0001
`
`IBG 1040
`CBM of U.S. Patent No. 7,212,999
`
`

`
`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing intemational
`applications under the PCI‘.
`
`AM
`AT
`AU
`BB
`BE
`BF
`BG
`BJ
`‘BR
`BY
`CA
`CF
`CG
`CH
`CI
`CM
`CN
`CS
`CZ
`DE
`DK
`EE
`ES
`FI
`FR
`GA
`
`Anncnia
`Ausiria
`Australia
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`Belarus
`Canada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`Cote d'Ivoire
`Cameroon
`China
`Czechoslovakia
`Czech Republic
`Gerlnany
`Denmark
`Estonia
`Spain
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`
`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgystan
`Democratic People's Republic
`of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakhstan
`Liechnenslein
`Sri Lanlta
`Liberia
`Lithuania
`Lwtembouxg
`Latvia
`Monaoo
`Republic of Moldova
`Madagascar
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`
`0002
`0002
`
`Malawi
`Mexico
`Niger
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Singapore
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Swaziland
`Chad
`Togo
`Tajiltisaan
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United Stains of America
`Uzbekistan
`Viet Nam
`
`
`
`

`
`wo 97105492
`
`PCTfUS96f12729
`
`Computer-Based Visual Data Evaluation
`
`Background
`
`This invention generally relates to a process for database querying, and more
`
`particularly concerns an interactive interface for chart-based graphical data browsing,
`
`querying and manipulation.
`
`A portion of the disclosure of this patent document pertains to material which is
`
`subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile
`
`reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in
`
`Patent and Trademark patent file or records once the patent issues or the file is otherwise
`
`made available to the public according to law, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights
`whatsoever.
`
`Visual data evaluation is an important part of information processing. For many
`
`objectives such as pattern recognition. outlier analysis and general data exploration, human
`
`visual data evaluations are far superior to other options such as automated statistical
`
`procedures.
`
`Visual data evaluation embodies two related activities: browsing and querying.
`
`Browsing is an information-seeking process which utilizes chart displays of data including
`
`bar charts. scatter plots and the like to detect patterns, to develop an intuitive understanding
`
`of relationships exhibited by the data and to determine the next desired chart presentation of
`
`the data.
`
`"Querying," which is a mechanism for accessing information stored in a database.
`
`specifies and selects data subsets which can then be used for additional browsing, querying or
`
`other information processing. Browsing can be considered the primary visual information
`
`gathering step while querying allows the user to "navigate" through the data.
`
`Visual data evaluation, however,
`
`is necessarily constrained by the limits of human
`
`cognitive abilities which permit only relatively small quantities of data to be evaluated at one
`
`time. For example, a data series with one hundred observations can easily be inspected
`
`visually while one with ten thousand observations cannot. Consequently, large data series
`
`must be divided into subsets to conduct visual data evaluations. Furthermore, graphical
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`
`
`0003
`0003
`
`

`
`wo 97,9549;
`
`PCT:'US96l‘I 2729
`
`representations quickly become confusing when a third or fourth dimension is added.
`
`Therefore, most visual data evaluation is conducted on pairs of data items or variables.
`
`Finally, the limits of human memory make it difficult to remember and process important
`information from more than a dozen or so data subsets or pair-wise visual evaluations.
`
`Commercially available software can provide data manipulation, querying and
`
`chatting functions required to conduct visual data evaluation. While the general class of
`
`software referred to as spreadsheet software is most suited and most frequently used to
`
`conduct these evaluations, its application is cumbersome and tedious.
`
`Spreadsheet software represents data in a column and row tabular format.
`
`Spreadsheet data is selected for use in a chart by specifying desired columns and rows either
`
`through a series of keyboard entries or with mouse operations on the tabular data display.
`
`Chart specifications are determined with a series of choices presented in menus, dialogue
`
`boxes, or other user-interactive devices. Finally, the chart is presented in a separate display
`
`area. Changing one of the variable series presented in the chart is initiated by returning to
`
`the spreadsheet display and then repeating the data selection process and updating the chart
`
`display.
`
`Examining a noncontiguous subset of spreadsheet data requires a separate data query
`
`to extract the desired data and place it in another area of the worksheet. Queries are
`
`performed after users specify the data to be queried, query parameters and the area in the
`
`spreadsheet that will hold the query results. The columns and rows containing the new data
`
`subset are then referenced and incorporated in new chart displays. Spreadsheet data
`
`manipulation is also often applied to compute statistics for query results at intermediate
`
`points in the evaluation. Additional charting, querying and data manipulation continue
`
`through as many additional repetitions as desired.
`
`While the results of spreadsheet-based visual data evaluations are recognized to have
`
`substantial value, only limited evaluations can be undertaken before the detailed,
`
`cumbersome, and error-prone nature of identifying and developing new charts and keeping
`
`track of the relationships between the new queries and charts and the query and chart
`
`histories overtakes the ability of the user to interpret the information.
`
`Commercially available database management software (DBMS) also represents data
`
`in a tabular format; however, instead of the row and column terminology, database data is
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`
`
`0004
`0004
`
`

