Generating three-dimensional bar charts with unobscured blocks

• US 6,366,284 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1998
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: McDonald, Stuart I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brier, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US09/165,274
• Time in Patent Office: 1,279 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/420, 345/441, 345/440.2, 345/421, 707/503
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for generating three-dimensional bar charts by interspersing non-rectangular shapes amongst rectangular boxes so that the rectangular boxes and non-rectangular shapes tend not to obscure each other. To this end, one embodiment of the present invention provides a method that operates by receiving a set of data values to be displayed in the three-dimensional bar chart. The set of data values is divided into two subsets. A first subset is represented by rectangular boxes projecting from a two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given box above the two-dimensional grid bears a functional relationship to a data value being displayed by the given box. A second subset is represented by non-rectangular shapes projecting from the two-dimensional grid, which are interspersed between the rectangular boxes, so that a height of a given non-rectangular shape bears a functional relationship to a data value being displayed by the given non-rectangular shape. The method also includes rendering a perspective view of the rectangular boxes and the non-rectangular shapes, and outputting the perspective view to a display device. One variation of the above embodiment alternates tetrahedra with rectangular boxes, wherein the tetrahedra are oriented so that a given tetrahedron is balanced on a lower edge, parallel to a left-right axis of the two-dimensional grid, with an upper orthogonal edge parallel to a fore-aft axis.

Claims

1. A method for generating a bar chart to display three-dimensional data values, comprising:

receiving a set of three-dimensional data values to be displayed in the bar chart;

representing a first subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as a plurality of rectangular boxes projecting from a two-dimensional grid, each rectangular box having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given rectangular box bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given rectangular box;

wherein a first dimension and a second dimension of the three-dimensional data value specify a two-dimensional location within the two-dimensional grid, and a third dimension specifies the height of the given rectangular box above the two-dimensional grid;

representing a second subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as non-rectangular shapes projecting from the two-dimensional grid and interspersed between the plurality of rectangular boxes, each non-rectangular shape having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given non-rectangular shape bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given non-rectangular shape;

wherein interspersing the non-rectangular shapes between the plurality of rectangular boxes involves alternating the non-rectangular shapes with the plurality of rectangular boxes, so that larger data values represented by the non-rectangular shapes do not obscure smaller data values represented by the rectangular shapes;

computing a three-dimensional view of the two-dimensional grid, including the plurality of rectangular boxes and the non-rectangular shapes; and

outputting the three-dimensional view to a display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein representing the second subset of three-dimensional data values includes representing the second subset of data values as tetrahedra.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the tetrahedra are oriented so that a given tetrahedron is balanced on a lower edge, parallel to a left-right axis of the two-dimensional grid, with an upper orthogonal edge parallel to a fore-aft axis.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein representing the second subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as non-rectangular shapes includes representing a given three-dimensional data value as a stack of tetrahedra balanced on edge and stacked to a height above the two-dimensional grid that bears a functional relationship to the data value being displayed.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing grid lines on at least one wall extending perpendicularly from the two-dimensional grid so that heights of the plurality of rectangular boxes and the non-rectangular shapes can be estimated with respect to the grid lines.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the non-rectangular shapes recede in the perspective view so that the heights of the non-rectangular shapes can be estimated by an observer with respect to the grid lines.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein interspersing the non-rectangular shapes includes inserting a non-rectangular shape at regular intervals between the plurality of rectangular boxes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a front row of the two-dimensional grid includes non-rectangular shapes.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein interspersing the non-rectangular shapes between the plurality of rectangular boxes includes:

selecting the second subset of three-dimensional data values by selecting data values that if viewed as a rectangular boxes would obscure other rectangular boxes in the perspective view; and

representing the second subset of three-dimensional data values as non-rectangular shapes that would not obscure the other rectangular boxes in the perspective view.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the functional relationship is linear.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the three-dimensional view includes a three-dimensional perspective view.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein computing the three-dimensional view includes rendering a bitmap of the three-dimensional view.

