Systems and methods for improved graphical display of real-time data in a user interface

A system for monitoring dynamic real-time data comprising:

• a. a user input device;
• b. a visual display;
• and
• c. a computer processor in communication with a source of dynamic real-time data;
• wherein the computer processor:
• i. obtains a plurality of real-time values from the source of dynamic real-time data;
• ii. compares each of the plurality of real-time values to a predetermined normal range and a user-defined limit selected from the group consisting of an upper alarm limit, a lower alarm limit, an upper deviation limit, a lower deviation limit, a maximum value and a minimum value;
• iii. generates on the visual display a single bar chart comprising multiple bars along a central axis and at least one limit line representing a user-defined limit parallel to the central axis, selected from the group consisting of an upper alarm limit line, a lower alarm limit line, an upper deviation limit line, a lower deviation limit line, a maximum value line and a minimum value line;
• wherein:
• 1. each bar of the bar chart represents a real-time value obtained from the source of dynamic real-time data;
• 2. the central axis represents the normal range of each of the plurality of real-time values;
• 3. each bar representing a real-time value within the normal range is indicated by a common sized bar on the axis of the bar chart;
• 4. each bar representing a real-time value outside the normal range is automatically scaled in size in proportion to the limit line closest to the real-time value;
• and
• 5. the bar chart is updated to reflect real-time values periodically.

A non-transitory processor readable medium containing computer readable software instructions used for displaying dynamic real-time data, the computer readable instructions comprising:

• a. processing a signal indicative of a plurality of real-time values;
• b. comparing each of the plurality of real-time values to a predetermined normal range and a user-defined limit selected from the group consisting of an upper alarm limit, a lower alarm limit, an upper deviation limit, a lower deviation limit, a maximum value and a minimum value;
• and
• c. generating a signal for communication with a visual display to produce a bar chart on the visual display comprising multiple bars along a central axis and at least one limit line representing a user-defined limit parallel to the central axis, selected from the group consisting of an upper alarm limit line, a lower alarm limit line, an upper deviation limit line, a lower deviation limit line, a maximum value line and a minimum value line;
• wherein:
• i. each bar of the bar chart represents a real-time value obtained from a source of dynamic real-time data;
• ii. the central axis represents the normal range of each of the plurality of real-time values;
• iii. each bar representing a real-time value within the normal range is indicated by a common sized bar on the axis of the bar chart;
• iv. each bar representing a real-time value outside the normal range is automatically scaled in size in proportion to the limit line closest to the real-time value;
• and
• d. updating the bar chart to reflect real-time values periodically.