IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,922,478
Granted Patent B2
US 10,922,478 · App. 14/616,536 · Granted Feb 16, 2021

Dynamic editing of data representations using cascading weights

Inventors: Gregory J. Boss (Saginaw, MI); Michele P. Brignull (Essex Junction, VT); Rick A. Hamilton, II (Charlottesville, VA); Janna K. Jacobson (Bellingham, WA); Anne R. Sand (Canon City, CO)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G06F40/166G06F16/284G06F40/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,922,478
App. No.
14/616,536
Granted
Feb 16, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method and system for representing data includes providing a data representation according to defined variables and a functional relationship between the defined variables and receiving an assigned weight assigned to a defined variable. The method includes receiving a modification of a selected defined variable, and providing a further data representation according to a recalculation of an unselected defined variable, based upon the functional relationship, the assigned weight and the modified variable. Assigned weights and a plurality of modifications of the weighted variable are received. A further data representation is provided according to a further recalculation of the weighted variable based upon a weight selected from the assigned weights according to a previous modification of the weighted variable. The recalculating is performed according to a number of modifications performed since the previous modification of the weighted variable and according to a period of time since the previous modification of the weighted variable.

Claims (47)

1. A method, comprising:

providing a first data representation of a plurality of variables;

locking a first variable of the plurality of variables, wherein the locked, first variable is not modified; and

determining a second data representation of the plurality of variables based upon a recalculation of a second variable of the plurality of variables, wherein the recalculation is constrained by the locked, first variable and by a weight assigned to the second variable, and wherein the assigned weight is assigned by:

in response to determining that an iteration-based weight is to be assigned, assigning a first value to the weight when the second variable is a last variable modified, a second value to the weight when a third variable has been modified since the second variable was last modified, and a third value to the weight when multiple variables have been modified since the second variable was last modified,

in response to determining that a time-based weight is to be assigned, assigning a fourth value to the weight according to a first period of time since the second variable was last modified and a fifth value to the weight according to a second period of time since the second variable was last modified, and

in response to determining that a type-based weight is to be assigned, assigning a sixth value to the weight based on an increase of a value of the second variable and a seventh value to the weight based on a decrease of the value of the second variable.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining another data representation of the plurality of variables in accordance with a recalculation of another weighted variable based upon a weight selected from a plurality of weights in accordance with a previous modification of the another weighted variable.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the recalculation of the another weighted variable is in accordance with a number of modifications performed since the previous modification of the another weighted variable.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

selecting another variable from among the plurality of variables that is defined as one of a dependent variable and an independent variable.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

locking at least one of the dependent variable and the independent variable.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first data representation is a graphical representation.

7. A computer-implemented system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device coupled to the processor, wherein the memory device includes an application, which when executed by the processor, includes:

providing a first data representation of a plurality of variables;

locking a first variable of the plurality of variables, wherein the locked, first variable is not modified; and

determining a second data representation of the plurality of variables based upon a recalculation of a second variable of the plurality of variables, wherein the recalculation is constrained by the locked, first variable and by a weight assigned to the second variable, and wherein the assigned weight is assigned by:

in response to determining that an iteration-based weight is to be assigned, assigning a first value to the weight when the second variable is a last variable modified, a second value to the weight when a third variable has been modified since the second variable was last modified, and a third value to the weight when multiple variables have been modified since the second variable was last modified,

in response to determining that a time-based weight is to be assigned, assigning a fourth value to the weight according to a first period of time since the second variable was last modified and a fifth value to the weight according to a second period of time since the second variable was last modified; and

in response to determining that a type-based weight is to be assigned, assigning a sixth value to the weight based on an increase of a value of the second variable and a seventh value to the weight based on a decrease of the value of the second variable.

8. The computer-implemented system of claim 7 , wherein the application, which when executed by the processor, further includes:

determining another data representation of the plurality of variables provided in accordance with a recalculation of another weighted variable based upon a weight selected from a plurality of weights in accordance with a previous modification of the another weighted variable.

9. The computer-implemented system of claim 8 , wherein the recalculation of the another weighted variable is in accordance with a number of modifications performed since the previous modification of the another weighted variable.

10. The computer-implemented system of claim 7 , wherein the application, which when executed by the processor, further includes:

selecting another variable from among the plurality of variables that is defined as one of a dependent variable and an independent variable.

11. The computer-implemented system of claim 10 , wherein the application, which when executed by the processor, further includes:

locking at least one of the dependent variable and the independent variable.

12. The computer-implemented system of claim 7 , wherein the first data representation is a graphical representation.

13. A non-transitory recordable-type medium containing a computer program product, comprising:

instructions for providing a first data representation of a plurality of variables;

instructions for locking a first variable of the plurality of variables, wherein the locked, first variable is not modified; and

instructions for determining a second data representation of the plurality of variables based upon a recalculation of a second variable of the plurality of variables, wherein the recalculation is constrained by the locked, first variable and by a weight assigned to the second variable, and wherein the assigned weight is assigned by:

in response to determining that an iteration-based weight is to be assigned, assigning a first value to the weight when the second variable is a last variable modified, a second value to the weight when a third variable has been modified since the second variable was last modified, and a third value to the weight when multiple variables have been modified since the second variable was last modified,

in response to determining that a time-based weight is to be assigned, assigning a fourth value to the weight according to a first period of time since the second variable was last modified and a fifth value to the weight according to a second period of time since the second variable was last modified, and

in response to determining that a type-based weight is to be assigned, assigning a sixth value to the weight based on an increase of a value of the second variable and a seventh value to the weight based on a decrease of the value of the second variable.

14. The non-transitory recordable-type medium containing the computer program product of claim 13 , further comprising:

instructions for determining another data representation of the plurality of variables in accordance with a recalculation of another weighted variable based upon a weight selected from a plurality of weights in accordance with a previous modification of the another weighted variable.

15. The non-transitory recordable-type medium containing the computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the recalculation of the another weighted variable is in accordance with a number of modifications performed since the previous modification of the another weighted variable.

16. The non-transitory recordable-type medium containing the computer program product of claim 13 , further comprising:

instructions for selecting another variable from among the plurality of variables that is defined as one of a dependent variable and an independent variable.

17. The non-transitory recordable-type medium containing the computer program product of claim 16 , further comprising:

instructions for locking at least one of the dependent variable and the independent variable.

18. The non-transitory recordable-type medium containing the computer program product of claim 13 , wherein the first data representation is a graphical representation.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2015
From: BOSS, GREGORY J.; BRIGNULL, MICHELE P.; HAMILTON, II, RICK A.; JACOBSON, JANNA K.; SAND, ANNE R.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 034911/0958 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12612222 · Nov 4, 2009
Related Publication 20150154276A1 · Jun 4, 2015