Interface and program using visual data arrangements for expressing user preferences concerning an action or transaction

Abstract

A graphical user interface is provided for capturing application data in picture form. A set of data capture tools, including a subjective data parameter palette and accompanying data canvas, are presented to an operator during an interactive session. By selecting and placing such data parameters on the data canvas, a user can paint a data picture representing his/her subjective motivations, mental impressions, reasons, etc., for engaging in a particular transaction. In a preferred embodiment, the present interface is used in connection with a stock portfolio management application, where it is used to capture user rationale and logic for purchasing or selling financial instruments such as securities, options, etc.

1 - 120 . (canceled) 
   
   
       121 . A method comprising:
 determining a movement by a user of a first object from a first selection location to a first preference location via a graphical user interface;   determining a movement by the user of a second object from a second selection location to a second preference location via the graphical user interface; and   determining an ordered preference relationship based on a positioning of the first preference location relative to the second preference location, wherein the ordered preference relationship represents one or more mental impressions of the user as determined from the movements of the first and second objects.   
   
   
       122 . The method of  claim 121  wherein the determining the movement by the user of the first object comprises:
 determining the movement by the user of a first graphical indicator of an attribute of a transaction of the user from the first selection location to the first preference location via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       123 . The method of  claim 121  wherein the determining the movement by the user of the first object comprises:
 determining the movement by the user of a first graphical indicator of a first subjective motivation of the user from the first selection location to the first preference location via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       124 . The method of  claim 123  wherein the determining the movement by the user of the first object comprises:
 determining the movement by the user of a first graphical indicator of a first subjective motivation of the user for engaging in a transaction from the first selection location to the first preference location via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       125 . The method of  claim 121  wherein the determining the movement by the user of the first object comprises:
 determining the movement by the user of a first graphical indicator of a first mental impression of the user from the first selection location to the first preference location via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       126 . The method of  claim 121  wherein the determining the movement by the user of the first object comprises:
 determining the movement by the user of a first graphical indicator of a first preference of the user from the first selection location to the first preference location via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       127 . The method of  claim 121  further comprising:
 storing at least one indicator of the ordered preference relationship via one or more electronic records.   
   
   
       128 . The method of  claim 127  further comprising:
 displaying a data picture based on the stored at least one indicator of the ordered preference relationship;   determining a movement by the user of the first object from the first preference location to a modified preference location via the graphical user interface; and   determining a modified ordered preference relationship based on a positioning of the modified preference location relative to the second preference location.   
   
   
       129 . The method of  claim 121  further comprising:
 generating a chart based on the determined ordered preference relationship; and   displaying the chart via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       130 . The method of  claim 121  wherein the determining the movement by the user of the first object comprises:
 determining the movement by the user of a first graphical indicator of a first preference associated with a stock portfolio transaction from the first selection location to the first preference location via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       131 . The method of  claim 121  wherein:
 the first and second preference locations are included in a portion of a display that includes a gradient that is visible to the user, wherein the ordered preference relationship is based on a ranking of the first and second objects based on placements of the first and second preference locations relative to positions associated with the gradient.   
   
   
       132 . The method of  claim 121  wherein the determining the ordered preference relationship comprises:
 determining the ordered preference relationship based on horizontal and vertical positioning of the first preference location relative to the second preference location, wherein the ordered preference relationship represents one or more mental impressions of the user as determined from the movements of the first and second objects.   
   
   
       133 . The method of  claim 121  wherein the determining the ordered preference relationship comprises:
 determining the ordered preference relationship based on positioning of the first preference location relative to the second preference location, wherein the ordered preference relationship represents one or more personal preferences of the user as determined from the movements of the first and second objects.   
   
   
       134 . A computer program product for handling preference information, the computer program product being tangibly embodied on a computer-readable medium and including executable code that, when executed, is configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:
 receive an indication of a change in position of a first selected user parameter element from a selection palette to a data canvas via a graphical user interface;   receive an indication of a change in position of a second selected user parameter element from the selection palette to the data canvas via the graphical user interface; and   determine a relationship between the first and second user parameter elements based on a relative positioning of the first and second user parameter elements within the data canvas, wherein the relationship indicates one or more ordered preferences of a user of the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       135 . The computer program product of  claim 134  wherein the executable code, when executed, is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:
 receive the indication of the change in position of the first selected user parameter element based on determining a movement of a first graphical indicator of an attribute of a transaction from the selection palette to the data canvas via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       136 . The computer program product of  claim 134  wherein the executable code, when executed, is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:
 receive the indication of the change in position of the first selected user parameter element based on determining a movement by the user of a first graphical indicator of a first subjective motivation of the user from the selection palette to the data canvas via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       137 . The computer program product of  claim 136  wherein the executable code, when executed, is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:
 receive the indication of the change in position of the first selected user parameter element based on determining the movement by the user of a first graphical indicator of a first subjective motivation of the user for engaging in a transaction from the selection palette to the data canvas via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       138 . The computer program product of  claim 134  wherein the executable code, when executed, is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:
 display a data picture based on at least one indicator of the determined relationship.   
   
   
       139 . The computer program product of  claim 134  wherein the executable code, when executed, is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:
 generate a chart based on the determined relationship; and   display the chart via the graphical user interface.   
   
   
       140 . A computer-readable medium comprising executable code that, when executed, is configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:
 determine a change in coordinates associated with a first selection parameter positioned by a user from a selection area to a preference area via a graphical user interface;   determine a change in coordinates associated with a second selection parameter positioned by a user from the selection area to the preference area via the graphical user interface; and   determine an ordered relationship of preferences based on relative placements of the changed coordinates associated with the first and second selection parameters.   
   
   
       141 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 140  wherein the executable code, when executed, is configured to cause the data processing apparatus to:
 determine the change in coordinates associated with a first selection parameter based on determining a movement by the user of a first graphical indicator of a first preference associated with a stock portfolio transaction from the selection area to the preference area via the graphical user interface.