The present invention relates generally to the graphical display of information and, in particular, to the graphical display of multiple data sets, having varying scales, on a common graph.
A graphical format is commonly used to display data sets representing various types of information. It may also be very useful to be able to view multiple data sets on a single graph. If the dependent variables of the data sets (generally represented on the vertical or y-axis of a graph) share a common range, all of the data sets may easily be displayed. Frequently, however, the ranges of the dependent variables are such that, if the data sets are displayed on one graph, some points may be lost because they are beyond the maximum or minimum values of the common y-axis. Alternatively, some information may not be useful to a viewer because of insufficient variability within a data set as it is displayed on the graph. That is, the maximum and minimum values of the common y-axis may greatly exceed the maximum and minimum values in the range of data points.
One method of resolving the conflict between two data sets having significantly different ranges of y values is to provide two y-axes, one on each side of the graph and each having a range of values appropriate to one of the data sets. It will be appreciated, however, that such a graph will not accommodate more than two data sets having significantly different ranges of y values.
Another method of resolving a conflict is to separately scale the y-values of the data sets and display the plots against a y-axis. Scaling has generally been performed automatically by the computer on which the data plots are to be displayed. As such, the scaling may not provide a “best fit” for the data points for the viewer's purposes.
Consequently, a need remains for the ability to conveniently graphically display multiple data sets, having varying y-value ranges, on a common graph.
The present invention provides a method and user interface for independently and conveniently scaling y-values of multiple data sets whereby the data sets may be plotted against a common y-axis and provide satisfactory variability. A multiplier is selected by which data points in a data set are multiplied, allowing plots of multiple data sets to be graphed against a common range of y-axis values. The initial multiplier may be calculated and selected automatically by the computer on which the graphing is performed or may be manually selected by a user. If the results of the graphing are not satisfactory to the user, the user may change the multiplier for any data set. A spin button may be provided to enable the user to easily increment or decrement a multiplier in predefined steps, such as by factors of 10.
Additionally, a computer-generated indicator may be displayed to assist the user in selecting a different multiplier. The indicator may tell the user that the resulting scaled values represent a best fit relative to the y-axis range of values, exceed the range or have an insufficient range. The user may then adjust the multiplier accordingly.
As a result, data sets having ranges of y-values which differ greatly may be conveniently plotted on the same graph against the same y-axis. The user may also adjust a multiplier to more clearly display the variability of y-values of a particular data set.
In addition to displaying metrics for selection, the second frame 410 also includes a column 412 in which the maximum (original) value 414 in the data set of each metric and a user-selectable multiplier 416 are displayed. The scaled maximum value 418 is also displayed. In the Fig., three metrics have been selected for graphing. The data set for the first, “ActivationTime” has a maximum value of 4.00 and a multiplier of 0.10 has been selected resulting in a scaled maximum value of 0.40. The data set for the second metric, “StoreCount”, has a maximum value of 40.00. A multiplier of 1.0 has been selected resulting in a scaled maximum value of 40.0. The data set for the third metric, “DrainsFromPoolCount”, has a maximum value of 20,406.00. A multiplier of 0.01 has been selected resulting in a (rounded) scaled maximum value of 204.10.
Despite the selection of three metrics to display on the graph 430, only the second is actually displayed at this point because the range of the scaled data points of only the second metric fits within the range of vertical axis 434. The maximum value of the first metric (4.00) is below the range of the minimum value of the vertical axis 434A and is not plotted. The maximum of the third metric (204.10) exceeds the maximum value 434B of the vertical axis 434 and is, therefore, not plotted. Referring now to
The computer 300 may optionally determine how well the scaled value of a metric fits relative to the y-axis values. As shown in a last column 422 of the second window 410 of
To determine whether a set of data points triggers the “insufficient range” indicator, a scale is calculated for a best fit; that is, a scale which makes the scaled value closest to the actual (unmultiplied) value and still allows the value to fit within the graph range (0-100 in the Figs.). For better accuracy, the standard deviation of a metric is also taken into account. If the scaled value is calculated to be other than a best fit, the “insufficient range” indicator is displayed. Alternatively, both the scaled value and the standard deviation may be calculated and, if both are less than 1 indicating that a metric's data set will fall below the minimum value 434A of the y-axis 434 and the “insufficient range” indicator will be displayed.
The objects of the invention have been fully realized through the embodiments disclosed herein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the various aspects of the invention may be achieved through different embodiments without departing from the essential function of the invention. The particular embodiments are illustrative and not meant to limit the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.