Method, computer program product, and system for creating and displaying a categorization table
First Claim
1. In a computer system comprising a CPU, an input/output means connected to the CPU, a storage system accessible to the CPU containing a collection of data records, and a display means, a method for creating and displaying a categorization table having N different levels of categories, the categorization table categorizing a quantity of data records sorted by at least N different data record fields, using values of each category level to form category headings, and listing information representing data records associated with the category level headings according to category value and hierarchy, the method comprising the steps of:
- the CPU creating a header table in the storage system having N category columns and a count column, the header table comprising a plurality of header rows, each header row having i) a unique combination of category column values with each category column value corresponding to a data record field value, and ii) a count value indicating the number of data records identified by the unique combination of category column values; and
the CPU traversing the header table to access the desired sorted data records and heading information in the desired order from the storage system and displaying the categorization table on the display means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, computer program product, and system for creating and displaying a categorization table is provided. A categorization table into a set of data records is created and displayed by first sorting the data records according to data record fields, typically using an index. Next, a header table is created having a number of category columns that will hold values corresponding to a number of index columns. The combinations of values across each header row will be unique and the row will also have a count value indicating the number of data records having the unique combination of category values that can be used to quickly access the first data record in the sorted index. In this manner, all of the data records can be successively accessed knowing the count value and the location of the first data record. Additionally, header rows having no data records associated therewith are used to form the headings and subheadings of the categorization table. Finally, a processor will traverse the header table and cause the categorization table to be displayed on a display means. As part of the traversal, information contained in the header table is used to calculate a fractional position of a user'"'"'s location with respect to the user'"'"'s particular view of the categorization table. A plurality of user columns in the categorization table allow separate and distinct views by different users into the same set of data records and using the same header table.
133 Citations
26 Claims
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1. In a computer system comprising a CPU, an input/output means connected to the CPU, a storage system accessible to the CPU containing a collection of data records, and a display means, a method for creating and displaying a categorization table having N different levels of categories, the categorization table categorizing a quantity of data records sorted by at least N different data record fields, using values of each category level to form category headings, and listing information representing data records associated with the category level headings according to category value and hierarchy, the method comprising the steps of:
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the CPU creating a header table in the storage system having N category columns and a count column, the header table comprising a plurality of header rows, each header row having i) a unique combination of category column values with each category column value corresponding to a data record field value, and ii) a count value indicating the number of data records identified by the unique combination of category column values; and the CPU traversing the header table to access the desired sorted data records and heading information in the desired order from the storage system and displaying the categorization table on the display means.
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2. In a computer system comprising a CPU, an input/output means connected to the CPU, a storage system accessible to the CPU, and a display means, a method for creating and displaying a categorization table having N different levels of categories, the categorization table categorizing a quantity of data records sorted by at least N different data record fields, using values of each category level to form category headings, and listing information representing data records associated with the category level headings according to category value and hierarchy, the method comprising the steps of:
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the CPU sorting and referencing a plurality of data records having data record fields located in the storage system by at least N different data record fields; the CPU creating a header table in the storage system having N category columns and a count column, the creation of the header table comprising the step of creating a plurality of header rows, each header row having a unique combination of category column values with each category column value corresponding to a data record field value, the unique combination of category column values for representing header categories and providing an indexing structure, and a count value indicating the number of data records identified by the unique combination of category column values; the CPU traversing the header table to determine the category levels, category heading values, category hierarchy, and data record information to be displayed; and the CPU displaying the categorization table on a display means. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a computer system comprising a CPU, an input/output means connected to the CPU, a storage system accessible to the CPU containing a collection of data records, and a display means, a method for creating and displaying a categorization table having N different levels of categories, the categorization table categorizing a quantity of data records sorted by at least N different data record fields, using values of each category level to form category headings, and listing information representing data records associated with the category level headings according to category value and hierarchy, the method comprising the steps of:
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the CPU sorting and referencing a plurality of data records in the storage system, the data records having data record fields, by at least N different data record fields to create a sorted field index; the CPU creating a header table having N category columns, a count column, and a plurality of user view columns to control the appearance of the categorization table, the creation of the header table comprising the step of creating a plurality of header rows, each header row having; a unique combination of category column values with each category column value corresponding to a data record field value, the unique combination of category column values for representing header categories and providing an indexing structure, an indication of visualization and of expansion for each user view column, and a count value indicating the number of data records identified by the unique combination of category column values; the CPU traversing the header table to determine the category levels, category heading values, category hierarchy, user view of the categorization table, and data record information to be displayed; and the CPU displaying the unique view of the categorization table on a separate display means according to each active user view column.
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11. A computer program product for creating and displaying a categorization table having N different levels of categories, the categorization table categorizing a quantity of data records sorted by at least N different data record fields, using values of each category level to form category headings, and listing information representing data records associated with the category level headings according to category value and hierarchy, the computer program product comprising:
a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for creating and displaying a categorization table, said computer readable program code means comprising; program code means for causing the computer to sort and reference a plurality of data records having data record fields located in the storage system by at least N different data record fields; program code means for causing the computer to create a header table in the storage system having N category columns and a count column, the creation of the header table comprising the step of creating a plurality of header rows, each header row having a unique combination of category column values with each category column value corresponding to a data record field value, the unique combination of category column values for representing header categories and providing an indexing structure, and a count value indicating the number of data records identified by the unique combination of category column values; program code means for causing the computer to traverse the header table to determine the category levels, category heading values, category hierarchy, and data record information to be displayed; and program code means for causing the computer to display the categorization table on a display means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for creating and displaying a categorization table having N different levels of categories, the categorization table categorizing a quantity of data records sorted by at least N different data record fields, using values of each category level to form category headings, and listing information representing data records associated with the category level headings according to category value and hierarchy, the system comprising:
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a CPU; storage means, electronically coupled and responsive to said CPU; means, electronically coupled and responsive to said CPU, for sorting and referencing a plurality of data records having data record fields located in the storage means by at least N different data record fields; means, electronically coupled and responsive to said CPU, for creating a header table in the storage means having N category columns and a count column, the creation of the header table comprising the step of creating a plurality of header rows, each header row having a unique combination of category column values with each category column value corresponding to a data record field value, the unique combination of category column values for representing header categories and providing an indexing structure, and a count value indicating the number of data records identified by the unique combination of category column values; means, electronically coupled and responsive to said CPU, for traversing the header table to determine the category levels, category heading values, category hierarchy, and data record information to be displayed; and means, electronically coupled and responsive to said CPU, for displaying the categorization table on a display means. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification