Patent Application
20140108906
The present invention relates generally to the field of displaying tabular data and more particularly to displaying statistical relationships inherit within tabular data.
Tabular data is data that may be presented in a table format. A table is a multi-dimensional data structure that organizes tabular data in a series of cells arranged in a multi-dimensional matrix of horizontal rows and vertical columns for data analysis, where each cell contains alphanumeric values. The number of horizontal rows and vertical columns that a table may contain is determined by the number of variables and amount of tabular data to be included therein. The amount of tabular data that a user may view at once is determined by the screen size of their computer display device, for example, a monitor or screen, or a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that the table is displayed in. In instances where the amount of tabular data exceeds the viewing space of the display, a user may scroll or move the tabular data so that the full extent of the table can be visualized. For example, GUI windows typically provide vertical and horizontal scroll bars, providing an intuitive graphical means for scrolling the displayed view of a table.
Tabular data is often analyzed by a user to determine relationships between disparate tabular data types, for example, by using regression analysis (to determine significance) and correlation analysis (to determine linear associations). There is often a desire by a user of the tabular data to extract information and transform it into an understandable structure for further use. Such analysis may require that the user scroll back and forth as well as up and down to gather the data for analysis and then transfer that data to another program or table where analysis will take place. Known computer software that can tabulate and analyze data includes IBM Cognos, Lotus 1-2-3, Microsoft® Excel, and Google spreadsheets.
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for displaying tabular data. A computing device identifies a plurality of data elements organized in a first plurality of rows and a first plurality of columns, wherein the first plurality of rows and the first plurality of columns are at least partially displayed. The computing device receives a data selection spanning an entire row or an entire column included in the first plurality of rows or the first plurality of columns. The computing device, in response to receiving the data selection spanning an entire row or an entire column included in the first plurality of rows or the first plurality of columns, determines a statistical relationship included in the data selection. The computing device, in response to determining the statistical relationship, displays at least a portion of the data selection.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer-readable medium(s) having computer-readable program code/instructions embodied thereon.
Any combination of one or more computer-readable medium(s) may be utilized. The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer-readable storage medium would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer-readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
A computer-readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer-readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer-readable signal medium may be any computer-readable medium that is not a computer-readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
Program code embodied on a computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing.
Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on a user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).
Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions, which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus, provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the Figures.
Computing device 100 includes user interface 116, tabular data program 118, storage 117, and smart table handling program 110. User interface 116 (discussed in more detail below) is associated with computing device 100 and allows a user to access and manipulate smart table handling program 110 and tabular data (e.g. tabular data files 119) displayed by tabular data program 118 or any other program capable of displaying and/or manipulating tabular data. User interface 116 typically is a graphical user interface (GUI) that is displayed on a display screen, such as display 420 (see
In preferred embodiments of the invention, tabular data program 118 can be any computer program capable of displaying multi-dimensional tabular data, for example, tabular data files 119. Though tabular data program 118 is depicted as residing on computing device 100, in other embodiments, tabular data program 118 may reside on any computing device capable of communicating with computing device 100 via, for example, a wired or wireless network (not shown). Tabular data program 118 may access storage 117, retrieve data elements capable of being displayed in cells arranged in a multi-dimensional matrix of a plurality of horizontal rows and a plurality of vertical columns, for example, tabular data files 119, and display the retrieved tabular data in cells arranged in a multi-dimensional matrix of one or more horizontal rows and one or more vertical columns. In a preferred embodiment, tabular data included in each row may be associated, for example, with a plurality of data elements pertaining to a particular client; and the tabular data included in each column may be related by type or category and displayed under a column heading, for example “Hours Worked.” In general, tabular data program 118 may be any program capable of displaying tabular data in cells arranged in a multi-dimensional matrix of one or more horizontal rows and one or more vertical columns, for example, accounting programs, spreadsheet programs, and database programs.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, smart table handling program 110, the operation of which is explained in greater detail below with respect to
Table processing module 111 operates generally to monitor data selection signals generated by user interface 116, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Further, table processing module 111 may be included in smart table handling program 110 and may utilize analytics module 112, transpose module 113, and data cloud module 114. Table processing module 111 may, in response to determining that an appropriate data selection signal has been generated by user interface 116 within the viewable space of tabular data program 118, initiate the manipulation of tabular data, for example, a data vector spanning a row or a column included in tabular data files 119, at least partially displayed by tabular data program 118, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, analytics module 112 operates generally to determine statistical relationships present in tabular data. Analytics module 112 can be included in smart table handling program 110 and may perform the following functions: determine an independent variable, for example, by prompting a user to select a dependent variable; determine significance levels of relationships that may be present between the independent variables relative to the user-defined dependant variable (regression analysis); and determine linear and non-linear associations between variables (correlation analysis). Table processing module 111 may monitor user generated input signals generated by user interface 116 to determine which rows a user selects.
