System and method for generating histograms

Abstract

A method for constructing histograms may include receiving a set of data values, wherein the data values are two-dimensional or three-dimensional and the data values contain at least one measurement over time; creating a plurality of bins in memory, wherein the plurality of bins are log-linear bins using 2 significant digits base 10; creating a zero bin representing the number 0; placing non-zero numbers of the set of data values into the plurality of bins; and generating one or more histograms using the bins.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for constructing histograms comprising:
 receiving, by one or more processors, a set of data values, wherein the data values are two-dimensional or three-dimensional and the data values contain at least one measurement over time;   creating, by the one or more processors, a plurality of bins in memory, wherein the plurality of bins are log-linear bins using  2  significant digits base 10;   creating, by the one or more processors, a zero bin representing the number 0;   placing, by the one or more processors, non-zero numbers of the set of data values into the plurality of bins; and   generating, by the one or more processors, one or more histograms using the bins.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the one or more histograms are generated based on 1 minute, 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 12 hour time increments.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein
 measurement values are received each minute; and   each minute, a one-minute histogram is created, a five-minute histogram is recalculated, a one-hour histogram is recalculated, and a twelve-hour histogram is recalculated.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving minimum and maximum visual limits;   calculating a focal maximum by taking the greater number from the absolute value of the minimum and maximum visual limits;   calculating a focal minimum by taking the lowest number from of the absolute value of the minimum and maximum visual limits;   calculating a data minimum from the set of data values; and   calculating a data maximum from the set of data values.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein generating one or more histograms comprises:
 (a) when the data minimum is greater than 0:
 creating a first bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the first bin ranges from the data minimum to the focal minimum and discard covered bins, and 
 creating a second bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the second bin ranges from 10*focal maximum to the data maximum and discard covered bins; 
   (b) when the data maximum is less than 0:
 creating the first bin ranging from −1*the focal minimum to the data maximum and discard covered bins, and 
 creating the second bin ranging from the data minimum to −10*the focal maximum and discard covered bins; 
   (c) when the data minimum is less than or equal to  0  and the data minimum is greater than or equal to −1*the focal minimum:
 preserving the zero bin, 
 creating the first bin ranging from the data minimum to 0 and discard covered bins, 
 creating the second bin ranging from 0 to the focal minimum and discard covered bins, and 
 creating a third bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the third bin ranges from 10*the focal maximum to the data maximum and discard covered bins; 
   (d) when the data maximum is greater than or equal to 0 and the data maximum is less than or equal to the focal minimum:
 preserving the zero bin, 
 creating the first bin ranging from 0 to the data maximum and discard covered bins, 
 creating the second bin ranging from −1*the focal minimum to 0 and discard covered bins, and 
 creating the third bin ranging from the data minimum to −10*the focal maximum and discard covered bins; and 
   when (a)-(d) are not met:
 preserving the zero bin, 
 creating the first bin ranging from −1*the focal minimum to 0 and discard covered bins, 
 creating the second bin ranging from the data minimum to −10*focal maximum and discard covered bins, 
 create the third bin ranging from 0 to the focal minimum and discard covered bins, and 
 creating a fourth bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the fourth bin ranges from 10*the focal maximum to the data maximum and discard covered bins. 
   
     
     
