Systems and methods for providing adaptive analytics in a dynamic data visualization interface

• US 10,163,234 B1
• Filed: 02/20/2015
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tableau Software Incorporated (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tableau Software Incorporated (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, Jun, Stolte, Christopher Richard, Mackinlay, Jock Douglas, Stewart, Robin, Beran, Bora, Talbot, Justin, Rueter, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Gordon G
• Application Number:
  US14/628,170
• Time in Patent Office: 1,404 Days
• Field of Search: 345440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

A method is performed at an electronic device with a display. On the display, the method displays a chart, which includes visual marks that represent a set of data. The chart also includes a first line and/or first band based on data in the set of data that corresponds to the displayed visual marks. The method detects one or more inputs that select a plurality (but less than all) of the displayed visual marks in the chart. In response to detecting the one or more inputs, the method displays a second line and/or second band based on data in the set of data that corresponds to the selected plurality of the displayed visual marks and maintains display of the chart and the first line and/or first band in the chart.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

at an electronic device with a display;

displaying a chart on the display, the displayed chart including a plot area and, within the plot area, visual marks that represent a set of data;

detecting user selection of one or more analytic functions, wherein each of the one or more analytic functions is selected from the group consisting of average line, median line, trend line, forecast line, quartile band, confidence interval band, and box plot;

in response to detecting user selection of the one or more analytic functions;

applying the one or more analytic functions to the visual marks to generate a first graphic corresponding to the one or more analytic functions;

superimposing the first graphic on the displayed chart; and

while displaying the chart and the superimposed first graphic;

detecting user selection of a plurality, less than all, of the visual marks from within the plot area of the displayed chart; and

in response to detecting user selection of the plurality, less than all, of the visual marks from within the plot area of the displayed chart;

 

applying the one or more analytic functions to the selected plurality of visual marks to generate a second graphic corresponding to the one or more analytic functions, wherein the second graphic is distinct from the first graphic;

 

superimposing the second graphic on the displayed chart; and

 

relative to the second graphic and the selected plurality of visual marks, visually deemphasizing the first graphic and all visual marks not included in the selected plurality of visual marks.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selection of the plurality, less than all, of the visual marks includes a separate user selection for each visual mark in the selected plurality of the visual marks.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selection of the plurality, less than all, of the visual marks is made with a selection box or lasso tool.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting user modification of the selected plurality of visual marks; and

in response to detecting the user modification of the selected plurality of the visual marks;

applying the one or more analytic functions to a second subset of data, represented by the modified plurality of visual marks, to generate a third graphic corresponding to the one or more analytic functions, wherein the third graphic is distinct from the first graphic and the second graphic;

removing the second graphic from the displayed chart;

superimposing the third graphic on the displayed chart; and

relative to the third graphic and the modified plurality of visual marks, visually deemphasizing the first graphic and all visual marks not included in the modified plurality of visual marks.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more analytic functions comprise two or more analytic functions, each selected from the group consisting of average line, median line, trend line, forecast line, quartile band, confidence interval band, and box plot.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selection of the one or more analytic functions includes a drag and drop operation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second graphic is superimposed above the first graphic in a z-height order on the displayed chart.

8. A client device, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory;

a display; and

one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

displaying a chart on the display, the displayed chart including a plot area and, within the plot area, visual marks that represent a set of data;

detecting user selection of one or more analytic functions, wherein each of the one or more analytic functions is selected from the group consisting of average line, median line, trend line, forecast line, quartile band, confidence interval band, and box plot;

in response to detecting user selection of the one or more analytic functions;

applying the one or more analytic functions to the visual marks to generate a first graphic corresponding to the one or more analytic functions;

superimposing the first graphic on the displayed chart; and

while displaying the chart and the superimposed first graphic;

detecting user selection of a plurality, less than all, of the visual marks from within the plot area of the displayed chart; and

in response to detecting user selection of the plurality, less than all, of the visual marks from within the plot area of the displayed chart;

applying the one or more analytic functions to the selected plurality of visual marks to generate a second graphic corresponding to the one or more analytic functions, wherein the second graphic is distinct from the first graphic;

superimposing the second graphic on the displayed chart; and

relative to the second graphic and the selected plurality of visual marks, visually deemphasizing the first graphic and all visual marks not included in the selected plurality of visual marks.

9. The client device of claim 8, wherein the user selection of the plurality, less than all, of the visual marks includes a separate user selection for each visual mark in the selected plurality of the visual marks.

10. The client device of claim 8, wherein the user selection of the plurality, less than all, of the visual marks is made with a selection box or lasso tool.

11. The client device of claim 8, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

detecting user modification of the selected plurality of visual marks; and

in response to detecting the user modification of the selected plurality of the visual marks;

applying the one or more analytic functions to a second subset of data, represented by the modified plurality of visual marks, to generate a third graphic corresponding to the one or more analytic functions, wherein the third graphic is distinct from the first graphic and the second graphic;

removing the second graphic from the displayed chart;

superimposing the third graphic on the displayed chart; and

relative to the third graphic and the modified plurality of visual marks, visually deemphasizing the first graphic and all visual marks not included in the modified plurality of visual marks.

12. The client device of claim 8, wherein the one or more analytic functions comprise two or more analytic functions, each selected from the group consisting of average line, median line, trend line, forecast line, quartile band, confidence interval band, and box plot.

13. The client device of claim 8, wherein the user selection of the one or more analytic functions includes a drag and drop operation.

14. The client device of claim 8, wherein the second graphic is superimposed above the first graphic in a z-height order on the displayed chart.

15. A computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a client device having one or more processors, memory, and a display, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

displaying a chart on the display, the displayed chart including a plot area and, within the plot area, visual marks that represent a set of data;

detecting user selection of one or more analytic functions, wherein each of the one or more analytic functions is selected from the group consisting of average line, median line, trend line, forecast line, quartile band, confidence interval band, and box plot;

in response to detecting user selection of the one or more analytic functions;

applying the one or more analytic functions to the visual marks to generate a first graphic corresponding to the one or more analytic functions;

superimposing the first graphic on the displayed chart; and

while displaying the chart and the superimposed first graphic;

detecting user selection of a plurality, less than all, of the visual marks from within the plot area of the displayed chart; and

in response to detecting user selection of the plurality, less than all, of the visual marks from within the plot area of the displayed chart;

applying the one or more analytic functions to the selected plurality of visual marks to generate a second graphic corresponding to the one or more analytic functions, wherein the second graphic is distinct from the first graphic;

superimposing the second graphic on the displayed chart; and

relative to the second graphic and the selected plurality of visual marks, visually deemphasizing the first graphic and all visual marks not included in the selected plurality of visual marks.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more analytic functions comprise two or more analytic functions, each selected from the group consisting of average line, median line, trend line, forecast line, quartile band, confidence interval band, and box plot.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the user selection of the plurality, less than all, of the visual marks includes a separate user selection for each visual mark in the selected plurality of the visual marks.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the user selection of the plurality, less than all, of the visual marks is made with a selection box or lasso tool.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:

detecting user modification of the selected plurality of visual marks; and

in response to detecting the user modification of the selected plurality of the visual marks;

applying the one or more analytic functions to a second subset of data, represented by the modified plurality of visual marks, to generate a third graphic corresponding to the one or more analytic functions wherein the third graphic is distinct from the first graphic and the second graphic;

removing the second graphic from the displayed chart;

superimposing the third graphic on the displayed chart; and

relative to the third graphic and the modified plurality of visual marks, visually deemphasizing the first graphic and all visual marks not included in the modified plurality of visual marks.

20. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the second graphic is superimposed above the first graphic in a z-height order on the displayed chart.