Transpose module 113 operates generally to transpose tabular data, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Transpose module 113 may be included in smart table handling program 110. Further, transpose module 113 may be called by the table processing module 111 in response to table processing module 111 determining that user interface 116 generated a signal communicating that one or more rows have been selected.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, data cloud module 114 operates generally to display variable headings in a window in a manner that communicates a relationship that exist between the data included in the variable headings. Data cloud module 114 may be included in smart table handling program 110. Further, data cloud module 114 may be called by table processing module 111 in response to table processing module 111 determining a desire to view a variable cloud of column headings included in tabular data files 119.
Turning now to
Turning now to
Subsequent to smart table handling program 110 receiving a selection signal, smart table handling program 110 determines whether the received selection signal is a data row selection signal (step 310). Smart table handling program 110 determines that the received selection signal is a data row selection signal (“yes” branch of decision 310). For example, smart table handling program 110 receives a user selection positioned over a data cell displayed by tabular data program 118. Subsequent to smart table handling program 110 determining that the received selection signal is a row selection signal, smart table handling program 110 determines the number of selected rows included in the row selection (step 312).
In an embodiment, subsequent to smart table handling program 110 determining the number of selected rows, smart table handling program 110 creates a multi-dimensional matrix and copies column headings and tabular data contained in the selected rows into the new multi-dimensional matrix (step 314). For example, smart table handling program 110 may create a multi-dimensional matrix capable of storing the column headings and tabular data included in the user selected row(s) (contiguous and non-contiguous), wherein column headers may be copied into a column of the multi-dimensional matrix and tabular data included in the row selections are copied into other columns of the multi-dimensional matrix, as described above in the discussion of
Subsequent to smart table handling program 110 determining that the received selection signal is not a data row selection signal (“no” branch of decision 310), smart table handling program 110 then determines whether the received selection signal is a header row selection signal (step 320). Smart table handling program 110 determines that the received selection signal is row header selection signal (“yes” branch of decision 320). For example, smart table handling program 110 may determine that the received selection signal was generated by user interface 116 while user interface 116 was located over a row of the tabular data displayed by tabular data program 118 that included column headings. Subsequent to the determination, smart table handling program 110 determines correlation of the variables contained in the selected rows and dimensions of the variable cloud window (step 322). For example, smart table handling program 110 may determine a correlation between a user-selected dependent variable and one or more independent variables contained in the selected rows by determining a correlation coefficient for each of the relationships of the user-selected dependent variable and one or more independent variables. Determination of correlation coefficients is a common statistical technique that measures the extent of a linear association between two variables. Values used to determine a correlation coefficient are typically defined as being between −1 and +1; wherein a correlation coefficient of +1 represents a perfect linear relationship between the variables, a correlation coefficient of −1 represents a perfect negative relationship between the data, and a correlation coefficient of 0 represents no linear relationship between the variables. In general, smart table handling program 110 may determine a correlation coefficient of a user-selected dependent variable and one or more independent variables using any technique that measures a linear association between two variables. In another embodiment, a variable cloud may be a visual representation of linear associations between column headings, wherein the linear association of the values included under a column heading (e.g. independent variable) relative to the values included under a user-determined column heading (e.g. dependent variable) may be shown with a particular font size, and/or using the text of the column headings.
