US6742003B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and accompanying methods for visualizing clusters of data and hierarchical cluster classifications
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 2001-04-30
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Granted: 2004-05-25
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Expires: 2021-04-30
Abstract
Abstract A system that incorporates an interactive graphical user interface for visualizing clusters (categories) and segments (summarized clusters) of data. Specifically, the system automatically categorizes incoming case data into clusters, summarizes those clusters into segments, determines similarity measures for the segments, scores the selected segments through the similarity measures, and then forms and visually depicts hierarchical organizations of those selected clusters. The system also automatically and dynamically reduces, as necessary, a depth of the hierarchical organization, through elimination of unnecessary hierarchical levels and inter-nodal links, based on similarity measures of segments or segment groups. Attribute/value data that tends to meaningfully characterize each segment is also scored, rank ordered based on normalized scores, and then graphically displayed. The system permits a user to browse through the hierarchy, and, to readily comprehend segment inter-relationships, selectively expand and contract the displayed hierarchy, as desired, as well as to compare two selected segments or segment groups together and graphically display the results of that comparison. An alternative discriminant-based cluster scoring technique is also presented.
Inventors
- 👤 David E. Heckerman
- 👤 Paul S. Bradley
- 👤 David M. Chickering
- 👤 Christopher A. Meek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/06; G06Q30/0601; G06Q30/0641; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/30; G06F16/35; G06F16/358; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99935; Y10S707/99936; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99942; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99948
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 72
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
Apparatus for providing a visualized hierarchical display of categorized event data, said data being a collection of records, wherein each record is associated with an occurrence of a corresponding event and comprises a plurality of attribute/value pairs characterizing the event or an individual user associated with the event, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; circuitry, connected to the processor, for accessing a plurality of data records, residing on a data storage medium, that collectively forms a dataset representing a collection of events and for applying the data records from the medium to the processor; and a display operative in conjunction with the processor; wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: classifies the data records, based on the attribute/value pairs associated with each such record, into a plurality of mutually exclusive first clusters; determines a measure of similarity between each pair of said first clusters so as to yield a plurality of similarity measures for the first clusters representing the dataset; and forms, based on the similarity measures, a multi-level hierarchical cluster organization such that said first clusters are situated, as leaf nodes, at a lowest level of a hierarchy with second clusters being situated, as cluster group nodes, at successively higher levels of the hierarchy and formed as a result of selectively and iteratively combining clusters that are sufficiently similar to each other so as to form combined clusters in order to define a nodal set wherein each of the combined clusters replaces the clusters so combined to form said each combined cluster; and visually renders the hierarchical organization on the display.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
277 words
Apparatus for providing a visualized hierarchical display of categorized event data, said data being a collection of records, wherein each record is associated with an occurrence of a corresponding event and comprises a plurality of attribute/value pairs characterizing the event or an individual user associated with the event, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; circuitry, connected to the processor, for accessing a plurality of data records, residing on a data storage medium, that collectively forms a dataset representing a collection of events and for applying the data records from the medium to the processor; and a display operative in conjunction with the processor; wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: classifies the data records, based on the attribute/value pairs associated with each such record, into a plurality of mutually exclusive first clusters; determines a measure of similarity between each pair of said first clusters so as to yield a plurality of similarity measures for the first clusters representing the dataset; and forms, based on the similarity measures, a multi-level hierarchical cluster organization such that said first clusters are situated, as leaf nodes, at a lowest level of a hierarchy with second clusters being situated, as cluster group nodes, at successively higher levels of the hierarchy and formed as a result of selectively and iteratively combining clusters that are sufficiently similar to each other so as to form combined clusters in order to define a nodal set wherein each of the combined clusters replaces the clusters so combined to form said each combined cluster; and visually renders the hierarchical organization on the display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: summarizes each of the first clusters into a corresponding first segment so as to define a plurality of first segments such that each of said first segments contains records, from within its associated one of the first clusters, that exhibit similar behavior and similar properties; determines the similarity measures between each pair of said first segments so as to yield a plurality of similarity measures; and forms the multi-level hierarchical organization, through agglomerative clustering, of the first segments.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus in claim 2 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, forms a root node that represents the entire collection and is situated at a highest level of the hierarchy.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
118 words
The apparatus in claim 3 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, performs agglomerative clustering by: (a) determining a measure of distance between each pair of members in the nodal set, the nodal set initially being defined as having all of said members, as child nodes in the hierarchy, and, (b) for each pair of said members having nearest distances therebetween, combining said pair of members to yield a parent node at a higher level of the hierarchy, wherein the parent node replaces the pair of said members in the nodal set; and (c) iteratively repeating operations (a) and (b) until the root node is formed that represents all the members in the collection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus in claim 4 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, reduces a level of the hierarchy by successively merging, based on nearest similarity measures, two linked nodes at adjacent levels in the hierarchy so as to form a single substitute node having a group of segments associated with the two nodes that have been merged.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
131 words
