Data visualisation system and method
A data visualisation system including a data value memory in which is maintained a finite set of data values, each data value having a corresponding time value, a display arranged to display a representation of each data value 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. The invention encompasses a data visualisation method and program.
1 - 22 . (canceled)
23 . A data visualisation system comprising:
a data value memory in which is maintained a finite set of data values, each data value having a corresponding time value;
a display arranged to display a representation of each data value 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.
24 . A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 23 further comprising:
a memory in which is maintained an interaction database of interaction data representing interactions between customers and merchants; and
a retrieval device arranged to retrieve from the interaction database data representing interactions between customers and merchants, to construct the finite set of data values from the retrieved data and to store the data values in the data value memory.
25 . A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 23 wherein the display is arranged to display a series of representations of data values during a time interval.
26 . A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the display is arranged to display the series of representations in a linear arrangement.
27 . A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the display is arranged to display the series of representations in a circular arrangement.
28 . A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 25 wherein the display is arranged to display the series of representations in a spiral arrangement.
29 . A data visualisation system comprising:
a data value memory in which is maintained a finite set of data values, each data value having a corresponding time value;
a display arranged to display a representation of each data value 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 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 contour line is displayed.
30 . A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 29 further comprising:
a memory in which is maintained an interaction database of interaction data representing interactions between customers and merchants; and
a retrieval device arranged to retrieve from the interaction database data representing interactions between customers and merchants, to construct the finite set of data values from the retrieved data and to store the data values in the data value memory.
31 . A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 29 wherein the display is arranged to display a series of representations of data values during a time interval.
32 . A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 31 wherein the display is arranged to display the series of representations in a linear arrangement.
33 . A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 31 wherein the display is arranged to display the series of representations in a circular arrangement.
34 . A data visualisation system as claimed in claim 31 wherein the display is arranged to display the series of representations in a spiral arrangement.
35 . 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 centered 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.
36 . A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 35 further comprising the steps of:
maintaining in a memory an interaction database of interaction data representing interactions between customers and merchants;
retrieving from the interaction database data representing interactions between customers and merchants;
constructing the finite set of data values from the retrieved data, each data value having a corresponding time value; and
storing the data values in the data value memory.
37 . A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 35 further comprising the step of displaying a series of representations of data values during a time interval.
38 . A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 37 further comprising the step of displaying the series of representations in a linear arrangement.
39 . A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 37 further comprising the step of displaying the series of representations in a circular arrangement.
40 . A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 37 further comprising the step of displaying the series of representations in a spiral arrangement.
41 . 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 centered on respective data points, the position of each data point based on the time value of each data point; and
generating and displaying 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 contour line is displayed.
42 . A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 41 further comprising the steps of:
maintaining in a memory an interaction database of interaction data representing interactions between customers and merchants;
retrieving from the interaction database data representing interactions between customers and merchants;
constructing the finite set of data values from the retrieved data, each data value having a corresponding time value; and
storing the data values in the data value memory.
43 . A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 41 further comprising the step of displaying a series of representations of data values during a time interval.
44 . A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 43 further comprising the step of displaying the series of representations in a linear arrangement.
45 . A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 43 further comprising the step of displaying the series of representations in a circular arrangement.
46 . A method of data visualisation as claimed in claim 43 further comprising the step of displaying the series of representations in a spiral arrangement.
47 . A data visualisation computer program which enables:
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 centered 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.
48 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 47 which further enables:
maintaining in a memory an interaction database of interaction data representing interactions between customers and merchants;
retrieving from the interaction database data representing interactions between customers and merchants;
constructing the finite set of data values from the retrieved data, each data value having a corresponding time value; and
storing the data values in the data value memory.
49 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 47 which further enables displaying a series of representations of data values during a time interval.
50 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 49 which further enables displaying the series of representations in a linear arrangement.
51 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 49 which further enables displaying the series of representations in a circular arrangement.
52 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 49 which further enables displaying the series of representations in a spiral arrangement.
53 . A data visualisation computer program which enables:
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 centered on respective data points, the position of each data point based on the time value of each data point; and
generating and displaying 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 contour line is displayed.
54 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 53 which further enables:
maintaining in a memory an interaction database of interaction data representing interactions between customers and merchants;
retrieving from the interaction database data representing interactions between customers and merchants;
constructing the finite set of data values from the retrieved data, each data value having a corresponding time value; and
storing the data values in the data value memory.
55 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 53 which further enables displaying a series of representations of data values during a time interval.
56 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 55 which further enables displaying the series of representations in a linear arrangement.
57 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 55 which further enables displaying the series of representations in a circular arrangement.
58 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 55 which further enables displaying the series of representations in a spiral arrangement.
59 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 47 embodied on a computer readable medium.
60 . A data visualisation computer program as claimed in claim 53 embodied on a computer readable medium.