Patent ID: 6822650
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method of displaying data, said method comprising the steps of:defining at least one format map comprising at least one mapping segment, said mapping segment comprising a beginning boundary value, an ending boundary value, at least one beginning structural visual attribute corresponding to said beginning boundary value, and at least one ending structural visual attribute corresponding to said ending boundary value wherein either said beginning boundary value or said ending boundary value is an absolute boundary value that is expressed as a real number, and either said beginning boundary value or said ending boundary value is a relative boundary value that is expressed as a percentage: associating said format map with a variable; using said format map to associate at least one data value of said variable with at least one structural visual attribute corresponding to said at least one data value; expressing said data value by displaying said structural visual attribute; wherein said step of using said format map to associate at least one data value of said variable with at least one structural visual attribute comprises the steps of: associating said beginning boundary value with said at least one beginning structural visual attribute to define a first mapping point; associating said ending boundary value with said at least one ending structural visual attribute to define a second mapping point; applying interpolation techniques to identify at least one structural visual attribute corresponding to said at least one data value; receiving a range of data values including a lowest data value and a highest data value; determining whether the beginning boundary value is relative boundary value; determining whether the ending boundary value is relative boundary value; converting said beginning boundary value into an absolute boundary value if said beginning boundary value is a relative boundary value; converting said ending boundary value into an absolute boundary value if said ending boundary value is a relative boundary value; and wherein said step of converting said beginning boundary value and said step of converting said ending boundary value are performed using the following formula: ABV=LDV+(RBV/100)*Absolute Value[HDVâˆ’LDV]whereABV=absolute boundary value LDV=lowest data value RBV=relative boundary value HDV=highest data value.