The apparatus in claim 4 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: accepts a user-selection of a segment in the hierarchy so as to define a first selected segment; scores each of the attribute/value pair associated with the first selected segment as to how well each of said attribute/value pairs associated with the first selected segment characterizes the first selected segment; rank orders the attribute/value pairs within the first selected segment so as to define a first rank order; and visually displays each one of a plurality of the attribute/value pairs within the first selected segment in said first rank order along with an indication representative of a magnitude of the score of said one of the plurality of said attribute/value pairs within the first selected segment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus in claim 6 wherein the indication is graphical.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus in claim 7 wherein each of the records reflects a user who visits a predefined web site with the attributes in the record reflecting information regarding a transaction in which the user has engaged with the web site or characteristic information, regarding the user, which the user has furnished to the web site.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus in claim 7 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, determines the score of each of the attribute/value pairs on a discriminative basis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus in claim 7 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: generates a graphical user interface on the display; and selectively expands or contracts the displayed hierarchy based on input commands based on user input from an individual interacting with the apparatus through the graphical user interface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
184 words
The apparatus in claim 4 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: accepts user-selection of a pair of segments in the hierarchy so as to define first an second selected segments in the hierarchy; scores each of the events associated with the second selected segment as to how well each of the attribute/value pairs associated with the second selected segment characterizes events associated with a first selected segment; rank orders the attribute/value pairs associated with the second selected segment so as to define a second rank order; and visually displays each one of a plurality of the attribute/value pairs associated with the second selected segment in said second rank order along with an indication representative of a magnitude of the score of each one of the plurality of said attribute/value pairs so as to facilitate a visual comparison of the attribute/value pairs of the first and second selected segments and to visually assess whether each of the plurality of said attribute/value pairs associated with the second segment is more likely to be exhibited by the first or second selected segments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus in claim 11 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, determines the score of each of the events associated with the second segment based on corresponding probabilities of said each event occurring or not occurring in all of the segments.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus in claim 12 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, ascertains the corresponding probabilities in response to the attribute/value pairs associated with said each event.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus in claim 11 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, determines the score of said each of the events associated with the second segment through use of discriminant values.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
10 words
The apparatus in claim 11 wherein the indication is graphical.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus in claim 15 wherein each of the records reflects a user who visits a predefined web site with the attributes in the record reflecting information regarding a transaction in which the user has engaged with the web site or characteristic information, regarding the user, which the user has furnished to the web site.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus in claim 15 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: generates a graphical user interface on the display; and selectively expands or contracts the displayed hierarchy based on input commands based on user input from an individual interacting with the apparatus through the graphical user interface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus in claim 15 wherein the processor, in response to the stored instructions, limits a depth of the hierarchy to a predefined level.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
290 words
A method, for use in conjunction with apparatus, for providing a visualized hierarchical display of categorized event data, said data being a collection of records, wherein each record is associated with an occurrence of a corresponding event and comprises a plurality of attribute/value pairs characterizing the event or an individual user associated with the event, the apparatus having: a processor; a memory connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; circuitry, connected to the processor, for accessing a plurality of data records, residing on a data storage medium, that collectively forms a dataset representing a collection of events and for applying the data records from the medium to the processor; and a display operative in conjunction with the processor; wherein the method comprises the steps performed by the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, of: classifying the data records, based on the attribute/value pairs associated with each such record, into a plurality of mutually exclusive first clusters; determining a measure of similarity between each pair of said first clusters so as to yield a plurality of similarity measures for the first clusters representing the dataset; and forming, based on the similarity measures, a multi-level hierarchical cluster organization such that said first clusters are situated, as leaf nodes, at a lowest level of a hierarchy with second clusters being situated, as cluster group nodes, at successively higher levels of the hierarchy and formed as a result of selectively and iteratively combining clusters that are sufficiently similar to each other so as to form combined clusters in order to define a nodal set wherein each combined cluster replaces the clusters so combined to form said each combined clusters; and visually renders the hierarchical organization on the display.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
290 words
