System and method for visually querying a data set exhibited in a parallel coordinate system

摘要

A multi-variate data set is displayed in a plurality of multi-dimensional presentations on a computer having a graphical interface and a keyboard input. The data set includes a plurality of independent variables and, for each independent variable, a plurality of dependent variables. A computer displays the data set in parallel coordinate form on the graphical interface so that each dependent variable of the data set is presented as a series of values along an axis, plural axes arranged in parallel. The graphical interface provides a polygonal line which connects a value on each parallel axis and illustrates a relationship between an independent variable and the dependent variables appearing on each axis. The user input enables a user to superimpose on the graphical interface graphical delimiters either on or between two succeeding parallel axes. The graphical delimiters identify a data subset that includes at least one independent variable and adjacent dependent variables. In response to placement of the graphical delimiters, the computer modifies a presentation of any polygonal lines connecting the adjacent dependent variables and which lies between the graphical delimiters, and differentiates then from other polygonal lines which represent remaining data subsets of the data set. The computer further enables an illustration of the delimited data subset in Cartesian coordinates.