US6496832B2
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Visualization spreadsheet
Assignee: University of Minnesota Twin Cities
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Filing: 1998-10-20
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Granted: 2002-12-17
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Expires: 2018-10-20
Abstract
Abstract A system for analyzing data organized into data sets and for transforming the data sets into a visual representation of the data sets is provided. The system includes a memory, a first processor, and an output device. The memory is configured with a data structure for maintaining an arrangement of cells in a grid of rows and columns and for storing the data sets. The first processor is configured to map attributes of the data sets into visual representations of the data sets. The output device displays the visual representations of the data sets in the cells. A user can extract meaning from the data by visually comprehending the relationships between the data sets.
Inventors
- 👤 Ed H. Chi
- 👤 John T. Riedl
- 👤 Joseph A. Konstan
- 👤 Phillip J. Barry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F40/177; G06F40/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A system for organizing data into data sets for transforming the data sets into a visual representation of the data sets, the system comprising: a) a memory configured with a data structure for maintaining an arrangement of cells in a grid of rows and columns and for storing the data sets, wherein a data set is stored in a single cell; b) a first processor configured to map attributes of the data sets into visual representations of the data sets; and c) an output device for displaying the visual representations of the data sets in the cells; d) whereby a user can extract meaning from the data by visually comprehending the relationships between the data sets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A system for organizing data into data sets for transforming the data sets into a visual representation of the data sets, the system comprising: a) a memory configured with a data structure for maintaining an arrangement of cells in a grid of rows and columns and for storing the data sets, wherein a data set is stored in a single cell; b) a first processor configured to map attributes of the data sets into visual representations of the data sets; and c) an output device for displaying the visual representations of the data sets in the cells; d) whereby a user can extract meaning from the data by visually comprehending the relationships between the data sets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
89 words
A system according to claim 1 , wherein the data sets are selected from the group of: a) abstract data sets comprising unprocessed data sets; b) intermediate data sets comprising abstract data sets that are partially processed by the first processor but are not ready for immediate display; and c) visualized data sets comprising the partially processed intermediate data sets that are further processed by the first processor for immediate display; d) whereby the abstract data sets are processed into visualized data sets that are visualized for the user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system according to claim 1 , wherein: a) the system further comprises: i) a selection module for selecting a data set; and ii) an operator module for selecting an algorithmic operator for manipulating the selected data set; and b) the system applies the selected algorithmic operator to modify the selected data set or generate at least one new data set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system according to claim 1 , wherein: a) the system further comprises: i) a selection module for selecting data sets; and ii) an operator module for selecting an algorithmic operator for manipulating the selected data sets; and b) the system applies the selected algorithmic operator to modify the selected data sets or generate at least one new data set.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 4 , further comprising a dependency module by which the system determines dependencies between the selected data sets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
A system according to claim 5 , wherein: a) the dependencies are specified by the algorithmic operators that compute the visualization for a cell; b) a dependency arises from each cell that the algorithmic operator uses as an operand and to each cell that the algorithmic operator uses as a target; c) the class of the dependency depends on the class of the operator; and d) the system determines the dependencies based on an application of the algorithmic operators.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
96 words
A system according to claim 4 , further comprising a dependency module by which the system automatically determines dependencies between the selected data sets, wherein: a) the dependencies are specified by the algorithmic operators that compute the visualization for a cell; b) a dependency arises from each cell that the algorithmic operator uses as an operand and to each cell that the algorithmic operator uses as a target; c) the class of the dependency depends on the class of the operator; and d) the system determines the dependencies based on an application of the algorithmic operators.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A system according to claim 3 , wherein the operator module is configured to select the algorithmic operator from the group of data operators, data transformation operators, analytical representation operators, visualization transformation operators, visualization representation operators, visual mapping transformation operators, and view operators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 3 , wherein the operator module is configured to select the algorithmic operator including data operators, data transformation operators, analytical representation operators, visualization transformation operators, visualization representation operators, visual mapping transformation operators, and view operators.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