`
`W0 972116492
`
`PCT.*'US96!1 2729
`
`generally referenced as records and fields. DBMS typically provides greater flexibility in
`
`query operations including the computation of a limited number of statistics. Although
`
`queries of great complexity may be formulated using DBMS, this software is much more
`
`difficult to use than is spreadsheet software. The standard Structured Query Language (SQL)
`
`is entered in English-like commands; however, complicated and rigorously structured syntax
`
`makes SQL querying a difficult process for users to master. Table or form-based procedures
`
`such as Query-by-Example (QBE) have been developed to convert form and table input into
`
`query results, and while these developments have decreased the burden of SQL query
`
`formulation somewhat, they certainly have not eliminated it.
`
`More recent DBMS and spreadsheet software systems apply graphical user interface
`
`(GUI) techniques which allow users to select icons, symbols or other representations
`
`presented on the display to specify query details. While software in this later category is
`
`often said to provide "graphical" queries (applying the word "graphical" as it is used in the
`
`term GUI), a more appropriate characterization is "symbolic query". That is, the user
`
`selects symbols from the display to specify a query. Symbols include icons, tables, text,
`
`pictures and other representations which connotate data or query operations.
`
`While symbolic systems provide a more intuitive query process than SQL thereby
`
`reducing the number of errors inexperienced SQL users might otherwise make, they still
`
`require the user to conceptually comprehend complicated database or spreadsheet processes
`
`and structures in order to master a series of detailed procedures to define query criteria and
`
`relationships.
`
`One of the most important DBMS operations is the "join" operation which is applied
`
`to relational databases to combine data from two separate database tables into a single table
`
`for further processing. Users must specify commands in SQL text or use mouse selections in
`
`symbolic systems to select the tables to be joined and to identify the variables to be included
`
`in the resulting table. The problem with this process is that each time the user wants to
`
`combine a new set of variables from different tables or wants to include another variable in
`
`the current table, a new join operation must be completed. While the relational database
`
`approach of storing data in separate tables provides an efficient and flexible model for
`
`maintaining the physical database system.
`
`it also adds the additional burdens on the user who
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`
`
`0005
`0005
`
`

`
`wo 9-H0549;
`
`PCTfUS96I12729
`
`must possess an understanding of the table structure of the database and must perform table
`
`joins each time variables are used from different tables.
`
`DBMS also requires the same kind of detailed, sequential step-by-step data
`
`manipulation, query and charting process described for spreadsheet software. As a result,
`
`DBMS is even more difficult to use in its application to visual data evaluation.
`
`Consequently, the currently available spreadsheet and DBMS software, except in the simplest
`
`cases,
`
`is woefully inadequate in its application to visual data evaluation.
`
`One problem that limits the value of the currently available spreadsheet and DBMS
`
`software systems in visual data evaluation is that the large number of detailed steps required
`
`in data manipulation, querying and charting severely limit the user’s ability to remember and
`
`process database information.
`
`Another problem with such software systems is that the charting process, which is the
`
`primary visual mode for presenting and discovering information,
`
`is provided only as a final
`
`visual documentation of data selection and manipulation which have already occurred rather
`
`than as an integrated part of the visual data evaluation process itself. Consequently, users do
`
`not receive interactive, visual feedback from manipulation of the database that occurs with
`
`queries and browsing activities.
`
`Yet another problem with existing DBMS and, to a lesser degree, spreadsheet
`
`software is the complex, highly structured and non-intuitive nature of database and
`
`spreadsheet query processes and the resulting difficulty in mastering such systems.
`
`Yet another problem with existing software systems is that separate "join" operations
`
`must be applied to data from different tables prior to accessing the data in a single combined
`table.
`
`Still another problem is that the visual data evaluations quickly become confusing as
`
`the user loses an understanding of the evolution of previous graphical, statistical and query
`
`steps.
`
`The problems with currently available software are becoming even more severe as
`
`increased use of databases and greater need for information is occurring at the same time that
`
`rapidly increasing communications networks and workstations are making these data available
`
`to users who are generally less proficient in the tools needed to efficiently and accurately
`access database information.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`
`
`0006
`0006
`
`

