COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATICALLY VIEWING MULTIDIMENSIONAL DATABASES

• US 20150081692A1
• Filed: 11/20/2014
• Published: 03/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tableau Software Incorporated (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tableau Software Incorporated (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mackinlay, Jock Douglas, Stolte, Christopher Richard, Hanrahan, Patrick
• Granted Patent: US 10,386,989 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2393 Updating materialised views
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• 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: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

The implementations described herein include methods and systems for displaying graphical representations of datasets. A method is performed at a computer having one or more processors and memory storing programs for execution by the processors. The method receives a request from a user to display a graphical representation of a dataset. In response to the request, the method identifies a plurality of alternative graphical representations of the dataset. Each alternative graphical representation has a respective associated view type. The method ranks the plurality of alternative graphical representations in accordance with a rating system. The rating system is based on a set of criteria, which includes at least one user-specific criterion. The method selects for display a resulting graphical representation from among the plurality of alternative graphical representations based on the ranking.

Claims

1. A method for displaying graphical representations of datasets, comprising:

at a computer having one or more processors and memory storing programs for execution by the one or more processors;

receiving a request from a user to display a graphical representation of a dataset;

in response to the request;

identifying a plurality of alternative graphical representations of the dataset, wherein each alternative graphical representation has a respective associated view type;

ranking the plurality of alternative graphical representations in accordance with a rating system, wherein the rating system is based on a set of criteria, and wherein the set of criteria includes at least one user-specific criterion;

selecting for display a resulting graphical representation from among the plurality of alternative graphical representations based the ranking.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the resulting graphical representation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of criteria includes at least one criterion that ranks the alternative graphical representations based on a usage pattern determined in part by the user'"'"'s prior usage.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the prior usage of the user includes previous selection of graphical representations that have a first view type, and wherein the selected graphical representation is selected, in part, based on having the first view type.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of criteria includes at least one criterion that ranks the alternative graphical representations based on user preferences of respective users.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the user preferences for the user include a preference for a first view type, and wherein the selected graphical representation is selected, in part, based on having the first view type.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the user preferences for the user are determined in part by the user'"'"'s designation of one or more preferred view types.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the view types are selected from the group consisting of Table, Scatter Plot, Bar Chart, Gantt Plot, Line Graph, and Circle Graph.

9. A system for displaying graphical representations of datasets, comprising:

one or more processors, memory, and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving a request from a user to display a graphical representation of a dataset;

in response to the request;

identifying a plurality of alternative graphical representations of the dataset, wherein each alternative graphical representation has a respective associated view type;

ranking the plurality of alternative graphical representations in accordance with a rating system, wherein the rating system is based on a set of criteria, and wherein the set of criteria includes at least one user-specific criterion;

selecting for display a resulting graphical representation from among the plurality of alternative graphical representations based the ranking.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for displaying the resulting graphical representation.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the set of criteria includes at least one criterion that ranks the alternative graphical representations based on a usage pattern determined in part by the user'"'"'s prior usage.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the prior usage of the user includes previous selection of graphical representations that have a first view type, and wherein the selected graphical representation is selected, in part, based on having the first view type.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the set of criteria includes at least one criterion that ranks the alternative graphical representations based on user preferences of respective users.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the user preferences for the user include a preference for a first view type, and wherein the selected graphical representation is selected, in part, based on having the first view type.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the user preferences for the user are determined in part by the user'"'"'s designation of one or more preferred view types.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the view types are selected from the group consisting of Table, Scatter Plot, Bar Chart, Gantt Plot, Line Graph, and Circle Graph.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:

receiving a request from a user to display a graphical representation of a dataset;

in response to the request;

identifying a plurality of alternative graphical representations of the dataset, wherein each alternative graphical representation has a respective associated view type;

ranking the plurality of alternative graphical representations in accordance with a rating system, wherein the rating system is based on a set of criteria, and wherein the set of criteria includes at least one user-specific criterion;

selecting for display a resulting graphical representation from among the plurality of alternative graphical representations based the ranking.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for displaying the resulting graphical representation.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the set of criteria includes at least one criterion that ranks the alternative graphical representations based on a usage pattern determined in part by the user'"'"'s prior usage.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the prior usage of the user includes previous selection of graphical representations that have a first view type, and wherein the selected graphical representation is selected, in part, based on having the first view type.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the set of criteria includes at least one criterion that ranks the alternative graphical representations based on user preferences of respective users.

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the user preferences for the user include a preference for a first view type, and wherein the selected graphical representation is selected, in part, based on having the first view type.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the user preferences for the user are determined in part by the user'"'"'s designation of one or more preferred view types.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the view types are selected from the group consisting of Table, Scatter Plot, Bar Chart, Gantt Plot, Line Graph, and Circle Graph.