A method, for use in conjunction with apparatus, for providing a visualized hierarchical display of categorized event data, said data being a collection of records, wherein each record is associated with an occurrence of a corresponding event and comprises a plurality of attribute/value pairs characterizing the event or an individual user associated with the event, the apparatus having: a processor; a memory connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; circuitry, connected to the processor, for accessing a plurality of data records, residing on a data storage medium, that collectively forms a dataset representing a collection of events and for applying the data records from the medium to the processor; and a display operative in conjunction with the processor; wherein the method comprises the steps performed by the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, of: classifying the data records, based on the attribute/value pairs associated with each such record, into a plurality of mutually exclusive first clusters; determining a measure of similarity between each pair of said first clusters so as to yield a plurality of similarity measures for the first clusters representing the dataset; and forming, based on the similarity measures, a multi-level hierarchical cluster organization such that said first clusters are situated, as leaf nodes, at a lowest level of a hierarchy with second clusters being situated, as cluster group nodes, at successively higher levels of the hierarchy and formed as a result of selectively and iteratively combining clusters that are sufficiently similar to each other so as to form combined clusters in order to define a nodal set wherein each combined cluster replaces the clusters so combined to form said each combined clusters; and visually renders the hierarchical organization on the display.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method in claim 19 further comprising the steps of: summarizing each of the first clusters into a corresponding first segment so as to define a plurality of first segments such that each of said first segments contains records, from within its associated one of the first clusters, that exhibit similar behavior and similar properties; determining the similarity measures between each pair of said first segments so as to yield a plurality of similarity measures; and forming the multi-level hierarchical organization, through agglomerative clustering, of the first segments.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method in claim 20 further comprising the step of forming a root node that represents the entire collection and is situated at a highest level of the hierarchy.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
109 words
The method in claim 21 wherein agglomerative clustering is performed by: (a) determining a measure of distance between each pair of members in a nodal set, the nodal set initially being defined as having all of said members, as child nodes in the hierarchy, and, (b) for each pair of said members having nearest distances therebetween, combining said pair of members to yield a parent node at a higher level of the hierarchy, wherein the parent node replaces the pair of said members in the nodal set; and (c) iteratively repeating operations (a) and (b) until the root node is formed that represents all the members in the collection.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method in claim 22 further comprising the step of reducing a level of the hierarchy by successively merging, based on nearest similarity measures, two linked nodes at adjacent levels in the hierarchy so as to form a single substitute node having a group of segments associated with the two nodes that have been merged.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
124 words
The method in claim 22 further comprising the steps of: accepting a user-selection of a segment in the hierarchy so as to define a first selected segment; scoring each of the attribute/value pairs within the first selected segment as to how well each of said attribute/value pairs associated with the first selected segment characterizes the first selected segment; rank ordering the attribute/value pairs within the first selected segment so as to define a first rank order; and visually displaying each one of a plurality of the attribute/value pairs within the first selected segment in said first rank order along with an indication representative of a magnitude of the score of said one of the plurality of said attribute/value pairs within the first selected segment.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method in claim 24 wherein the indication is graphical.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method in claim 25 wherein each of the records reflects a user who visits a predefined web site with the attributes in the record reflecting information regarding a transaction in which the user has engaged with the web site or characteristic information, regarding the user, which the user has furnished to the web site.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method in claim 25 further comprising the steps of: generating a graphical user interface on the display; and selectively expanding or contracting the displayed hierarchy based on input commands based on user input from an individual interacting with the apparatus through the graphical user interface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method in claim 24 further comprising the step of determining the score of each of the attribute/value pairs on a discriminative basis.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
180 words
The method in claim 22 further comprising the steps of: accepting a user-selection of a pair of segments in the hierarchy so as to define first and second selected segments in the hierarchy; scoring each of the attribute/value pairs associated with the second selected segment as to how well each of said attribute/value pairs associated with the second selected segment characterizes events associated with a first selected segment; rank ordering the attribute/value pairs associated with the second selected segment so as to define a second rank order; and visually displaying each one of a plurality of the attribute/value pairs associated with the second selected segment in said second rank order along with an indication representative of a magnitude of the score of each one of the plurality of said attribute/value pairs, so as to facilitate a visual comparison of the attribute/value pairs of the first and second selected segments and to visually assess whether each of the plurality of said attribute/value pairs associated with the second segment is more likely to be exhibited by the first or second selected segments.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method in claim 29 wherein the scoring step comprises the step of determining the score of each of the events associated with the second segment based in corresponding probabilities of said each event occurring or not occurring in all of the segments.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method in claim 30 wherein the score determining step comprises the step of ascertaining the corresponding probabilities in response to the attribute/value pairs associated with said each event.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method in claim 29 wherein the scoring step comprises the step of determining the score of said each of the events in the second segment through use of discriminant values.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method in claim 29 wherein the indication is graphical.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method in claim 33 wherein each of the records reflects a user who visits a predefined web site with the attributes in the record reflecting information regarding a transaction in which the user has engaged with the web site or characteristic information, regarding the user, which the user has furnished to the web site.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method in claim 33 further comprising the steps of: generating a graphical user interface on the display; and selectively expanding or contracting the displayed hierarchy based on input commands based on user input from an individual interacting with the apparatus through the graphical user interface.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method in claim 35 further comprising the step of limiting a depth of the hierarchy to a predefined level.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored therein, said instructions being executed by a computer, for performing the steps in claim 19 .