         6 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform operations for constructing histograms, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions to:
 receive a set of data values, wherein the data values are two-dimensional or three-dimensional and the data values contain at least one measurement over time;   create a plurality of bins in memory, wherein the plurality of bins are log-linear bins using 2 significant digits base 10;   create a zero bin representing the number 0;   place non-zero numbers of the set of data values into the plurality of bins; and   generate one or more histograms using the bins.   
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the one or more histograms are generated based on 1 minute, 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 12 hour time increments.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 7 , wherein measurement values are received each minute; and
 each minute, a one-minute histogram is created, a five-minute histogram is recalculated, a one-hour histogram is recalculated, and a twelve-hour histogram is recalculated.   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , further comprising instructions to:
 receive minimum and maximum visual limits;   calculate a focal maximum by taking the greater number from the absolute value of the minimum and maximum visual limits;   calculate a focal minimum by taking the lowest number from of the absolute value of the minimum and maximum visual limits;   calculate a data minimum from the set of data values; and   calculate a data maximum from the set of data values.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 9 , wherein generating one or more histograms further comprises instructions to:
 (a) when the data minimum is greater than 0:
 create a first bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the first bin ranges from the data minimum to the focal minimum and discard covered bins, and 
 create a second bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the second bin ranges from 10*focal maximum to the data maximum and discard covered bins; 
   (b) when the data maximum is less than 0:
 create the first bin ranging from −1*the focal minimum to the data maximum and discard covered bins, and 
 create the second bin ranging from the data minimum to −10*the focal maximum and discard covered bins; 
   (c) when the data minimum is less than or equal to 0 and the data minimum is greater than or equal to −1*the focal minimum:
 preserve the zero bin, 
 create the first bin ranging from the data minimum to 0 and discard covered bins, 
 create the second bin ranging from 0 to the focal minimum and discard covered bins, and create a third bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the third bin ranges from 10*the focal maximum to the data maximum and discard covered bins; 
   (d) when the data maximum is greater than or equal to 0 and the data maximum is less than or equal to the focal minimum:
 preserve the zero bin, 
 create the first bin ranging from 0 to the data maximum and discard covered bins, 
 create the second bin ranging from −1*the focal minimum to 0 and discard covered bins, and 
 create the third bin ranging from the data minimum to −10*the focal maximum and discard covered bins; and 
   when (a)-(d) are not met:
 preserve the zero bin, 
 create the first bin ranging from −1*the focal minimum to 0 and discard covered bins, 
 create the second bin ranging from the data minimum to −10*focal maximum and discard covered bins, 
 create the third bin ranging from 0 to the focal minimum and discard covered bins, and 
 create a fourth bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the fourth bin ranges from 10* the focal maximum to the data maximum and discard covered bins. 
   
     
     
         11 . A system for constructing histograms comprising:
 one or more processors for executing a plurality of instructions;   a display device in communication with the one or more processors; and   a storage device in communication with the one or more processors, the storage device holding the plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions to:
 receive a set of data values, wherein the data values are two-dimensional or three-dimensional and the data values contain at least one measurement over time; 
 create a plurality of bins in memory, wherein the plurality of bins are log-linear bins using 2 significant digits base 10; 
 create a zero bin representing the number 0; 
 place non-zero numbers of the set of data values into the plurality of bins; 
 generate one or more histograms using the bins; and 
 display the one or more histograms via the display device. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the one or more histograms are generated based on 1 minute, 5 minutes, 1 hour, and 12 hour time increments.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein
 measurement values are received each minute; and   each minute, a one-minute histogram is created, a five-minute histogram is recalculated, a one-hour histogram is recalculated, and a twelve-hour histogram is recalculated.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of instructions further include instructions to:
 receive minimum and maximum visual limits;   calculate a focal maximum by taking the greater number from the absolute value of the minimum and maximum visual limits;   calculate a focal minimum by taking the lowest number from of the absolute value of the minimum and maximum visual limits;   calculate a data minimum from the set of data values; and   calculate a data maximum from the set of data values.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein generating one or more histograms further comprises instructions to:
 (a) when the data minimum is greater than 0:
 create a first bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the first bin ranges from the data minimum to the focal minimum and discard covered bins, and 
 create a second bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the second bin ranges from 10*focal maximum to the data maximum and discard covered bins; 
   (b) when the data maximum is less than 0:
 create the first bin ranging from −1*the focal minimum to the data maximum and discard covered bins, and 
 create the second bin ranging from the data minimum to −10*the focal maximum and discard covered bins; 
   (c) when the data minimum is less than or equal to 0 and the data minimum is greater than or equal to −1*the focal minimum:
 preserve the zero bin, 
 create the first bin ranging from the data minimum to 0 and discard covered bins, 
 create the second bin ranging from 0 to the focal minimum and discard covered bins, and 
 create a third bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the third bin ranges from 10*the focal maximum to the data maximum and discard covered bins; 
   (d) when the data maximum is greater than or equal to 0 and the data maximum is less than or equal to the focal minimum:
 preserve the zero bin, 
 create the first bin ranging from 0 to the data maximum and discard covered bins, 
 create the second bin ranging from −1*the focal minimum to 0 and discard covered bins, and 
 create the third bin ranging from the data minimum to −10*the focal maximum and discard covered bins; and 
   when (a)-(d) are not met:
 preserve the zero bin, 
 create the first bin ranging from −1*the focal minimum to 0 and discard covered bins, 
 create the second bin ranging from the data minimum to −10*focal maximum and discard covered bins, 
 create the third bin ranging from 0 to the focal minimum and discard covered bins, and 
 create a fourth bin of the plurality of bins, wherein the fourth bin ranges from 10* the focal maximum to the data maximum and discard covered bins.