13. A method for generating a bar chart to display three-dimensional data values, comprising:

receiving a set of three-dimensional data values to be displayed in the bar chart;

representing a first subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as a plurality of rectangular boxes projecting from a two-dimensional grid, each rectangular box having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given rectangular box bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given rectangular box;

wherein a first dimension and a second dimension of the three-dimensional data value specify a two-dimensional location within the two-dimensional grid, and a third dimension specifies the height of the given rectangular box above the two-dimensional grid;

representing a second subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as non-rectangular shapes projecting from the two-dimensional grid and interspersed between the plurality of rectangular boxes, each non-rectangular shape having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given non-rectangular shape bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given non-rectangular shape;

wherein interspersing the non-rectangular shapes between the plurality of rectangular boxes involves alternating the non-rectangular shapes with the plurality of rectangular boxes, so that larger data values represented by the non-rectangular shapes do not obscure smaller data values represented by the rectangular shapes;

providing grid lines on at least one wall extending perpendicularly from the two-dimensional grid so that the heights of the plurality of rectangular boxes and the tetrahedra can be estimated with respect to the grid lines;

rendering a perspective view of the two-dimensional grid, including the plurality of rectangular boxes and the tetrahedra; and

outputting the perspective view to a display device.

14. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for generating a bar chart to display three-dimensional data values, comprising:

receiving a set of three-dimensional data values to be displayed in the bar chart;

representing a first subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as a plurality of rectangular boxes projecting from a two-dimensional grid, each rectangular box having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given rectangular box bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given rectangular box;

wherein a first dimension and a second dimension of the three-dimensional data value specify a two-dimensional location within the two-dimensional grid, and a third dimension specifies the height of the given rectangular box above the two-dimensional grid;

representing a second subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as non-rectangular shapes projecting from the two-dimensional grid and interspersed between the plurality of rectangular boxes, each non-rectangular shape having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given non-rectangular shape bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given non-rectangular shape;

wherein interspersing the non-rectangular shapes between the plurality of rectangular boxes involves alternating the non-rectangular shapes with the plurality of rectangular boxes, so that larger data values represented by the non-rectangular shapes do not obscure smaller data values represented by the rectangular shapes;

computing a three-dimensional view of the two-dimensional grid, including the plurality of rectangular boxes and the non-rectangular shapes; and

outputting the three-dimensional view to a display device.

15. An apparatus that generates a bar chart to display three-dimensional data values, comprising:

an input that receives a set of three-dimensional data values to be displayed in the bar chart;

a rectangular box generator that represents a first subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as a plurality of rectangular boxes projecting from a two-dimensional grid, each rectangular box having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given rectangular box bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given rectangular box;

wherein a first dimension and a second dimension of the three-dimensional data value specify a two-dimensional location within the two-dimensional grid, and a third dimension specifies the height of the given rectangular box above the two-dimensional grid;

a non-rectangular shape generator that represents a second subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as non-rectangular shapes projecting from the two-dimensional grid and interspersed between the plurality of rectangular boxes, each non-rectangular shape having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given non-rectangular shape bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given non-rectangular shape;

wherein the non-rectangular shape generator is configured to intersperse the non-rectangular shapes between the plurality of rectangular boxes by alternating the non-rectangular shapes with the plurality of rectangular boxes, so that larger data values represented by the non-rectangular shapes do not obscure smaller data values represented by the rectangular shapes;

a computing engine that computes a three-dimensional view of the two-dimensional grid, including the plurality of rectangular boxes and the non-rectangular shapes; and

a display device that displays the perspective view.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the computing engine is configured to render a bitmap of the three-dimensional view.

