WO2003012691A1

WO2003012691A1 - Data visualisation system and method

Info

Publication number: WO2003012691A1
Application number: PCT/NZ2002/000139
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrew John Cardno
Original assignee: Compudigm International Ltd
Current assignee: Compudigm International Ltd
Priority date: 2001-07-30
Filing date: 2002-07-30
Publication date: 2003-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2004-01-30

Abstract

The invention provides a data visualisation system comprising at least one finite set of data values maintained in computer memory, each data value having a corresponding time value; a display configured to display a representation of each data value centred on respective data points, the position of one or more of the data points based on the time value of each data point; and a contour generator arranged to generate and display a contoured representation around each data point such that each data point is displayed as a local maximum. The invention also provides a related method and computer program.

Description

DATA VISUALISATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a data visualisation and in particular to a system, method and computer program for visualising segmented data over a time period.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

The low cost of data storage hardware has led to the collection of large volumes of data. Merchants, for example, generate and collect large volumes of data during the course of their business. To compete effectively, it is necessary for a merchant to be able to identify and use information hidden in the collected data.

In particular, an effective means of viewing segmented data over a time period would offer the ability to identify periodicity or trends within this data. This would be of benefit to traders as it would assist in understanding data from related sources and any patterns across segments. It also allows for the prediction of likely future behaviour and trends. It may also allow traders to identify opportunities and areas for improvement across the various segments. However, this requires a method to appropriately display segmented information over time and allow for any periodicity within to be identified.

It would be particularly advantageous to provide a visualisation system and method which enables a user to review segmented data that evolves over time in such a way that the user can easily identify periodicity and trends within the data or at least to offer the public a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In broad terms in one foπn the invention comprises a data visualisation system comprising at least one finite set of data values maintained in computer memory, each data value having a corresponding time value; a display configured to display a representation of each data value centred on respective data points, the position of one or more of the data points based on the time value of each data point; and a contour generator arranged to generate and display a contoured representation around each data point such that each data point is displayed as a local maximum.

In another form in broad terms the invention comprises a method of data visualisation comprising the steps of maintaining in a data value memory a finite set of data values, each data value having a corresponding time value; displaying a representation of each data value centred on respective data points, the position of each data point based on the time value of each data point; and generating and displaying a contoured representation around each data point such that each data point is displayed as a local maximum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Preferred forms of the data visualisation system method and computer program will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures in which:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a network architecture in which preferred forms of the invention may be implemented;

Figure 2 shows a preferred system architecture of hardware on which a present invention may be implemented; and

Figure 3 shows a representation generated in accordance with the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORMS

It is envisaged that the invention be implemented in association with one or more personal computers or workstations networked together. Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a preferred network architecture 100 in which the data visualisation system, method, or computer program of the present invention may be implemented and/or utilised. The system may include one or more clients 120, for example 120A, 120B, 120C, 120D, 120E and 120F, each of which may comprise a personal computer or workstation described below or alternatively any computing device. Each client 120 is interfaced to a server or workstation 130 as shown in Figure 1. Each client 120 could be connected directly to the server/workstation 130, could be connected through a local area network or LAN, or could be connected through the Internet. A client may be connected to the server/workstation 130 through any combination of wired or wireless networks. Some possibilities are described below.

Clients 120A and 120B, for example, are connected to a network 140, such as a local area network or LAN. The network 140 could be connected to a suitable network server 145 and communicate with the workstation 130 as shown. Client 120C is shown connected directly to the workstation 130. Clients 120D, 120E and 120F are shown connected to the workstation 130 through the Internet 150. Client 120D is shown as connected to the Internet 150 with a dial-up or other suitable connection and clients 120E and 120F are shown connected to a network 160 such as a local area network or LAN, the network 160 connected to a suitable network server 165.

The preferred system 100 may further comprise a data repository 170, for example a data warehouse maintained in a memory. It is envisaged that the data repository may alternatively comprise a single database, a collection of databases, or a data mart and may in fact be distributed across a number of physical devices. The preferred data repository 170 includes data from a variety of sources related to the merchant's business, and could, for example, include data representing interactions between customers and merchants. Typically, a merchant will operate in a commercial premises or store from which a customer purchases goods or services. As a customer interacts with a merchant, the interaction generates interaction data, which is then migrated to the data repository 170. Any other transactions or interactions that take place in the course of business and of which a record exists such as, for example, the payment of operating expenses, may also be migrated to the data repository.

Data stored in the data repository 170 is likely to come from more than one source. Such transaction data may be thought of as "segmented" because it will be stored in relation to other data defining its source or nature within the context of the business. For example, sales data over a particular time period may be sorted and visualised according to a segmentation based on the branch or sector of the business in which the sales were made. The categories used for segmenting the data may be referred to as business segments.

The invention is arranged to retrieve data from the data repository 170, then to process and to display the data on a server/workstation 130 or a client workstation 120 as described below.