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
207 words
Apparatus for providing a visualized hierarchical display of categorized event data, said data being a collection of records, wherein each record is associated with an occurrence of a corresponding event and comprises a plurality of attribute/value pairs characterizing the event or an individual user associated with the event, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; circuitry, connected to the processor, for accessing a plurality of data records, residing on a data storage medium, that collectively forms a dataset representing a collection of events and for applying the data records to the processor; and a display operative in conjunction with the processor; wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: automatically classifies the data records, based on the attribute/value pairs associated with each such record, into a plurality of mutually exclusive clusters; determines a measure of similarity between each pair of said clusters so as to yield a plurality of similarity measures for the first clusters representing the dataset; and visually renders each one of said pairs of clusters on the display along with a visual indication of a corresponding one of the similarity measures which is associated with said each pair of said clusters.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
207 words
Apparatus for providing a visualized hierarchical display of categorized event data, said data being a collection of records, wherein each record is associated with an occurrence of a corresponding event and comprises a plurality of attribute/value pairs characterizing the event or an individual user associated with the event, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; circuitry, connected to the processor, for accessing a plurality of data records, residing on a data storage medium, that collectively forms a dataset representing a collection of events and for applying the data records to the processor; and a display operative in conjunction with the processor; wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: automatically classifies the data records, based on the attribute/value pairs associated with each such record, into a plurality of mutually exclusive clusters; determines a measure of similarity between each pair of said clusters so as to yield a plurality of similarity measures for the first clusters representing the dataset; and visually renders each one of said pairs of clusters on the display along with a visual indication of a corresponding one of the similarity measures which is associated with said each pair of said clusters.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: establishes a similarity threshold; and displays the indication of the determined similarity measure for said each pair of clusters if the determined similarity measure exceeds the similarity threshold.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the visual indication comprises thickness of a displayed arc that connects the first and second clusters, a color of the arc or other visual characteristic of the arc.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus in claim 40 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: establishes a similarity threshold; and displays the indication of the determined similarity measure for said each pair of clusters if the determined similarity measure exceeds the similarity threshold.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: receives an instruction to de-emphasize a particular cluster; and in response to the instruction to de-emphasize a cluster, de-emphasizes the visual indication for the particular cluster.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, receives a user-specified level for the similarity threshold.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus in claim 43 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, displays a slider through which the user can set the similarity threshold.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus in claim 44 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, displays the slider either horizontally or vertically.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus in claim 43 wherein the visual indication is a displayed arc that connects the first and second clusters and the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, displays, with the slider set to one end position, either no or a minimum number of arcs between corresponding ones of the clusters and, with the slider set to another end position, all pair-wise connections.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus in claim 43 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, adjusts the displayed indication of the similarity measure for said each cluster to reflect a change in the user-specified similarity threshold.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the hierarchical display is visually arranged as a spring model wherein apparent attraction force between said each pair of the clusters is responsive to the similarity measure for said each pair of clusters.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus in claim 38 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions: receives a user-supplied instruction to split a particular displayed cluster; and in response to the user-supplied instruction, displays a pair of clusters for the particular displayed combined cluster.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus in claim 49 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, displays a slider wherein user movement of the slider specifies a corresponding similarity measure, for the pair of clusters, sufficient to split the particular displayed combined cluster into said pair of clusters.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus in claim 50 wherein the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, displays an animation of splitting the particular displayed cluster into said pair of clusters.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus in claim 49 the particular displayed cluster is a displayed cluster that resulted from a most recent combination of a pair of clusters.
