comprising a tangible machine-readable storage medium embodying instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprising:

providing a control within a graphical user interface to a user, the control comprising a plurality of graphical user interface elements corresponding to linked nodes within a hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure comprising at least one root node on a first end and at least one action node on a second end;

receiving a user-generated input identifying a selected graphical user interface element within the control, such that the selected graphical user interface element corresponds to a selected action node;

receiving a user-generated input corresponding to a request for generation of an action graph based on the selected action node and a desired visualization criteria;

generating the action graph based on the selected action node, the linked nodes within the hierarchical structure and the desired visualization criteria; and

,

displaying the action graph to the user.

43. The article of claim 42, wherein the desired visualization criteria comprises:

replacing the root node with a first line;

connecting all nodes previously directly connected to the root node to the first line;

replacing the currently selected node with a second line; and

connecting all nodes previously directly connected to the currently selected node to the second line.

44. The article of claim 42, wherein the action graph is leveled.

45. The article of claim 44, wherein each level of the action graph is displayed by the control using alternating background colors.

46. The article of claim 42, wherein the action graph is optimized.

47. The article of claim 46, wherein the optimization is performed by modifying an order of levels.

48. The article of claim 47, wherein the order of levels is modified to minimize a number of the linked nodes, while maintaining logical equivalence.

49. A computer implemented method comprising:

receiving a request from a user to generate a set of action graphs corresponding to a hierarchical structure;

receiving the hierarchical structure representing a population divided into at least one population subset, such that the at least one population subset is assigned to an action;

for each action represented by the hierarchical structure, generating an action graph, such that the action graph corresponds to a unique population subset and the unique population subset corresponds to a single action graph, wherein the join of the unique population subsets is equivalent to the population represented by the hierarchical structure.

50. The computer implemented method of claim 49, wherein the action graph is leveled.

51. The computer implemented method of claim 50, wherein each level of the action graph is displayed by a control within a graphical user interface using alternating background colors.

52. The computer implemented method of claim 49, wherein the action graph is optimized.

53. The computer implemented method of claim 52, wherein the optimization is performed by modifying an order of levels.

54. The computer implemented method of claim 53, wherein the order of levels is modified to minimize a number of the linked nodes, while maintaining logical equivalence.

55. An article comprising a tangible machine-readable storage medium embodying instructions that when performed by one or more machines result in operations comprising:

receiving a request from a user to generate a set of action graphs corresponding to a hierarchical structure;

receiving the hierarchical structure representing a population divided into at least one population subset, such that the at least one population subset is assigned to an action;

for each action represented by the hierarchical structure, generating an action graph, such that the action graph corresponds to a unique population subset and the unique population subset corresponds to a single action graph, wherein the join of the unique population subsets is equivalent to the population represented by the hierarchical structure.

56. The article of claim 55, wherein the action graph is leveled.

57. The article of claim 56, wherein each level of the action graph is displayed by a control within a graphical user interface using alternating background colors.

58. The article of claim 55, wherein the action graph is optimized.

59. The article of claim 58, wherein the optimization is performed by modifying an order of levels.

60. The article of claim 59, wherein the order of levels is modified to minimize a number of the linked nodes, while maintaining logical equivalence.