CONVEYING DATA TO A USER VIA FIELD-ATTRIBUTE MAPPINGS IN A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL

• US 20170228943A1
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Published: 08/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Splunk Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Splunk Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Raitz, Alexander, Arsan, Roy, Allan, Clark, Noel, Cary Glen
• Granted Patent: US 10,403,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/50 Allocation of resources, e.g. of the central processing unit [CPU]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/005 General purpose rendering architectures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/04 Texture mapping
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/20 Perspective computation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/205 Image-based rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/003 Navigation within 3D models or images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/20 Editing of 3D images, e.g. changing shapes or colours, aligning objects or positioning parts
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2215/16 Using real world measurements to influence rendering

Abstract

Systems and methods according to various embodiments enable a user to view three-dimensional representations of data objects (“nodes”) within a 3D environment from a first person perspective. The system may be configured to allow the user to interact with the nodes by moving a virtual camera through the 3D environment. The nodes may have one or more attributes that may correspond, respectively, to particular static or dynamic values within the data object'"'"'s data fields. The attributes may include physical aspects of the nodes, such as color, size, or shape. The system may group related data objects within the 3D environment into clusters that are demarked using one or more cluster designators, which may be in the form of a dome or similar feature that encompasses the related data objects. The system may enable multiple users to access the 3D environment simultaneously, or to record their interactions with the 3D environment.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving data from an external data source;

generating a three-dimensional model that includes a first three-dimensional object having multiple attributes, wherein each of the multiple attributes is mapped to a different field defined for the data;

updating each of the multiple attributes over a period of time to visually convey any changes in values associated with the different fields over the period of time; and

displaying at least a first portion of the three-dimensional model that includes the first three-dimensional object over the period of time as each of the multiple attributes is updated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises real-time data that reflects activity within an information technology infrastructure of an organization.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises real-time data, updating each of the multiple attributes comprises updating each of the multiple attributes in real-time over the period of time to visually convey the changes in the values associated with the different fields, and the at least first portion of the three-dimensional model is displayed over the period of time as each of the multiple attributes is updated in real-time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving user-defined mappings between the multiple attributes of the first three-dimensional object and the different fields defined for the data via a setup module that includes a command line interface accessible to a user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing one or more operations on the data received from the external data source that define the different fields for the data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises machine data, and further comprising performing one or more operations on the machine data that define the different fields for the machine data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises time series data having time stamps, and further comprising performing one or more operations on the time series data via a late binding schema that defines the different fields for the data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises machine data, and the three-dimensional model includes a first clustering object that encompasses the first three-dimensional object, wherein the first clustering object represents a server machine, and the first three-dimensional object represents a processor or a virtual machine executing within the server machine, and wherein the machine data is generated by at least one of the server machine, the processor, and the virtual machine.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a first attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a width that is mapped to a first field defined for the data, and a second attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a depth that is mapped to a second field defined for the data, and wherein the width and depth of the first three-dimensional object are updated over the period of time to visually convey the changes in the values associated with the first field and the second filed over the period of time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a first attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a width that is mapped to a first field defined for the data, a second attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a depth that is mapped to a second field defined for the data, and a third attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a color associated with a color scale that is mapped to a third field defined for the data, and wherein the width and depth of the first three-dimensional object are updated over the period of time to visually convey the changes in the values associated with the first field and the second field over the period of time, and the color of the first three-dimensional object is updated over the period of time according to the color scale to visibly convey changes in the values associated with the third field over the period of time.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:

receiving data from an external data source;

generating a three-dimensional model that includes a first three-dimensional object having multiple attributes, wherein each of the multiple attributes is mapped to a different field defined for the data;

updating each of the multiple attributes over a period of time to visually convey any changes in values associated with the different fields over the period of time; and