`
`we 97705492
`
`PCTfUS96i 12729
`
`For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for a new, simpler software system for
`
`visually evaluating infonnation in complex databases. This new system should support rather
`
`than tax human cognitive abilities throughout the data evaluation process. The system should
`
`also provide a new intuitive visual context for browsing and querying data by means other
`
`than lengthy, detailed procedures employing formal language statements or symbolic query
`
`representations. Rather. users should be able to directly view, evaluate and query data with
`
`simple operations on a single comprehensive dynamic representation of the database. Such
`
`new method should also be able to accomplish complex queries while at the same time be
`
`easily understandable to novice database users. Further, the method should also allow users
`
`to select all database variables without having to conduct separate join operations prior to
`
`accessing the data. Finally, the system must be directly applicable to a broad base of
`
`existing database systems and network environments.
`
`Summary
`
`The present invention is directed to a method and a system that satisfies these needs.
`
`A method in a data processing system for accessing information in a data set having features
`
`of the present invention comprises the steps of creating a visual chart representation of the
`
`data set and displaying the data set in the chart, selecting a second data set which is a subset
`
`of the displayed data set through interaction between the user and the system within the chart
`
`of the data set, and displaying the results of the data subset selecting step.
`
`The information accessing method may further comprise the steps of selecting the data
`
`subset through interaction between the user and the system within the displayed data subset
`
`and displaying a chart of the selected data subset. The steps of selecting a data subset
`
`through interaction between the user and the system within the chart of any previous data
`
`subset and displaying the results of the data subset selecting step may be continued in an
`
`iterative data evaluation process.
`
`Further, the method of the present invention may comprise the step of maintaining a
`
`record of the selected data subsets, including associating a distinct visual symbol with each
`
`data subset record and using the visual symbol as a software button for selective viewing of
`
`the associated data subset and from which the data evaluation may be redirected.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`0007
`0007
`
`

`
`WO 97106492
`
`PCT{US96.='12729
`
`The step of maintaining a record of the user selected data subsets may comprise the
`steps of creating a record of each data subset, creating and displaying a distinct visual
`
`symbol for each of the data set and the data subsets, and arranging the visual symbols in a
`network of interconnected visual symbols representing the structural hierarchical relationship
`among the data set and the data subsets as defined by the data subsets selecting step.
`Optionally, a record of the user selected data subsets may be maintained by creating a textual
`record and values of the chart attributes which define the data subsets, displaying the textual
`record for each of the data set and the data subsets,
`and arranging the textual records to
`
`represent the structural hierarchical relationship among the data set and the data subsets as
`
`defined by the data subsets selecting step.
`
`In another aspect, the present invention comprises a method in a data processing
`system for maintaining a record of user selected data subsets selected from a data set
`
`comprising the steps of creating a record of the data subsets, such as a textual record of the
`
`data subsets and the values of chart attributes which define each data subset; creating and
`displaying a distinct visual symbol for each of the data set and the data subsets; and
`
`arranging the visual symbols in a network of interconnected visual symbols representing the
`
`structural hierarchical relationship among the data set and the data subsets as defined by the
`data subsets selecting step. A visual symbol may be selected for displaying visually the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`associated data subset. The method may further comprise the steps of maintaining and
`displaying simultaneously a visual chart representation of the data set. receiving and
`
`processing additional data subset selections through interaction between the user and the
`
`system within the chart of the data set, creating records of the additional data subsets,
`
`creating and displaying distinct visual symbols for each of the additional data subsets,
`
`and
`
`arranging the distinct visual symbols in a network of interconnected visual symbols to
`
`indicate the structural hierarchical relationship among the data set and the data subsets as
`
`defined by the data subsets selecting step.
`
`Further, the present invention comprises a method in a data processing system for
`maintaining a record of user selected data subsets selected from a data set comprising the
`steps of creating a textual record and the values of chart attributes which define the data
`
`subsets, displaying the textual record for the data set and data subsets, and arranging the
`
`visual symbols to represent the structural hierarchical relationship among the data set and the
`
`25
`
`30
`
`
`
`0008
`0008
`
`

