DATA SPREADING ON CHARTS

• US 20150169736A1
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: MacPherson, Trevor T., Zhong, Xiaowei Steven
• Granted Patent: US 9,996,609 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3328 using graphical result space presentation or visualisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

Techniques are described for spreading the data into statistically meaningful visualizations and generating reports. A method comprising providing a graphical user interface displaying a data chart and a plurality of available options for data spreading models, receiving a first user input via the graphical user interface selecting one or more data elements of the data chart, receiving a second user input via the graphical user interface selecting a data spreading model from among the plurality of available options for data spreading models, generating a revised data chart based on the one or more data elements of the data chart in accordance with the data spreading model, wherein the revised data chart renders the one or more data elements of the data chart in a modified representation within the chart in accordance with the data spreading model, and outputting for display the revised data chart.

Claims

1. A method for entering data with a data spreading function, the method comprising:

providing, by a computing device, a graphical user interface displaying a data chart and a plurality of available options for data spreading models;

receiving, by the computing device, a first user input via the graphical user interface selecting one or more data elements of the data chart;

receiving, by the computing device, a second user input via the graphical user interface selecting a data spreading model from among the plurality of available options for data spreading models;

generating, by the computing device, a revised data chart based on the one or more data elements of the data chart in accordance with the data spreading model, wherein the revised data chart renders the one or more data elements of the data chart in a modified representation within the chart in accordance with the data spreading model; and

outputting for display, by the computing device and in the graphical user interface, the revised data chart.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of available options for data spreading models comprises one of more of a relative proportional spreading model, an equal spreading model, a gross percentage spreading model, a straight line spreading model, and a growth spreading model.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the revised data chart comprises a first revised data chart, the method further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, a third user input via the graphical user interface selecting one or more data elements of the first revised data chart;

generating, by the computing device, a second revised data chart based on the one or more data elements of the first revised data chart in accordance with the data spreading model, wherein the second revised data chart renders the one or more data elements of the first revised data chart in a modified representation in accordance with the data spreading model; and

outputting for display, by the computing device and in the graphical user interface, the second revised data chart.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the revised data chart comprises a first revised data chart, wherein the data spreading model comprises a first data spreading model, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by the computing device, a third user input via the graphical user interface selecting one or more data elements of the first revised data chart;

receiving, by the computing device, a fourth user input via the graphical user interface selecting a second data spreading model from among the plurality of available options for data spreading models;

generating, by the computing device, a second revised data chart based on the one or more data elements of the first revised data chart in accordance with the second data spreading model, wherein the second revised data chart renders the one or more data elements of the first revised data chart in a modified representation in accordance with the second data spreading model; and

outputting for display, by the computing device and in the graphical user interface, the second revised data chart.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first user input and the second user input comprise user input received at one or more of a presence sensitive device and a keyboard.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data chart is an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) data chart, and wherein the revised data chart is a revised OLAP data chart.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, by the computing device, the data spreading model as a preferred data spreading model for future reuse by a particular user; and

storing, by the computing device, one or more preferred parameters identified by the particular use and associated with the preferred data spreading model.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the second user input via the graphical user interface selecting the data spreading model further comprises:

receiving the second user input to select a representation of the data chart in the graphical user interface to apply to a second location in the graphical user interface at which the revised data chart is displayed.