Time cylinder to represent data of temporal objects

摘要

Visualization refers to display visually abstract data based on graphic techniques. Data of a temporal object consists of the identifier, attributes, and time. An important characteristic of time is half-linear and half-cyclic. We separate the set of time units into two subsets, linear and cyclic; and a time unit into two components, linear and cyclic. Subsequently, we approach cylindrical coordinates to represent the data of temporal objects because of the correspondence between the change of temporal objects and cylindrical coordinates. Then, we employ angular coordinates to represent the cyclic component of time units, the reference axis to represent the linear component of time units, and the polar vectors to represent attributes changing over time. This representation provides analysts with several modes displaying the data of temporal objects. The mode of data layer enables analysts to estimate the variation of an attribute of an object within one cycle or compare various objects with respect to a certain attribute within one or more cycles. The mode of polar plane enables to estimate the correlation between attributes of an object or between attributes of various objects within one or more cycles. The mode of overlaid data layer is used for studying an attribute of several objects at cyclic components of a time unit.