Method and apparatus for displaying information

Abstract

A method for displaying large amounts of information. The method includes the steps of forming a spatial layout of tiles each corresponding to a representative reference element; mapping observed elements onto the spatial layout of tiles of representative reference elements; assigning a respective value to each respective tile of the spatial layout of the representative elements; and displaying an image of the spatial layout of tiles of representative elements. Each tile includes atomic attributes of representative elements. The invention also relates to an apparatus for displaying large amounts of information. The apparatus includes a tiler forming a spatial layout of tiles, each corresponding to a representative reference element; a comparator mapping observed elements onto said spatial layout of tiles of representative reference elements; an assigner assigning a respective value to each respective tile of said spatial layout of representative reference elements; and a display displaying an image of the spatial layout of tiles of representative reference elements.

1 . A method of displaying a set of data comprising the steps of:
 forming a spatial layout of tiles each corresponding to a representative reference element in a mosaic;   mapping observed elements onto said spatial layout of tiles of representative reference elements;   assigning a respective value to each respective tile of said spatial layout of representative reference elements; and   displaying an image of the spatial layout of tiles of representative reference elements, wherein each tile comprises atomic attributes of representative elements.   
   
   
       2 . The method  claim 1  wherein the step of forming said spatial layout of tiles each corresponding to said representative reference element in said mosaic comprises the steps of forming a self organizing map. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the steps of forming a self organizing map comprise the steps of:
 a.) forming representative reference elements;   b.) matching an observed element to a respective representative reference element to select a best unit matching centroid;   c.) adjusting the best unit matching centroid to form an adjusted best unit matching centroid; and   d.) iterating steps b and c a plurality of times for each observed element.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of matching said observed element to said representative reference element comprises the step of measuring the Euclidean distance between said observed element and each representative reference element and selecting said representative reference element having the least distance Euclidean distance. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of matching said observed element to said representative reference element comprises the step of measuring the correlation between said observed element and each representative reference element and selecting said representative reference element having the highest correlation. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the step of adjusting the best unit matching centroid comprises adjusting the value of the representative reference element to form an adjusted best unit matching centroid. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of adjusting the best unit matching centroid includes the step of adjusting neighboring representative reference elements. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the neighboring representative reference elements are included within a boundary radius describing the size of a neighborhood. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the boundary radius decreases with iteration. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of adjusting the neighboring representative reference elements comprises the step of modifying the neighboring representative reference elements by an adjustment strength which is a function of the distance from the best unit matching centroid to the neighboring representative reference element being adjusted. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the adjustment strength decreases with iteration. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of assigning said respective value to each respective tile of said spatial layout of representative reference elements comprises assigning a color to each respective tile in response to the value of the tile. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of assigning said respective value to each respective tile of said spatial layout of representative reference elements comprises assigning a height to each respective tile in response to the value of the tile in a three dimension graph. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the respective value of the respective tile is a value associated with the respective reference element. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of assigning said respective value to each respective tile of said spatial layout of representative reference elements comprises assigning, to each respective tile in response to the value of the tile, a property selected from the group consisting of: symbol shape, size, hue and pitch. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of repeating the step of displaying an image of the spatial layout of tiles of representative reference elements to form a motion image. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of concatenating data comprising observed elements. 
   
   
       18 . A method of displaying information comprising the steps of:
 a.) normalizing data of said observed elements;   b.) generating reference centroids;   c.) generating a map of said reference centroids;   d.) matching an observed element to a respective reference centroid;   e.) adjusting said respective reference centroid and neighboring reference centroids within a neighborhood radius;   f.) iterating steps e and f, modifying the strength of adjustment and neighborhood radius to form a plurality of adjusted reference centroids;   g.) matching each observed element to a respective adjusted reference centroid of said plurality of adjusted reference centroids;   h.) assigning a respective value for each adjusted reference centroid;   i.) assigning a respective graphic representation to each respective value; and   j.) displaying a mosaic of each graphic representation.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of iterating step j to form a motion graphic. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising the step of concatenating data comprising observed elements prior to normalizing the data. 
   
   
       21 - 37 . (canceled)