Apparatus and method for visualizing data

• US 20080005677A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Business Objects SA (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Thompson, Michael Emmett
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

A computer implemented method includes selecting a portion of a data set in a first visualization. A list of visualizations relevant to the context inferred from the selection of the portion of the data set in the first visualization is generated. A second visualization from the list of visualizations is rendered.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

selecting a portion of a data set in a first visualization;

generating a list of visualizations relevant to the context inferred from the selection of the portion of the data set in the first visualization; and

rendering a second visualization from the list of visualizations.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting a prioritization for the list of visualizations.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising presenting a visualization from the list of visualizations to a user in business language terminology.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising selecting the second visualization.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first visualization and the second visualization are selected from the group comprising a chart, a table, and a map.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding the second visualization into a first report including the first visualization.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising adding the second visualization into a second report.

8. A computer readable medium, comprising executable instructions to:

receive a region of focus within a report;

derive a plurality of visualizations based on the region of focus;

present the plurality of visualizations to a user;

receive a choice for a visualization from the user; and

generate a rendered visualization in accordance with the choice.

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8 further comprising executable instructions to return the rendered visualization.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 further comprising executable instructions to display the rendered visualization.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the visualization is selected from the group comprising a chart, a table, and a map.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 8 wherein the executable instructions to derive the plurality of visualizations includes executable instructions to retrieve, process, and interpret metadata associated with the data in the region of focus.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 8 further comprising executable instructions to apply logic that suggests possible visualizations for the plurality of visualizations by suggesting visualizations that have the same number of dimensions and same number of measures as the region of focus.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 8 further comprising executable instructions to apply logic that suggests possible visualizations for the plurality of visualizations by applying logic that selectively assesses data within the region of focus and compares data in the region of focus to data in the report that is outside the region of focus.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 8 further comprising executable instructions to apply logic that suggests possible visualizations for the plurality of visualizations by applying logic that compares the purpose of the visualizations to the current context of the report.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 8 further comprising executable instructions to order the plurality of visualizations.

17. A computer readable medium, comprising executable instructions to:

link a graphic display of quantitative information forming a first visualization with a set of rules to define input to a second visualization; and

display quantitative information associated with the second visualization.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 further comprising executable instructions to link metadata associated with the quantitative information to the set of rules.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18 wherein the metadata specifies acceptable data combinations.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the first visualization and the second visualization are selected from the group comprising a chart, a map, and a table.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20 wherein a chart is selected from the group comprising:

status charts, variation charts, times series charts, correlation charts, compare contribution charts, combination charts, frequency distribution charts, and rank compare charts.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 17 further comprising executable instructions to select the second visualization by inputting to the set of rules:

data and metadata from a report that includes the first visualization; and

the semantics of possible combinations of one or more dimensions and one or more measures from the report.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22 further comprising executable instructions to select the second visualization by inputting to the set of rules a region of focus provided by the user.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22 further comprising executable instructions to select the second visualization by encoding in the set of rules the best practices for displaying data.