APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A VARIETY OF VISUALIZATIONS LINKED TO ONE OR MORE DATA SOURCE QUERIES

• US 20080109740A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Business Objects SA (SAP SE)
• Inventors: LO, Philip Coldrey, YAU, Chuen Chi, PRINSEN, Edward, Gosper, Julian Lars
• Granted Patent: US 8,645,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to provide a Graphical User Interface with a plurality of visualization types and a semi-structured workspace. A drag-and-drop of a visualization type into a drop zone in the semi-structured workspace is received. The drop zone corresponds to a location in the semi-structured workspace where an associated visualization is displayed. A link is created between the associated visualization and a query to a data source.

Claims

1. A computer readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions to:

provide a Graphical User Interface with a plurality of visualization types and a semi-structured workspace; and

receive a drag-and-drop of a visualization type into a drop zone in the semi-structured workspace wherein;

the drop zone corresponds to a location in the semi-structured workspace where an associated visualization is displayed; and

a link is created between the associated visualization and a query to a data source.

2. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the visualization type is selected from one of a record set, a table, a crosstab, a chart, a graphic or a metadata panel.

3. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein if there is a previously placed visualization in the semi-structured workspace then the instructions to receive the drag-and-drop of the visualization type divides the semi-structured workspace between the previously placed visualization and the associated visualization.

4. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein if there are two previously placed visualizations in the semi-structured workspace then the instructions to receive the drag-and-drop of the visualization type divide the semi-structured workspace into a major portion for one of the previously placed visualizations and a minor portion for each of:

the associated visualization and the other of the two previously placed visualizations.

5. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein if there are three previously placed visualizations in the semi-structured workspace then the instructions to receive the drag-and-drop of the visualization type divide the semi-structured workspace between each of the three previously placed visualizations and the associated visualization.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein if the drop zone corresponds to the location of a previously placed visualization in the semi-structured workspace then the instructions to receive the drag-and-drop of the visualization type replaces the previously placed visualization with the associated visualization.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to:

receive a drag-and-drop of a first previously placed visualization in a first location into a drop zone corresponding to a second location containing a second previously placed visualization;

display the first previously placed visualization in the second location; and

display the second previously placed visualization in the first location.

8. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the drop zone is indicated by highlighting the location that corresponds to the drop zone.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the data source is OLAP.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the query is one of a group of one or more queries.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the data source is one of a group of one or more data sources.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to:

change the link to point to a different query in the group of one or more queries; and

update the associated visualization.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to:

activate an alternative drop mode;

move through a list of drop zones on a keystroke; and

drop a visualization in a drop zone in the list of drop zones.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the semi-structured workspace supports a maximum number of visualizations selected from one of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16.

15. A computer readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions to:

provide a Graphical User Interface with a plurality of visualizations;

link the plurality of visualizations to a query to a data source;

receive an action within a visualization of the plurality of visualizations, wherein the action updates the query to the data source; and

update the plurality of visualizations based on the results of the query.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the visualization is selected from one or more of a record set, a table, a crosstab, a chart, a graphic or a metadata panel.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the action is selected from one or more of a drilldown, a drillup, a member selection, a column expansion, a row expansion and an axis swap.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the plurality of visualizations is displayed within the semi-structured workspace.