displaying at least a first portion of the three-dimensional model that includes the first three-dimensional object over the period of time as each of the multiple attributes is updated.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises real-time data that reflects activity within an information technology infrastructure of an organization.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises real-time data, updating each of the multiple attributes comprises updating each of the multiple attributes in real-time over the period of time to visually convey the changes in the values associated with the different fields, and the at least first portion of the three-dimensional model is displayed over the period of time as each of the multiple attributes is updated in real-time.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising receiving user-defined mappings between the multiple attributes of the first three-dimensional object and the different fields defined for the data via a setup module that includes a command line interface accessible to a user.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, further comprising performing one or more operations on the data received from the external data source that define the different fields for the data.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises machine data, and further comprising performing one or more operations on the machine data that define the different fields for the machine data.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises time series data having time stamps, and further comprising performing one or more operations on the time series data via a late binding schema that defines the different fields for the data.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises machine data, and the three-dimensional model includes a first clustering object that encompasses the first three-dimensional object, wherein the first clustering object represents a server machine, and the first three-dimensional object represents a processor or a virtual machine executing within the server machine, and wherein the machine data is generated by at least one of the server machine, the processor, and the virtual machine.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein a first attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a width that is mapped to a first field defined for the data, and a second attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a depth that is mapped to a second field defined for the data, and wherein the width and depth of the first three-dimensional object are updated over the period of time to visually convey the changes in the values associated with the first field and the second filed over the period of time.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein a first attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a width that is mapped to a first field defined for the data, a second attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a depth that is mapped to a second field defined for the data, and a third attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a color associated with a color scale that is mapped to a third field defined for the data, and wherein the width and depth of the first three-dimensional object are updated over the period of time to visually convey the changes in the values associated with the first field and the second field over the period of time, and the color of the first three-dimensional object is updated over the period of time according to the color scale to visibly convey changes in the values associated with the third field over the period of time

21. A computer system, comprising:

a memory including instructions; and

a processor that is coupled to the memory and, when executing the instructions, is configured to;

receive data from an external data source;

generate a three-dimensional model that includes a first three-dimensional object having multiple attributes, wherein each of the multiple attributes is mapped to a different field defined for the data;

update each of the multiple attributes over a period of time to visually convey any changes in values associated with the different fields over the period of time; and

display at least a first portion of the three-dimensional model that includes the first three-dimensional object over the period of time as each of the multiple attributes is updated.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises real-time data that reflects activity within an information technology infrastructure of an organization.

23. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises real-time data, the processor is configured to update each of the multiple attributes by updating each of the multiple attributes in real-time over the period of time to visually convey the changes in the values associated with the different fields, and the at least first portion of the three-dimensional model is displayed over the period of time as each of the multiple attributes is updated in real-time.

24. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to receive user-defined mappings between the multiple attributes of the first three-dimensional object and the different fields defined for the data via a setup module that includes a command line interface accessible to a user.

25. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the processor is further configured to perform one or more operations on the data received from the external data source that define the different fields for the data.

26. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises machine data, and the processor is further configured to perform one or more operations on the machine data that define the different fields for the machine data.

27. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises time series data having time stamps, and the processor is further configured to perform one or more operations on the time series data via a late binding schema that defines the different fields for the data.

28. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the data received from the external data source comprises machine data, and the three-dimensional model includes a first clustering object that encompasses the first three-dimensional object, wherein the first clustering object represents a server machine, and the first three-dimensional object represents a processor or a virtual machine executing within the server machine, and wherein the machine data is generated by at least one of the server machine, the processor, and the virtual machine.

29. The computer system of claim 21, wherein a first attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a width that is mapped to a first field defined for the data, and a second attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a depth that is mapped to a second field defined for the data, and wherein the width and depth of the first three-dimensional object are updated over the period of time to visually convey the changes in the values associated with the first field and the second filed over the period of time.

30. The computer system of claim 21, wherein a first attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a width that is mapped to a first field defined for the data, a second attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a depth that is mapped to a second field defined for the data, and a third attribute of the first three-dimensional object comprises a color associated with a color scale that is mapped to a third field defined for the data, and wherein the width and depth of the first three-dimensional object are updated over the period of time to visually convey the changes in the values associated with the first field and the second field over the period of time, and the color of the first three-dimensional object is updated over the period of time according to the color scale to visibly convey changes in the values associated with the third field over the period of time.