Figure 2 shows the preferred system architecture of a client 120 and server or workstation 130. The computer system 200 typically comprises a central processor 202, a main memory 204 for example RAM and an input/output controller 206. The computer system 200 also comprises peripherals such as a keyboard 208, a pointing device 210 for example a mouse, track ball or touch pad, a display or screen device 212, a mass storage memory 214 for example a hard disk, floppy disk or optical disc, and an output device 216 for example a printer. The system 200 could also include a network interface card or controller 218 and/or a modem 220. The individual components of the system 200 could communicate through a system bus 222, or alternatively could be distributed from each other and interfaced over a network.

In one preferred form, a client 120, and the server or workstation 130 operate under the control of appropriate operating and application software. It is envisaged that the data stored in the data repository 170 could be stored in mass storage 214 of the workstation 130, in a client workstation 120, or on a further data memory interfaced to the workstation 130 and/or client 120.

It is envisaged that a retrieval component, for example, a query processor or search engine could obtain user queries and apply these queries to the data table stored in the data repository 170.

A display component displays to a user a graphical representation of the results of such queries. The display could be a software component arranged to display graphic images to a user or the display could be a hardware component such as a computer screen.

This invention provides a method of visually displaying segmented data to represent activity on a horizontal timeline and identify any periodicity. This method can be applied to any situation where data from multiple sources is recorded over a time period and can be displayed on an appropriate scale.

Referring to Figure 3, the invention generates a horizontal panel to display any given business segment. A business segment may be for example the departments or customer profile types of the business. In the example shown in Figure 3 the panel has been arranged to display data for five segments of interest indicated at 310: segments A, B, C, D, E. The segments may be listed vertically as shown, horizontally or in some other orientation.

The period of time over which the user wishes to view the segmented data is represented horizontally on a vertically segmented timeline. As shown in Figure 3, the period may be separated horizontally into convenient sub-periods. A sub-period may be represented in the visualisation, for example, by a data point as shown at 320. In Figure 3 the data points represent days but depending on the scale or length of the desired time-period to be visualised data points could be used to represent any convenient time division. In addition the appearance of the data points may be varied to identify any significant conceptual time divisions or categories. For example, in Figure 3 data points representing weekend days are represented as small hollow circles as shown, for example, at 340, in contrast to data points representing weekdays which are visualised as a simple dot. If desired a different appearance could be used for other significant data points. In Figure 3 this might mean, for example, public holidays and other significant days.

Around or over the data points, data values retrieved from data repository 170 can be visualised to reveal activity during the entire period for each segment. The data values selected are likely to represent KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). A KPI may be, for example, the volume of sales.

The areas of the representation around each data point are shown as a series of contour lines. The contours for each data point are preferably represented to gradually drop off or fall away from each data point. Each data point could be represented by x and y coordinates indicating the relevant position of each data point in the representation. Each data point could also have a z value representing the height or magnitude of the data point. This z value could indicate, for example, a typical KPI (Key Performance Indicator) value. The contour lines represent z data values that are less than the data value of the data point around which the contour lines are displayed. In this way, each data value is centred on a data point. Each data point is displayed as a local maximum as surrounding values drop off or fall away around each point.

This contoured method of representing data values is more particularly described in our patent specification WO 00/77862 to Compudigm International Limited filed on 14 June 2000 entitled "Data visualisation system and method" which is incorporated by reference. The data value of each data point represents the apex of a bell-shaped curve. As x and y values in the representation 100 are increased or decreased, the z value at the new position in the representation will change. The horizontal panel can use any number of segments and time periods. Onto the horizontal panel, time period labels as shown, for example, at 350 in Figure 3 can be included to allow identification of relevant events that may influence the data. The visualisation panel described can include both still and animated KPIs.

Any of the procedures described above may be carried out or embodied in a computer program or part thereof.

The foregoing describes the invention including preferred forms thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated in the scope hereof, as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A data visualisation system comprising: at least one finite set of data values maintained in computer memory, each data value having a corresponding time value; a display configured to display a representation of one or more of the data values centered on respective data points, the position of each data point based on the time value of each data point; and a contour generator arranged to generate and display a contoured representation around each data point such that each data point is displayed as a local maximum.

2. A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the contoured representation comprises one or more contour lines around each data point, each contour line representing data values which are less than the data value of the data point around which the data point is displayed.

3. A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the display is arranged to display a representation of one or more data values for more than one finite set of data values, the position of each data point dependent on the set of data values to which it belongs.

4. A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the corresponding time value of each data value determines the horizontal position of each data point displayed.

5. A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the set of data • values from which each data value comes determines the vertical position of each data point displayed.

6. A method of data visualisation comprising the steps of: maintaining in computer memory a finite set of data values, each data value having a corresponding time value; displaying a representation of one or more of the data values centred on respective data points, the position of each data point based on the time value of each data point; and generating and displaying a contoured representation around each data point such that each data point is displayed as a local maximum.

7. A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim3 wherein the contoured representation comprises one or more contour lines around each data point, each contour line representing data values which are less than the data value of the data point around which the data point is displayed.

8. A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the display is arranged to display a representation of one or more data values for more than one finite set of data values, the position of each data point dependent on the set of data values to which it belongs.

9. A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 8 wherein the corresponding time value of each data value determines the horizontal position of each data point displayed.

10. A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the set of data values from which each data value comes determines the vertical position of each data point displayed.