`
`W0 97.106492
`
`PCPIU59612729
`
`data subsets as defined by the data subsets selecting step. The method may further comprise
`the steps of maintaining and displaying a visual chart representation of the data set, receiving
`and processing additional data subset selections through interaction between the user and the
`
`system within the chart of the data set, creating records of the additional data subsets,
`
`creating textual records of the additional data subsets and values of chart attributes which
`
`define the data subsets, creating and displaying distinct visual symbols for each of the
`
`additional data subsets wherein the visual symbols for data subsets in the same level of the
`
`selection hierarchy share a common feature, and arranging the textual records and displayed
`visual symbols to represent the structural hierarchical relationship among the data set and the
`
`data subsets as defined by the data subsets selecting step.
`
`A data processing system for accessing information in a data set having features of
`
`the present invention comprises means for creating a visual chart representation of the data
`
`set. means for selecting a data subset which is a subset of the displayed data set through
`
`interaction between the user and the system within the chart of the data set. and means for
`
`displaying the results of the data subset selection.
`
`The data set information accessing system may further comprise means for selecting
`
`the data subset through interaction between the user and the system within the displayed data
`
`subset and means for displaying a chart of the data subset.
`
`A system for maintaining a record of the selected data subsets in accordance with the
`
`present invention comprises means for creating a record of each selected data subset. The
`
`record maintenance system may further comprise means for creating and displaying a distinct
`
`visual symbol for each data subset and means for arranging the visual symbols in a network
`
`of interconnected visual symbols to represent the structural hierarchical relationship among
`
`the data set and the data subsets as defined by the data subset selection.
`
`The record maintenance system of the present invention may optionally comprise
`
`means for creating a textual and values of chart attributes which define the data set and data
`
`subsets, means for displaying the textual records, and means for arranging the textual records
`
`to represent the structural hierarchical relationship among the data set and the data subsets as
`
`defined by the data subsets selection.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`0009
`0009
`
`

`
`wo 97,9549;
`
`PCTfUS96!l2729
`
`Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new method for
`
`computer—based visual data evaluation having one or more of the novel features of this
`
`invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.
`
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a new system for computer~based
`
`visual data evaluation having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth
`
`above or hereinafter shown or described.
`
`It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved computerized
`
`interactive method for providing affording visual data evaluation including browsing,
`
`querying and manipulation of data and other information within a database.
`
`Another object of the present invention is to allow a user to conduct visual data
`
`evaluation by beginning with an initial data chart and operating only on the attributes of the
`
`chart and within the data area of the chart to provide an integrated interactive chart-based
`
`process for browsing, querying and manipulating data.
`
`Yet another object of the present invention is to allow the user to conduct querying
`
`operations within the data area of the graphical chart display in such a way that the user
`
`"captures" the subset of data which is the object of the query by operation of a pointing
`device.
`
`Further. it is an object of the present invention to provide a data browsing, querying
`
`and manipulation system wherein database table joins are automatically conducted when the
`
`user selects chart variables which reside in different tables.
`
`Still further,
`
`it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved data
`
`querying and statistical manipulation history display which maintains the user’s understanding
`
`of the evolution of graphical. statistical and relational information derived through browsing
`
`and querying activities, including query and statistics histories which are updated in real time
`
`and which can be displayed concurrently on the display.
`
`Also it is an object of the present invention to provide chart, query and statistical
`
`histories of queries on demand.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`A related object of the present invention is to allow the user to reposition the chart-
`
`based data evaluation to any previously defined position by operating on entries in the query
`
`30
`
`and statistics histories.
`
`
`
`0010
`0010
`
`