Subsequent to smart table handling program 110 determining a correlation of the variables contained in the selected rows and dimensions of the variable cloud window, smart table handling program 110 creates variable images and overlays those images onto the variable cloud window created in step 322 (step 324). In an embodiment, smart table handling program 110 may create variable images wherein the size of a variable image is based on the correlation coefficient value of that particular variable, for example, where a variable has a correlation coefficient value of 1, its image size may be displayed as being 25% of the variable cloud window height. In another embodiment, smart table handling program 110 may include the correlation value with the displayed variable name. In yet another embodiment, smart table handling program 110 may invert (horizontally or vertically) the displayed variable name where that variable's determined correlation value is negative. In yet another embodiment, smart table handling program 110 may assign hyperlinks for each image to link that particular image to its corresponding tabular data column. Smart table handling program 110 displays the variable cloud window (step 326). In another embodiment, steps 322, 324, and 326 may be performed by data cloud module 114.
Subsequent to smart table handling program 110 determining that the received selection signal is not a header row selection signal (“no” branch of decision 320), smart table handling program 110 then determines whether the received selection signal is a column reorder selection signal (step 330). Smart table handling program 110 determines that the received selection signal is a column reorder selection signal (“yes” branch of decision 330). For example, smart table handling program 110 may determine that the received selection signal was not indicative of a data row selection signal or a column header selection signal. Subsequent to smart table handling program 110 determining that the received selection signal is indicative of a column reorder selection signal, smart table handling program 110 determines the significance of the relationships that exist between the variables included in the selected rows (step 332). For example, smart table handling program 110 may determine the significance of variable relationships included in tabular data file 119. For example, smart table handling program 110 may determine the significance of the variables contained in the selected row by prompting the user to select a dependent variable from the plurality of variables included in tabular data files 119 displayed by tabular data program 118; determine a linear regression of the tabular data included in the selected rows, and determine t-test values of individual variables included in the selected rows. Linear regression is a common statistical technique used to model relationships between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. Likewise, a t-test is a common statistical technique used to determine statistical significance of said relationships. In general, smart table handling program 110 may determine the statistical significance of tabular data using any technique that is able to assess whether an observation reflects a pattern or relationships between variables contained in any portion of tabular data files 119 rather than just chance. Smart table handling program 110 reorders the columns based on significance (step 334). For example, smart table handling program 110 may create a new two-dimensional matrix (as described above in the discussion of step 314), copy the columns into the new two-dimensional matrix such that columns are presented in decreasing order of the one or more independent variables determined significance value. If smart table handling program 110 determines that the received selection signal is not indicative of a column header selection signal, then smart table handling program returns to monitoring user selection signals (“no” branch of decision 330).
Computing device 100 includes communications fabric 402, which provides communications between computer processor(s) 404, memory 406, persistent storage 408, communications unit 410, and input/output (I/O) interface(s) 412.
Memory 406 and persistent storage 408 are examples of computer-readable tangible storage devices and media. Memory 406 may be, for example, one or more random access memories (RAM) 414, cache memory 416, or any other suitable volatile or non-volatile storage device.
Smart table handling program 110 is stored in persistent storage 408 for execution by one or more of the respective computer processors 404 via one or more memories of memory 306. In the embodiment illustrated in
The media used by persistent storage 408 may also be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage 408. Other examples include an optical or magnetic disk that is inserted into a drive for transfer onto another storage device that is also a part of persistent storage 408, or other removable storage devices such as a thumb drive or smart card.
Communications unit 410, in these examples, provides for communications with other data processing systems or devices. In these examples, communications unit 410 includes one or more network interface cards. Communications unit 410 may provide communications through the use of either or both physical and wireless communications links. Smart table handling program 110 may be downloaded to persistent storage 408 through communications unit 410.
I/O interface(s) 412 allows for input and output of data with other devices that may be connected to computing device 100. For example, I/O interface 412 may provide a connection to external devices 418 such as a keyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or some other suitable input device. External devices 418 includes user interface 116. I/O interface(s) may also connect to a display 420.
Display 420 provides a mechanism to display data to a user and may be, for example, a computer monitor.
The programs described herein are identified based upon the application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular program nomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus the invention should not be limited to use solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.
The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