Claim 56
Independent Claim
221 words
A method, for use in conjunction with apparatus, for providing a visualized hierarchical display of categorized event data, said data being a collection of records, wherein each record is associated with an occurrence of a corresponding event and comprises a plurality of attribute/value pairs characterizing the event or an individual user associated with the event, the apparatus having: a processor; a memory connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; circuitry, connected to the processor, for accessing a plurality of data records, residing on a data storage medium, that collectively forms a dataset representing a collection of events and for applying the data records to the processor; and a display operative in conjunction with the processor; the method comprising the steps, performed by the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, of: automatically classifying the data records, based on the attribute/value pairs associated with each such record, into a plurality of mutually exclusive clusters; determining a measure of similarity between each pair of said clusters so as to yield a plurality of similarity measures for the first clusters representing the dataset; and visually rendering each one of said pairs of clusters on the display along with a visual indication of a corresponding one of the similarity measures which is associated with said each pair of said clusters.
Claim 57
Independent Claim
221 words
A method, for use in conjunction with apparatus, for providing a visualized hierarchical display of categorized event data, said data being a collection of records, wherein each record is associated with an occurrence of a corresponding event and comprises a plurality of attribute/value pairs characterizing the event or an individual user associated with the event, the apparatus having: a processor; a memory connected to the processor and storing computer executable instructions therein; circuitry, connected to the processor, for accessing a plurality of data records, residing on a data storage medium, that collectively forms a dataset representing a collection of events and for applying the data records to the processor; and a display operative in conjunction with the processor; the method comprising the steps, performed by the processor, in response to execution of the stored instructions, of: automatically classifying the data records, based on the attribute/value pairs associated with each such record, into a plurality of mutually exclusive clusters; determining a measure of similarity between each pair of said clusters so as to yield a plurality of similarity measures for the first clusters representing the dataset; and visually rendering each one of said pairs of clusters on the display along with a visual indication of a corresponding one of the similarity measures which is associated with said each pair of said clusters.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in claim 53 further comprising the steps of: establishing a similarity threshold; and displaying the indication of the determined similarity measure for said each pair of clusters if the determined similarity measure exceeds the similarity threshold.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method in claim 53 wherein the visual indication comprises thickness of a displayed arc that connects the first and second clusters, a color of the arc or other visual characteristic of the arc.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in claim 55 further comprising the steps of: establishing a similarity threshold; and displaying the indication of the determined similarity measure for said each pair of clusters if the determined similarity measure exceeds the similarity threshold.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method in claim 53 further comprising the steps of: receiving an instruction to de-emphasize a particular cluster; and in response to the instruction to de-emphasize a cluster, de-emphasizing the visual indication for the particular cluster.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method in claim 53 further comprising the step of receiving a user-specified level for the similarity threshold.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method in claim 58 further comprising the step of displaying a slider through which the user can set the similarity threshold.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method in claim 59 , wherein the visual indication is a displayed arc that connects the first and second clusters, comprising the step of displaying the stored instructions, with the slider set to one end position, either no or a minimum number of arcs between corresponding ones of the clusters and, with the slider set to another end position, all pair-wise connections.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method in claim 59 further comprising the step of displaying the slider either horizontally or vertically.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method in claim 58 further comprising the step of adjusting the displayed indication of the similarity measure for said each cluster to reflect a change in the user-specified similarity threshold.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method in claim 53 further comprising the step of visually arranging the hierarchical display arcs as a spring model wherein apparent attractive force between said each pair of the clusters is responsive to the similarity measure for said each pair of clusters.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method in claim 53 further comprising the steps of: receiving a user-supplied instruction to split a particular displayed cluster; and in response to the user-supplied instruction, displaying a pair of clusters for the particular displayed combined cluster.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method in claim 64 further comprising the step of displaying a slider wherein user movement of the slider specifies a corresponding similarity measure, for the pair of clusters, sufficient to split the particular displayed combined cluster into said pair of clusters.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method in claim 65 further comprising the step of displaying an animation of splitting the particular displayed cluster into said pair of clusters.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method in claim 64 wherein the particular displayed cluster is a displayed cluster that resulted from a most recent combination of a pair of clusters.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
25 words
A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions stored therein, said instructions being executed by a computer, for performing the steps in claim 53 .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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