Method for superimposing statistical information on tabular data
A method is disclosed for displaying a plurality of statistical data usually presented in a histogram, such as sample counts and percentages of a collection of categorized samples, in a compact single table. The method comprises presenting grouped statistical data that exists within a collection of “buckets” and presenting the sample count for the collected data as an integer in a corresponding cell in the table. Additionally, as disclosed by the present invention, the percentage value of the samples located in each bucket data cell is represented in the data cell as a superimposed gray-scale representation. Presenting the percentages in gray-scale provides overall clarity to the table, assists in ensuring that data can be quickly and easily interpreted and not be subject to misinterpretation, and further allows for the compact display of such information in a single table and subsequent manipulation by automated analysis tools.
1. A method for compact tabular display of data and related statistical information, comprising the steps of:
a. providing a means for displaying the data in tabular form;
b. providing a means for superimposing statistical information over the displayed data
c. wherein the means for superimposing statistical information over the displayed data carries out the further steps of:
retrieving a predetermined number of data ranges;
retrieving a predetermined number of data categories;
retrieving a predetermined data count associated with each of the predetermined number of ranges and each of the predetermined number of data categories;
d. determining a total number of samples from the data;
e. creating at least one table header associated with the data; the table header including an identification title for each of a data category column and a plurality of range columns;
f. defining a unique data cell location for each unique combination of data ranges and data categories; each data cell location having a data cell location foreground and a data cell location background;
g. calculating a unique fraction for each data cell by dividing the data count associated with each of the predetermined number of ranges and each of the predetermined number of data categories by the total number of samples;
i. assigning a unique HTML compliant gray scale intensity to each data cell location background controlled by the unique fraction for each data cell;
j. assigning a foreground color from the group of white and black for each data cell location foreground controlled by the unique fraction for each data cell; and
repeating the steps i and j for each unique data cell location.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data comprises information related to at least one of the group of, arrival of work at a computer node, a request for service at a computer node, arrival rates of work at a computer server and number of transactions waiting within a queue.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step assigning a unique HTML compliant gray scale intensity includes the further step of calculating a variable number of equally spaced intensities where the variable number is exactly corresponding to the number of predefined data ranges.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of assigning a unique gray scale intensity includes the further step of assigning darker shades of gray, wherein the darker shades of gray represent larger percentage values.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of assigning a unique gray scale intensity includes the further step of assigning lighter shades of gray, wherein the lighter shades of gray represent smaller percentage values.