17. A method for displaying a bar chart of three-dimensional data values, comprising:

receiving a command to display the bar chart;

receiving a set of three-dimensional data values to be displayed in the bar chart;

representing a first subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as a plurality of rectangular boxes projecting from a two-dimensional grid, each rectangular box having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given rectangular box bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given rectangular box;

wherein a first dimension and a second dimension of the three-dimensional data value specify a two-dimensional location within the two-dimensional grid, and a third dimension specifies the height of the given rectangular box above the two-dimensional grid; and

representing a second subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as non-rectangular shapes projecting from the two-dimensional grid and interspersed between the plurality of rectangular boxes, each non-rectangular shape having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given non-rectangular shape bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given non-rectangular shape;

wherein interspersing the non-rectangular shapes between the plurality of rectangular boxes involves alternating the non-rectangular shapes with the plurality of rectangular boxes, so that larger data values represented by the non-rectangular shapes do not obscure smaller data values represented by the rectangular shapes.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein representing the second subset of data values includes representing the second subset of data values as tetrahedra.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the tetrahedra are oriented so that a given tetrahedron is balanced on a lower edge, parallel to a left-right axis of the three dimensional bar chart, with an upper orthogonal edge parallel to a fore-aft axis.

20. A method for displaying a bar chart of three-dimensional data values, comprising:

receiving a command to display the bar chart;

receiving a set of three-dimensional data values to be displayed in the bar chart;

representing a first subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as a first shape projecting from a two-dimensional grid, each first shape having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given first shape bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given first shape;

wherein a first dimension and a second dimension of the three-dimensional data value specify a two-dimensional location within the two-dimensional grid, and a third dimension specifies the height of the given rectangular box above the two-dimensional grid; and

representing a second subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as a second shape projecting from the two-dimensional grid and interspersed between the first shapes, each second shape having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given second shape bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given second shape;

wherein interspersing the second shapes between the first shapes involves alternating the second shapes with the first shapes, so that larger data values represented by the non-rectangular shapes do not obscure smaller data values represented by the rectangular shapes.

21. A method for generating a bar chart of three-dimensional data values, comprising:

receiving a set of three-dimensional data values to be displayed in the bar chart;

representing the set of three-dimensional data values as a plurality of shapes projecting from a two-dimensional grid, each shape in the plurality having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given shape bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given shape, so that shapes representing larger data values represented by non-rectangular shapes do not obscure shapes representing smaller data values;

wherein a first dimension and a second dimension of the three-dimensional data value specify a two-dimensional location within the two-dimensional grid, and a third dimension specifies the height of the given shape above the two-dimensional grid;

wherein the plurality of shapes includes at least one tetrahedron balanced on a lower edge, parallel to a left-right axis of the two-dimensional grid, with an upper orthogonal edge parallel to a fore-aft axis

computing a three-dimensional view of the two-dimensional grid, including the plurality of shapes; and

outputting the three-dimensional view to a display device.

22. A method for generating a bar chart of three-dimensional data values, comprising:

receiving a set of three-dimensional data values to be displayed in the bar chart;

representing a first subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as a plurality of tetrahedra projecting from a two-dimensional grid, each tetrahedron having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given tetrahedron bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given tetrahedron;

representing a second subset of three-dimensional data values from the set as a plurality of non-tetrahedral shapes projecting from the two-dimensional grid and interspersed between the plurality of tetrahedra, each non-tetrahedral shape having a height above the two-dimensional grid, so that a height of a given non-tetrahedral shape bears a functional relationship to a three-dimensional data value being displayed by the given non-tetrahedral shape;

wherein interspersing the non-tetrahedral shapes between the plurality of tetrahedra involves alternating the non-tetrahedral shapes with the plurality of tetrahedra, so that smaller data values represented by the non-tetrahedral shapes are not obscured by larger data values represented by the tetrahedral shapes;

wherein a first dimension and a second dimension of the three-dimensional data value specify a two-dimensional location within the two-dimensional grid, and a third dimension specifies the height of the given non-tetrahedral shape above the two-dimensional grid;

computing a three-dimensional view of the two-dimensional grid, including the plurality of tetrahedra and the plurality of non-tetrahedral shapes; and

outputting the three-dimensional view to a display device.