Patent ID: 6301579
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A computer-implemented method of visualizing a multi-dimensional data set, wherein a data file is generated from the data set, wherein the data file includes a plurality of records, each record having at least one value associated with at least one attribute, the data file arranged in a tabular form having a plurality of rows and columns, wherein each of the rows represents an aggregate of all of the records for each combination of the values of the attributes, and wherein a label corresponds to one of the attributes of the data file, wherein the label has one or more associated label values called classes, comprising the steps of:(a) creating a multi-dimensional data structure from the data file, wherein said data structure comprises more than one level arranged in a hierarchal manner, wherein a first level corresponds to a first data table representing the data file, wherein each successive level of said data structure comprises an aggregated data table corresponding to at least one fewer attribute than a previous level, and wherein a top hierarchal level comprises a single row representing all of the aggregated data from the data file;(b) creating a visualization of said data structure, wherein said visualization includes a first view showing a display of computed probability information for at least said top hierarchal level of said data structure, and a second view showing prior probabilities of each label value, wherein said first view does not display all levels of said data structure; and(c) allowing user interaction with said visualization to trigger the computation and display of probability information for levels of said data structure not computed and displayed in said first view.