`
`WO 97106492
`
`PCT{US96! 12729
`
`These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished interactively and
`dynamically and are displayed on the computer display device in the form of textual and
`
`visual records of the query process arranged in a structural hierarchical relationship defined
`by the evolution of the user-generated data evaluation process.
`
`Another feature of the present invention is to provide chart representations of database
`
`data as an integrated part of the visual data evaluation process.
`
`Still another object of the present invention is to define chart entities as a collection of
`
`information on the data subset, chart specifications, query relationships and other information
`
`defined by chart-based user operations. The user may apply chart entities as operands in
`
`query, data manipulation and other operations.
`
`A further feature of the present invention is use of the visual and textual records
`
`reflective of the queries as software buttons for repositioning or redirecting the evaluation to
`
`any previous point in the process.
`
`The present invention is a simple method for visually evaluating complex databases.
`
`The method and system allows the user to access and manipulate a database in real time.
`
`viewing, evaluating and navigating, by means of a simple query process, through data
`
`presented on the display. The method and system does not require the use of a formal,
`
`structured query language. Rather, the method and system is an intuitive browsing and
`
`querying process employing simple operations on a single comprehensive dynamic
`
`representation of the database in which highly complex queries are feasible. On-the-fly
`
`viewing, evaluation and querying with simple operations are possible. The simultaneous
`
`generation of structural hierarchical summaries of the browse and query operations, and a
`
`statistical summary which reports information for each step in the user—guided browsing and
`
`querying process, prevents exhaustion of human cognitive abilities through the data
`
`evaluation process. The method also allow users to select any database variables without
`
`having to conduct separate join operations prior to accessing the data. The method and
`
`system of the present invention is applicable to a broad base of existing database systems and
`network environments.
`
`IO
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`
`
`0011
`0011
`
`

`
`W0 97!06492
`
`PCTa"US96!12'.~'29
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should now be had to
`
`the embodiment(s) illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawing(s) and described
`
`below by way of (an) example of the invention.
`
`In the drawings:
`
`FIG.
`
`1
`
`is a pictorial representation of a representative hardware environment for the
`
`present invention.
`
`FIG. 2 shows an unpopulated or empty depiction of a display as it appears on the
`
`computer display device of a data processing system programmed according to an
`
`10
`
`embodiment of the present invention.
`
`FIGS. 3A through 8 is a flow chart representation of an embodiment of the present
`
`invention.
`
`FIGS. 9 through 12 illustrate a progressive example of visual data evaluation
`
`according to an embodiment of the present invention.
`
`15
`
`FIG. 13 illustrates the selection of the invention‘s Chart History Window feature after
`
`performance of the queries illustrated in FIGS 9 through 12.
`
`Description
`
`Because use of the words "graphic" and "chart" in the computer industry today can
`
`mean a multiplicity of things many of which are highly distinguishable from each other and
`
`20
`
`because it is essential to the understanding of this invention that such distinctions be readily
`
`and clearly made, specific words are defined for use herein as follows:
`
`As used herein, the term "chart" refers to a graphical presentation of data wherein
`
`visual spatial representations are used to reflect relationships among the data presented in the
`
`chart. This definition of charts includes bar charts, scatter plots, pie charts. line charts,
`
`25
`
`histograms, pert charts, maps, iconic charts and the like.
`
`As used herein, the term "browsing" refers to an information-seeking process which
`
`utilizes chart displays of data to visually detect patterns. Browsing is often applied to
`
`develop an understanding of relationships exhibited by data and to conduct other visual
`
`considerations of data presented in charts.
`
`
`
`_1{)_
`
`0012
`0012
`
`

`
`WO 97706492
`
`PCTIUS96/12729
`
`An embodiment of the computer-based visual data evaluation, including data
`
`browsing, querying and data manipulation, provided by this invention has been implemented
`
`in a software application program. known as MAISY (TM), which was written in the C+ +
`
`programming language for use in the Microsoft Windows (TM) operating environment.
`
`A representative hardware environment for the invention is shown in FIG. 1,
`
`comprising a workstation including a data processing system generally shown at 1, which
`
`may be programmed in accordance with the present invention. The workstation includes a
`
`central processing unit, such as a conventional microprocessor 2 which includes a graphics
`
`processor, a random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a cursor controller
`
`such as a mouse pointer 4, and means for communicating into a data processing network (not
`
`shown), which may have attached thereto fiirther databases and as well as distinct, remote
`
`workstations. Coupled to the processor 2 is a video display device 6 which may be
`
`implemented using either a color or monochromatic monitor, as is well known in the art.
`
`Also coupled to the processor is a keyboard 8. The keyboard 8 preferably comprises a
`
`standard computer keyboard which is coupled to the processor 2 by a cable 10. The
`
`workstation includes nonvolatile storage for the database, such as hard disk, optical disk, or
`
`tape drive media.
`
`The mouse 4 is coupled to the processor 2. in a manner well known in the art, via a
`
`cable 12. As is shown, the mouse may include a left button 14, and a right button 16, each
`
`of which may be depressed, or "clicked," to provide command and control signals to the data
`
`processing system 1. While the disclosed embodiment of the present invention utilizes a
`
`mouse 4. those skilled in the art will appreciate that any graphical pointing device such as a
`
`track ball, touch pad, light pen, touch screen and the like may be utilized to implement the
`
`method of the present invention.
`
`The goal is to provide the user of the workstation a method, system and program
`
`resources to visually evaluate data encompassing an unlimited base of information.
`
`Turning now to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the present invention, denoted generally at
`
`20, begins with an "empty" display which includes a screen display area comprising a Chart
`
`Window 22. All visual data evaluation including browsing and querying are accomplished
`
`within the Chart Window 22 in an integrated, dynamic manner by operating with a graphic
`
`pointing device, such as the mouse 4.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`
`
`0013
`0013
`
`

