Claims
- 1. A method of creating a graphic representation of data contained in a file generated using a software application program, comprising:
selecting from a source independent of said software application program at least one first graphic component to represent a first data source contained within said file and at least one second graphic component to represent a second data source contained within said file; associating said at least one first graphic component with said first data source, wherein said first data source contains at least one first data value and said at least one first graphic component is adjustable so as to change said at least one first data value; associating said at least one second graphic component with said second data source, wherein said second data source contains at least one second data value and said at least one second graphic component is configured to illustrate a change in said at least one second data value when said at least one first data value is changed; generating a mathematical model representative of a mathematical relationship between said at least one first data source and said at least one second data source; and generating a control panel comprising said at least one first graphic component, said at least one second graphic component and said mathematical model such that, when said control panel is executed, said at least one second graphic component illustrates a change in said at least one second data value when said at least one first data value is changed by adjusting said at least one first graphic component, based on said mathematical model.
- 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one first data source comprises an input data source, said at least one first data value comprises an input data value, said at least one second data source comprises an output data source, and said at least one second data value comprises an output data value.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said control panel is executable by an external program that is independent of said software application program.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of selecting comprises:
providing a canvas layout tool wherein said at least one first and second graphic components are selected from a menu provided by said canvas layout tool; and placing said at least one first and second graphic components onto a canvas provided by said layout tool, at a desired location and orientation.
- 5. The method of claim 4 wherein:
said step of associating said at least one first graphic component with said at least one first data source, comprises:
prompting a user to specify a minimum value and a maximum value for said at least one first graphic component; prompting said user to enter a directory path for said file; displaying said file on top of said canvas to said user; and prompting said user to select said at least one first data source from said file so as to associate said at least one first data source with said at least one first graphic component; and said step of associating said at least one second graphic component with said at least one second data source, comprises prompting said user to select said at least one second data source from said file so as to associate said at least one second data source with said at least one second graphic component.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of generating a mathematical model comprises:
parsing at least one mathematical formula contained within said at least one second data source; and generating an expression tree defining said mathematical relationship between said at least one first and second data sources.
- 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said step of generating a control panel comprises:
creating at least one graphic data structure, representative of said at least one first and second graphic components, in accordance with a specified graphic file format, wherein said at least one graphic data structure defines the behavior of said graphic components and how they appear in said control panel; and generating actionscript code equivalent to said expression tree in accordance with said specified graphic file format.
- 8. The method of claim 1 wherein said software application program comprises a spreadsheet program having at least one input data cell and at least one output data cell, and wherein said at least one first data source comprises said at least one input data cell, and said at least one second data source comprises said at least one output data cell.
- 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said control panel comprises a Flash file that is executable by a Flash Player™ program.
- 10. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method of creating a graphic representation of data contained in a file generated using a software application program, the method comprising:
selecting from a source independent of said software application program at least one first graphic component to represent a first data source contained within said file and at least one second graphic component to represent a second data source contained within said file; associating said at least one first graphic component with said first data source, wherein said first data source contains at least one first data value and said at least one first graphic component is adjustable so as to change said at least one first data value; associating said at least one second graphic component with said second data source, wherein said second data source contains at least one second data value and said at least one second graphic component is configured to illustrate a change in said at least one second data value when said at least one first data value is changed; generating a mathematical model representative of a mathematical relationship between said at least one first data source and said at least one second data source; and generating a control panel comprising said at least one first graphic component, said at least one second graphic component and said mathematical model such that, when said control panel is executed, said at least one second graphic component illustrates a change in said at least one second data value when said at least one first data value is changed by adjusting said at least one first graphic component, based on said mathematical model.
- 11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein said at least one first data source comprises an input data source, said at least one first data value comprises an input data value, said at least one second data source comprises an output data source, and said at least one second data value comprises an output data value.
- 12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein said control panel is executable by an external program that is independent of said software application program.
- 13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein said step of selecting comprises:
providing a canvas layout tool wherein said at least one first and second graphic components are selected from a menu provided by said canvas layout tool; and placing said at least one first and second graphic components onto a canvas provided by said layout tool, at a desired location and orientation.
- 14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein:
said step of associating said at least one first graphic component with said at least one first data source, comprises:
prompting a user to specify a minimum value and a maximum value for said at least one first graphic component; prompting said user to enter a directory path for said file; displaying said file on top of said canvas to said user; and prompting said user to select said at least one first data source from said file so as to associate said at least one first data source with said at least one first graphic component; and said step of associating said at least one second graphic component with said at least one second data source, comprises prompting said user to select said at least one second data source from said file so as to associate said at least one second data source with said at least one second graphic component.
- 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein said step of generating a mathematical model comprises:
parsing at least one mathematical formula contained within said at least one second data source; and generating an expression tree defining said mathematical relationship between said at least one first and second data sources.
- 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 wherein said step of generating a control panel comprises:
creating at least one graphic data structure, representative of said at least one first and second graphic components, in accordance with a specified graphic file format, wherein said at least one graphic data structure defines the behavior of said graphic components and how they appear in said control panel; and generating actionscript code equivalent to said expression tree in accordance with said specified graphic file format.
- 17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein said software application program comprises a spreadsheet program having at least one input data cell and at least one output data cell, and wherein said at least one first data source comprises said at least one input data cell, and said at least one second data source comprises said at least one output data cell.
- 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein said control panel comprises a Flash file that is executable by a Flash Player™ program.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/363,382, entitled “Method and Tool for Creating Graphical and Interactive Representations of Input and Output Data,” filed on Mar. 7, 2002, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60363382 |
Mar 2002 |
US |