Method and apparatus for a slider
First Claim
1. An apparatus for interactively transforming data according to manipulation by a human operator, comprising:
- a computer system having a pointing device and a graphical user interface;
said graphical user interface having a data display region for displaying data according to a predetermined parameter;
said graphical user interface having a slider control;
said slider control having a first range which is mapped to the length of said slider control;
said slider control also having two adjustable limits within said first range which define a second range, each of said adjustable limits being individually adjustable by the user by selecting and moving using said pointing device;
said second range mapping said predetermined parameter to a second parameter;
said second range being movable within said first range by the user by selecting and dragging said second range along said first range; and
movement of said second range changes the transform characteristics of said predetermined parameter into said second parameter.
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Abstract
A system that has a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows a user to readily define and manipulate a transform function from one attribute, such as numerical value, to another attribute that is more understandable by by the user such as color, size or location. Special two thumb slider controls provide the transform functions. The two thumbs define break points for piecewise linear transform ranges. Further, the center transform range can be manipulated as a unit to show the user what happens if the range is maintained essentially constant but the break points are varied. The aid to visualizing characteristics otherwise hidden in large data sets, such as a monthly telephone bill of a large corporation, is very beneficial.
98 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for interactively transforming data according to manipulation by a human operator, comprising:
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a computer system having a pointing device and a graphical user interface; said graphical user interface having a data display region for displaying data according to a predetermined parameter; said graphical user interface having a slider control; said slider control having a first range which is mapped to the length of said slider control; said slider control also having two adjustable limits within said first range which define a second range, each of said adjustable limits being individually adjustable by the user by selecting and moving using said pointing device; said second range mapping said predetermined parameter to a second parameter; said second range being movable within said first range by the user by selecting and dragging said second range along said first range; and movement of said second range changes the transform characteristics of said predetermined parameter into said second parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14)
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11. A method for a piecewise linear mapping of data, on a graphical user interface having a data display region for displaying data according to a predetermined parameter, having a first parameter to data having a second parameter using a slider control, said method comprising the steps of:
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setting an upper limit with a first thumb of said slider control; mapping all values of said first parameter greater than said upper limit to an upper attribute; setting a lower limit independently of said upper limit with a second thumb of said slider control; mapping all values of said first parameter less than said lower limit to a lower attribute; and mapping all values of said first parameter between said upper limit and said lower limit to a transform function.
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15. A method for a piecewise linear mapping of data, on a graphical user interface having a data display region for displaying data according to a predetermined parameter, having a first parameter to data having a second parameter using a slider control, said method comprising the steps of:
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setting an upper limit with a first thumb of said slider control; mapping all values of said first parameter greater than said upper limit to an upper attribute; setting a lower limit independently of said upper limit with a second thumb of said slider control; mapping all values of said first parameter less than said lower limit to a lower attribute; and mapping all values of said first parameter between said upper limit and said lower limit to a transform function; wherein said transform function is a color spectrum that varies in a defined manner as said first parameter takes on values between said upper limit and said lower limit.
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Specification