A system according to claim 6 , wherein the system is configured to use the dependency module to propagate an operation of the algorithmic operator based on the dependencies, wherein: a) the dependencies for the cells specified as operands of the algorithmic operator automatically initiate execution of algorithmic operators that compute an appropriate value for each cell; b) the dependencies for the cells specified as targets of the algorithmic operator automatically propagate the values computed by the algorithmic operator, and invoke operations that use the target cells as operands; and c) the dependency module is searched for cycles, and the cycles are eliminated; d) whereby the system can automatically propagate appropriate changes in values of cells based on the application of the algorithmic operator, and the dependencies generated by the dependency module.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 1 , wherein the memory is configured with a data structure for maintaining an arrangement of cells having more than two dimensions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of processors configured to map attributes of the data sets into visual representations of the data sets.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of analyzing data organized into data sets and for transforming the data sets into a visual representation of the data sets, the method comprising: e) maintaining an arrangement of cells in a grid of rows and columns and for storing the data sets, wherein a data set is stored in a single cell; f) mapping attributes of the data sets into visual representations of the data sets; and g) displaying the visual representations of the data sets in the cells; h) whereby a user can extract meaning from the data by visually comprehending the relationships between the data sets.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of analyzing data organized into data sets and for transforming the data sets into a visual representation of the data sets, the method comprising: e) maintaining an arrangement of cells in a grid of rows and columns and for storing the data sets, wherein a data set is stored in a single cell; f) mapping attributes of the data sets into visual representations of the data sets; and g) displaying the visual representations of the data sets in the cells; h) whereby a user can extract meaning from the data by visually comprehending the relationships between the data sets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method according to claim 13 , wherein the data sets are selected from the group of: a) abstract data sets comprising unprocessed data sets; b) intermediate data sets comprising abstract data sets that are partially processed by the first processor but are not ready for immediate display; and c) visualized data sets comprising the partially processed intermediate data sets that are further processed by the first processor for immediate display; d) whereby the abstract data sets are processed into visualized data sets that are visualized for the user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method according to claim 13 , further comprising: a) selecting a data set; b) selecting an algorithmic operator for manipulating the selected data set; and c) applying the selected algorithmic operator to modify the selected data set or generate at least one new data set.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 13 , further comprising: a) selecting data sets; b) selecting an algorithmic operator for manipulating the selected data sets; and c) applying the selected algorithmic operator to modify the selected data sets or generate at least one new data set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 16 , further comprising a step of determining dependencies between the selected data sets.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 17 , further comprising a step of propagating an operation of the algorithmic operator based on the dependencies.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
124 words
A computer-readable medium encoded with data representing a computer program which can cause a computer, having memory and an output device, to analyze data organized into data sets and for transforming the data sets into a visual representation of the data sets, the computer program comprising a method for: a) maintaining an arrangement of cells in a grid of rows and columns and for storing the data sets, wherein a data set is stored in a single cell; b) mapping attributes of the data sets into visual representations of the data sets; and c) displaying the visual representations of the data sets in the cells; d) whereby a user can extract meaning from the data by visually comprehending the relationships between the data sets.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
124 words
A computer-readable medium encoded with data representing a computer program which can cause a computer, having memory and an output device, to analyze data organized into data sets and for transforming the data sets into a visual representation of the data sets, the computer program comprising a method for: a) maintaining an arrangement of cells in a grid of rows and columns and for storing the data sets, wherein a data set is stored in a single cell; b) mapping attributes of the data sets into visual representations of the data sets; and c) displaying the visual representations of the data sets in the cells; d) whereby a user can extract meaning from the data by visually comprehending the relationships between the data sets.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer-readable medium according to claim 19 , wherein the data sets are selected from the group of: a) abstract data sets comprising unprocessed data sets; b) intermediate data sets comprising abstract data sets that are partially processed by the first processor but are not ready for immediate display; and c) visualized data sets comprising the partially processed intermediate data sets that are further processed by the first processor for immediate display; d) whereby the abstract data sets are processed into visualized data sets that are visualized for the user.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer-readable medium according to claim 19 , the method further comprising: a) selecting a data set; b) selecting an algorithmic operator for manipulating the selected data set; and c) applying the selected algorithmic operator to modify the selected data set or generate at least one new data set.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
A computer-readable medium according to claim 19 , the method further comprising: a) selecting data sets; b) selecting an algorithmic operator for manipulating the selected data sets; and c) applying the selected algorithmic operator to modify the selected data sets or generate at least one new data set.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer-readable medium according to claim 22 , the method further comprising a step of determining dependencies between the selected data sets.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer-readable medium according to claim 23 , the method further comprising a step of propagating an operation of the algorithmic operator based on the dependencies.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-12-16 | 2006-06-17 | 2006-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-12-16 | 2010-06-17 | 2010-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-12-16 | 2014-06-17 | 2014-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |