System for graphical display and interactive exploratory analysis of data and data relationships

• US 20030128212A1
• Filed: 01/09/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Pitkow, James E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,038,680 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A system for graphically displaying data, and for allowing users to interactively analyze said data, particularly with respect to detecting and analyzing any relationships within said data. The invention is particularly suited to analysis of large multi-variate matrix data or two-dimensional data sets that can be stored in a data array. The system includes a visual Data Pane, that is used by an operator to provide a focus+context view into the data. Each data item is initially presented as a small object or region on the operator'"'"'s screen. In response to an operator signal, the source data value and data type of a source data item in the array is obtained and indirectly represented in the Data Pane image. During a focusing operation the area of interest within the constraints of the Data Pane window is expanded, and related or more detailed data is presented to the user.

Claims

1. A system for interactive data analysis, comprising:

a display device for displaying a set of data as a two-dimensional data plot, each data item of said two-dimensional plot including a first variable component and a second variable component;

a data pane image generation logic for displaying a data pane image with said two-dimensional data plot, said data pane image includes an active axis mapped to a first variable component of said data, and a focus region, wherein said data pane image generation logic further includes instructions for mapping data displayed within said focus region to one or more display objects to be displayed in conjunction with said data pane image; and

,

a user input device for inputting instructions to said data pane image generation logic to interact with and control the operation of said focus region.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said interaction with said active axis allows said mapping operation to be modified to perform an alternate mapping of said active axis to said first variable component.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said data pane image includes a first active axis along a first axis of said plot mapped to a first variable component of said data, and a second active axis along a second axis of said plot mapped to a second variable component of said data.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for scratching within said data pane image, allowing a user to move a cursor over data displayed within the data pane image and cause said focus area to be enlarged.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for bumping within said data pane image, allowing a user to toggle the display of the effect of said mapping operations from a first to a second operation.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

an attribute slider for selecting a third variable component associated with said data item, and replacing the display of said first and said second attribute with said third attribute.

7. A system for data analysis, comprising a processor-based machine including a memory and instructions stored therein for:

retrieving a set of source data to be analyzed;

displaying said set of source data as a two-dimensional data plot;

displaying a data pane image in combination with said two-dimensional data plot, said data pane image includes an active axis mapped to a first component variable of said data and a focus region defining a subset of said two-dimensional data plot;

mapping, using a mapping operation, source data within said focus region to one or more display objects;

displaying said display objects in said data pane image;

receiving input from a user to interact with said active axis and to reposition said focus region to a second focus region; and

,

regenerating said data pane image and said display objects to represent a subset of source data displayed within said second focus region.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said interaction with said active axis allows said mapping operation to be modified to perform an alternate mapping of said active axis to said first variable component.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said data pane image includes a first active axis along a first axis of said plot mapped to a first variable component of said data, and a second active axis along a second axis of said plot mapped to a second variable component of said data.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

instructions for scratching within said data pane image, allowing a user to move a cursor over data displayed within the data pane image and cause said focus area to be enlarged.

11. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

instructions for bumping within said data pane image, allowing a user to replace a first mapping operation associated with said active axis with a second mapping operation and to toggle the display of the effect of said mapping operations from a first to a second operation.

12. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

an attribute slider for replacing the display of said first and said second attribute with said third attribute.

13. A system for allowing a user to interactively explore multi-variate data, including a processor-based machine having a memory, said memory including instructions for:

retrieving items of data from a data storage device;

displaying said data as a two-dimensional plot upon a display device;

overlaying a data pane window upon said data, said data pane window including a focus area and an active axis mapped to a component variable of said data; and

,

allowing a user to examine said data via an input device, said input device controls the position of said focus area, wherein moving the focus area to a position within said data pane causes the data represented within said focus area to be retrieved from said memory, and mapped using a mapping operation to a plurality of display objects for display within said data pane window.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said interaction with said active axis allows said mapping operation to be modified to perform an alternate mapping of said active axis to said first variable component, and to modify the focus region of said data pane.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said data pane image includes a first active axis along a first axis of said plot mapped to a first variable component of said data, and a second active axis along a second axis of said plot mapped to a second variable component of said data.

16. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

instructions for scratching within said data pane image, allowing a user to move a cursor over data displayed within the data pane image, said movement causes said focus area to be enlarged.

17. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

instructions for bumping within said data pane image, allowing a user to replace a first mapping operation associated with said active axis with a second mapping operation and to toggle the display of the effect of said mapping operations from a first to a second operation.

18. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

an attribute slider for replacing the display of said first and said second attribute with said third attribute.

19. An interactive data analysis system, comprising:

a display device for two-dimensional display of data having a first variable and a second variable;

a data retrieval mechanism for retrieving data and displaying it on said display device;

image display instructions for overlaying upon said data display an interactive analysis tool, said image display instructions include instructions for generating a data display region, an active axis, and a focus region defining a subset of said data display region; and

,

display object generation logic for mapping, via a mapping operation, the data within said focus region to one of a plurality of display objects in said active axis; and

,

a user input mechanism for inputting instructions to said data analysis system to modify the operation of said focus region, said modification causes said display object generation logic to again map said data within said focus region to one of a single or plurality of display objects in said active axis.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said interaction with said active axis allows said mapping operation to be modified to perform an alternate mapping of said active axis to said first variable component, and to modify the focus region of said data pane.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein said data pane image includes a first active axis along a first axis of said plot mapped to a first variable component of said data, and a second active axis along a second axis of said plot mapped to a second variable component of said data.

22. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

instructions for scratching within said data pane image, allowing a user to move a cursor over data displayed within the data pane image, said movement causes said focus area to be enlarged.

23. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

instructions for bumping within said data pane image, allowing a user to replace a first mapping operation associated with said active axis with a second mapping operation and to toggle the display of the effect of said mapping operations from a first to a second operation.

24. The system of claim 19 further comprising:

an attribute slider, for replacing the display of said first and said second attribute with said third attribute.

25. A method of allowing a user analyze data, comprising the steps of:

retrieving a set of source data to be analyzed;

displaying said set of source data as a two-dimensional data plot;

displaying a data pane image in combination with said two-dimensional data plot, said data pane image includes an active axis mapped to a first component variable of said data and a focus region defining a subset of said two-dimensional data plot;

mapping, using a mapping operation, source data within said focus region to one or more display objects;

displaying said display objects in said data pane image;

receiving input from a user to sort or interact with said active axis, and reposition said focus region to a second focus region, regenerating said data pane image, and said display objects to represent a subset of source data displayed within said second focus region.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said interaction with said active axis allows said mapping operation to be modified to perform an alternate mapping of said active axis to said first variable component, and to modify the focus region of said data pane.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein said data pane image includes a first active axis along a first axis of said plot, said first active axis mapped to a first variable component of said data, and a second active axis along a second axis of said plot, said second active axis mapped to a second variable component of said data.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

instructions for scratching within said data pane image, allowing a user to move a cursor over data displayed within the data pane image, said movement of said cursor causes an interaction with said active axis to affect the mapping operation, and causes said focus area to be enlarged.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

instructions for bumping within said data pane image, allowing a user to replace a first mapping operation associated with said active axis with a second mapping operation, and to toggle the display of the effect of said mapping operations from a first to a second operation.

30. The method of claim 25 further comprising:

an attribute slider, said instructions select a third variable component associated with said data item, and replaces the display of said first and said second attribute with said third attribute.

31. A method of allowing a user to interactively explore multi-variate data, comprising the steps of:

retrieving items of data from a data storage device;

displaying said data as a two-dimensional plot upon a display device;

overlaying a data pane window upon said data, said data pane window includes a focus area and an active axis mapped to a component variable of said data; and

,

allowing a user to examine said data via an input device, said input device controls the position of said focus area, wherein moving the focus area to a position within said data pane causes the data represented within said focus area to be retrieved from said memory, and mapped using a mapping operation to a plurality of display objects, for display within said data pane window.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said interaction with said active axis allows said mapping operation to be modified to perform an alternate mapping of said active axis to said first variable component, and to modify the focus region of said data pane.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said data pane image includes a first active axis along a first axis of said plot, said first active axis mapped to a first variable component of said data, and a second active axis along a second axis of said plot, said second active axis mapped to a second variable component of said data.

34. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

instructions for scratching within said data pane image, allowing a user to move a cursor over data displayed within the data pane image, said movement of said cursor causes an interaction with said active axis to affect the mapping operation, and causes said focus area to be enlarged.

35. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

instructions for bumping within said data pane image, allowing a user to replace a first mapping operation associated with said active axis with a second mapping operation, and to toggle the display of the effect of said mapping operations from a first to a second operation.

36. The method of claim 31 further comprising:

an attribute slider, said instructions select a third variable component associated with said data item, and replaces the display of said first and said second attribute with said third attribute.