DASHBOARD CONTROLS TO MANIPULATE VISUAL DATA

• US 20090322782A1
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Holm-Peterson, Morten, Lee, Joshua W., Krishnan, Murali, Rampson, Benjamin Edward, Ehrenberg, Michael V., Fernandez, Roland L., Robertson, George G., Kimchi, Gur, Lee, Bongshin, Morein, William Guthrie, Ruble, B. Scott, Kamal, Ahmed K., Schormann, Christian Bernd, Givens, Barry James, Nielsen, Jakob Peter, Welcker, Brian L., Chan, Stella Yick, Fisher, Danyel Aharon, Abeln, Christian Olaf, Weber, Jason J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,114,875 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/256 in federated or virtual databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0201 Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/203 Drawing of straight lines or curves
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/40 Filling a planar surface by adding surface attributes, e.g. colour or texture

Abstract

A system (and corresponding methodology) by which a user can interact directly with visual data is provided. The system employs associations and relationships between visual data objects to automatically update objects based upon a change in other objects. The innovation also provides specialized controls (e.g., dashboard tools/controls) that facilitate manipulation of visual data. As there can be numerous manners in which a user can interact with visualization data, the innovation enables a specialized set of controls to be identified and provided to a user thereby reducing overwhelming effects of a large number of controls.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates interaction with visual data, comprising:

a model component that includes a plurality of data relationships which define the visual data; and

a data management component that employs a subset of the plurality of data relationships to modify a visual data object based upon modification of a disparate visual data object.

2. The system of claim 1, the data management component employs the model to select a set of controls for presentation to a user, wherein the set of controls facilitate manipulation of the visual data object.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a manipulation component that provides access to the model component based upon at least one of data type, device context or user identity.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a manipulation component that selects a set of controls based at least in part upon data type, device context or user identity, wherein the set of controls facilitate manipulation of the visual data object.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an analysis component that evaluates the model component and establishes scope of modification of the visual data object in view of the modification of the disparate data object.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a configuration component that facilitates generation of the model component and renders visual data via a dashboard in accordance with the model.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a model generation component that employs an implicit generator component to infer criteria for the model component.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a model generation component that employs an explicit generator to establish the model component, wherein the explicit generator receives user-generated criteria via a user interface.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inference engine component that employs at least one of a probabilistic and a statistical-based analysis that infers an action that a user desires to be automatically performed.

10. A computer-implemented method of manipulating visual data, comprising:

receiving data from a plurality of sources;

configuring the data into a visual representation;

determining a set of controls that facilitate manipulation of the visual representation; and

rendering the set of controls via the visual representation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the set of tools is determined based at least in part upon one of data type, device context, user identity, preference or policy.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising detecting data from at least one of the set of controls, wherein the detected data identifies an effect of modification of one object upon another object.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising modifying an object as a function of modification of a disparate object within the visual representation, wherein the modification is effected by way of at least one of the set of controls.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising generating a model component that defines relationships between a plurality of objects within the visual representation.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising inferring criteria for the model based at least in part upon one of data type, user identity, or device context.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising monitoring a subset of the plurality of objects;

and

upon detection of a change, modifying an object based upon the model.

17. A computer-executable system comprising:

means for generating a display of a plurality of visual data objects;

means for monitoring a subset of the visual data objects;

means for determining a change in one of the subset of the visual data objects; and

means for adjusting one or more of the plurality of visual data objects based at least in part upon the change.

18. The computer-executable system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for determining a set of controls that facilitate modification of the plurality of visual data objects; and

means for rendering the set upon the display.

19. The computer-executable system of claim 18, further comprising means for establishing a set of rules, wherein the set of rules defines scope for adjusting one or more of the plurality of visual objects based at least in part upon the change.

20. The computer-executable system of claim 17, further comprising means for inferring a set of tools that facilitate manipulation of the plurality of visual data objects, wherein the set of controls are rendered upon the display.