Data analysis method and apparatus therefor

1. A data analysis method for use on a spreadsheet software having a plurality of cells displayed as a two-dimensional table on a computer, comprising:

assigning to a first cell a definition of array representation data including a single array or multiple arrays of data;

displaying to said first cell a first array display button; and

selectively displaying said array representation data in a graphical or table format using an array data display device when said first array display button is selected.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

assigning to a second cell an expression containing a feature value extraction function for array representation data assigned to said first cell; and

selectively displaying and assigning to said second cell an operation result for an expression containing said feature value extraction function.

3. A data analysis apparatus comprising:

a spreadsheet definition device that assigns a definition of array representation data to a first cell on a spreadsheet software having a plurality of cells displayed as a two-dimensional table on a computer; and

an array data display device that displays to said first cell a first array display button and selectively displays said array representation data in graphical or table format when said array display button is selected.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein said spreadsheet definition device is provided with a function that assigns to said second cell on said spreadsheet an expression containing a feature value extraction function for said array representation data assigned to said first cell; said analysis apparatus being provided with an array data operation device that calculates the expression containing said feature value extraction function in said second cell; said array data display device being provided with a function that displays a second array display button when a result of calculating an expression assigned to said second cell is array representation data and being provided with a function that displays a numeric value if said calculation result is a scalar representation data.

5. A data analysis method comprising:

displaying data to a first cell on a spreadsheet software having a plurality of cells displayed as a two-dimensional table on a computer that displays a numeric value when said data assigned to said first cell is scalar representation data; and

displaying an array display button when said data assigned to said first cell is array representation data.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein a data item expressed as a single measurement value is included in said scalar representation data and a data item expressed as a measurement value array is included in said array representation data.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said array representation data assigned to said first cell are selectively displayed, in table or graphical form, in a separate window when said array representation data is selected.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein an expression containing a feature value extraction function for array representation data assigned to said first cell is described in a second cell, said function is calculated and displayed as a numeric value if a calculation result is scalar representation data and displayed as an array display button if said calculation result is array representation data.

9. A storage medium having computer readable program instructions embodied therein for spreadsheet data analysis, said storage medium comprising:

program instructions for assigning to a first cell a definition of array representation data including a single array or multiple arrays of data;

program instructions for displaying to said first cell an array display button; and

program instructions for selectively displaying said array representation data in a graphical or table format using an array data display device when said array display button is selected.

10. The storage medium of claim 9 , further comprising:

program instructions for assigning to a second cell an expression containing a feature value extraction function for array representation data assigned to said first cell; and

program instructions for displaying or assigning to said second cell an operation result for an expression containing said feature value extraction function.

11. A storage medium having computer readable program instructions embodied therein for spreadsheet data analysis, said storage medium comprising:

program instructions for controlling a spreadsheet definition device to assign to a first cell on a spreadsheet a definition of array representation data; and

program instructions for controlling an array data display device to display to said first cell an array display button and selectively displays said array representation data in graphical or table format when said array display button is selected.

12. The storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising program instructions for providing said spreadsheet definition device with a function that assigns to said second cell on said spreadsheet an expression containing a feature value extraction function for said array representation data assigned to said first cell; program instruction for providing said analysis apparatus with an array data operation device that calculates an expression containing said feature value extraction function in said second cell; wherein said array data display device being provided with a function that displays a new array display button when a result of calculating an expression assigned to said second cell are array representation data and being provided with a function that displays a numeric value if said calculation result is a scalar representation data.

13. The storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

program instructions for displaying data to a first cell on a spreadsheet that displays numeric values when said data assigned to said first cell are scalar representation data; and

displaying an array display button when said data assigned to said first cell are array representation data.

14. A storage medium having computer readable program instructions embodied therein for spreadsheet data analysis, said storage medium comprising:

program instructions for displaying data to a first cell on a spreadsheet that displays numeric values when said data assigned to said first cell are scalar representation data; and

displaying an array display button when said data assigned to said first cell are array representation data.