`
`wo 97705492
`
`PCTfUS96II2729
`
`The Chart Window 22 includes a chart template 24 comprising an x-axis label 26, a
`
`y-axis label 28 and a data area 30 for a chart representation of data. Other menus or
`
`representations of data variables appear in the Chart Window 22, including a variable label
`
`list box 32 of database variable labels, and an x-axis selection option button 36 and a y-axis
`
`option button 38 which identify the current axis choice. While in the preferred embodiment
`
`list boxes and option buttons are set up and operated as is typical in the Microsoft Windows
`
`operating system, as illustrated in the Microsoft Windows User Guide, it is contemplated that
`
`any suitable types of selection and option display would come within the invention.
`
`The axes variable labels appearing in the variable list box 32 represent individual data
`
`items or variables in the database. By selecting different variables or different sets of
`
`variables for the charts, the user develops visual impressions of the data thereby identifying
`
`trends, patterns and other characterizations which transform the unprocessed database data
`
`into valuable information. The number of variables which can be evaluated and the kinds of
`
`information seeking activities are unlimited.
`
`It is understood that this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, displays a chart with two
`
`dimensions.
`
`If charts of three or more dimensions.are used, the option button selection area
`
`changes to accommodate the additional axis selections. Thus, multi-dimensional visual data
`
`evaluation is possible with the present invention.
`
`Representations of predefined chart types and process options may also appear on the
`
`display with the Chart Window 22, such as for example, a tool bar of chart attribute buttons
`
`and other process controls 34. The tool bar 34 includes a number of chart attribute buttons,
`
`or icons, and icons representing process options. The tool bar 34 comprises a bar chart icon
`
`42, a scatter plot icon 46, a pie chart icon 91, a sumfmean icon 92, a chart history window
`
`icon 50, a query node display options icon 93, a full statistics icon 94, a new tree icon 95, a
`
`query advance icon 96, a three dimensional chart icon 97 and a query node operations icon
`
`98. Other chart attribute buttons and process options icons are possible.
`
`It is understood
`
`that the foregoing list is representative and I do not intend to so limit the present invention
`
`since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art. particularly in light of the
`
`teachings herein.
`
`As is typical, the mouse 4 allows the user to control a cursor 40 which appears over
`
`the screen. Any of the icons in the tool bar 34 may be selected by clicking the left mouse
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`
`
`_l2_
`
`0014
`0014
`
`

`
`wo 910116492
`
`PCTlUS96!1 2729
`
`button 14 while the cursor 40 is positioned over the desired icon. By clicking while the
`
`cursor 40 is on the icon, that particular process option function represented by the icon is
`
`selected and carried out. For example, by selecting the bar chart icon 42 the data appear in
`
`the data area 30 in a bar chart.
`
`If the scatter plot icon 46 is selected, one "dot" will appear
`
`in the data area 30 to reflect the x-axis and y-axis variable values for each record in the
`
`database. Similarly, by selecting the pie chart icon 91 the data appear in the data area 30 in
`
`a pie chart. The sumimean attribute button 92 can be selected to toggle the display to show
`
`the category mean or total of the y-variable. The sumfmean attribute button 92 illustrates
`
`one of a number of data computations and transformations that can be applied to any of the
`
`10
`
`axis variables. For instance, medians, highs, lows, standard deviations, logarithmic
`
`transformations, exponential transformations and other operations may be applied to develop
`
`additional information from the data displayed on the chart.
`
`While the function of the remaining icons is not intuitively obvious and will be more
`
`fully described below, the following provides a brief introduction. The chart history window
`
`15
`
`button 50 is an additional documentation and presentation feature of the present invention and
`
`is used to display previously developed charts selectively in a tiled graph presentation to
`
`assist in data evaluation and searches. The query node display options icon 93 and the full
`
`statistics icon 94 toggle display opt