Computer-related method, system, and program product for controlling data visualization in external dimension(s)

• US 6,480,194 B1
• Filed: 11/12/1996
• Issued: 11/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Silicon Graphics Incorporated (Graphics Properties Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hawkes, John R., Xiong, Rebecca W., Schkolnick, Mario, Sang'udi, Gerald P., Bott, Ross A., Tesler, Joel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCUSO, HUEDUNG XUAN CAO
• Application Number:
  US08/748,548
• Time in Patent Office: 2,191 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/441, 345/473, 345/474, 345/475, 345/419
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90328 using search space presentation or visualization, e.g. category or range presentation and selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour

Abstract

A computer graphics display method and system for controlling data visualization in at least one external dimension is provided which allows better querying and navigation of data in external dimension space. A data visualization is displayed in a first display window. A summary window provides summary information on data for the data visualization across one or more external dimensions. First and second controllers are displayed for controlling the variation of the data visualization in respective first and second external dimensions. A user queries the data visualization in the first and second external dimensions by selecting a point in the summary window. A user navigates through the data visualization in the first and second external dimensions by defining a path in the summary window. Grid points are also displayed in the summary window to facilitate data queries and navigation based on actual data points. The first and second controllers can be first and second sliders, such as, slide buttons, dials, or any other type of input. An animation control panel, including tape-drive controls, a path control, and a speed control, controls an animation of the data visualization over a selected navigation path through external dimension space.

Claims

1. A computer graphics display system for controlling data visualization in at least one external dimension using a graphical user-interface, comprising:

a first display window for displaying a data visualization;

a summary display window containing a summary of data for said data visualization over at least one external dimension;

means for permitting a user to select a path in said summary window to navigate through said data visualization over said at least one external dimension;

means for displaying an animation of said data visualization based on said selected path, wherein said animation is displayed over actual and interpolated data points approximately along said selected path with respect to said summary window; and

means for permitting the user to pause said animation, wherein said paused animation is displayed over the closest actual points along said selected path with respect to said summary window.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for permitting the user to select said path includes permitting the user to select a path by selecting start and end points in said summary window.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for permitting the user to select said path includes permitting the user to select a path by tracing a free-form path in said summary window.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for permitting the user to select said path includes permitting the user to select a path by selecting a start point in said summary window and moving at least one of said first and second controllers to direct said path.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said means for permitting the user to select said path includes permitting the user to select a predefined path.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an animation control panel for controlling animation of said data visualization along a path through said at least one external dimension.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said data visualization includes at least one of a map, graph, chart, histogram, figure, virtual reality data representation, information landscape, hierarchy, and tree.

8. A method for controlling data visualization in at least one external dimension using a graphical user-interface, comprising the steps of:

displaying a data visualization in a first display window;

displaying a summary of data for said data visualization over said at least one external dimension in a summary display window;

permitting a user to select a path in said summary window to navigate through said data visualization over said at least one external dimension;

displaying an animation of said data visualization based on said selected path, wherein said animation is displayed over actual and interpolated data points approximately along said selected path made with respect to said summary window; and

permitting the user to pause said animation, wherein said paused animation is displayed over the closest actual data points along said selected path with respect to said summary window.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of permitting the user to select said path includes permitting the user to select a path by selecting start and end points in said summary window.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of permitting the user to select said path includes permitting the user to select a path by tracing a free-form path in said summary window.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of permitting the user to select said path includes permitting the user to select a path by selecting a start point in said summary window and moving at least one of said first and second controllers to direct said path.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of permitting the user to select said path includes permitting the user to select a predefined path.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of permitting the user to select said path includes an animation control panel.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein said data visualization includes at least one of a map, graph, chart, histogram, figure, virtual reality data representation, information landscape, hierarchy, and tree.

15. A system for controlling data visualization in at least one external dimension using a graphical user-interface, comprising:

means for displaying a data visualization in a first display window;

means for displaying a summary of data for said data visualization over said at least one external dimension in a summary display window;

means for permitting a user to select a path in said summary window to navigate through said data visualization over said at least one external dimension;

means for displaying an animation of said datam visualization based on said selected path, wherein said animation is displayed over actual and interpolated data points approximately along said selected path made with respect to said summary window; and

means for permitting the user to pause said animation, wherein said paused animation is displayed over the closest actual data points along said selected path with respect to said summary window.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for permitting the user to select said path includes means for permitting the user to select a path by selecting start and end points in said summary window.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for permitting the user to select said path includes means for permitting the user to select a path by tracing a free-form path in said summary window.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for permitting the user to select said path includes means for permitting the user to select a path by selecting a start point in said summary window and means for moving at least one of said first and second controllers to direct said path.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for permitting the user to select said path includes means for permitting the user to select a predefined path.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein said means for permitting the user to select said path includes an animation control panel.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein said data visualization includes at least one of a map, graph, chart, histogram, figure, virtual reality data representation, information landscape, hierarchy, and tree.

22. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor in a computer system to control a data visualization in at least one external dimension using a graphical user-interface, the computer programm logic comprising:

means for enabling the processor to display a data visualization in a first display window;

means for enabling the processor to display a summary of data for said data visualization over said at least one external dimension in a summary display window;

means for enabling the processor to permit a user to select a path in said summary window to navigate through said data visualization over said at least one external dimension;

means for enabling the processor to display an animation of said data visualization based on said selected path, wherein said animation is displayed over actual and interpolated data points approximately along said selected path made with respect to said summary window; and

means for enabling the processor to permit the user to pause said animation, wherein said paused animation is displayed over the closest actual data points along said selected path with respect to said summary window.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said means for enabling the processor to permit the user to select said path includes means for enabling the processor to permit the user to select a path by selecting start and end points in said summary window.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said means for enabling the processor to permit the user to select said path includes means for enabling the processor to permit the user to select a path by tracing a free-form path in said summary window.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said means for enabling the processor to permit the user to select said path includes means for enabling the processor to permit the user to select a path by selecting a start point in said summary window and for moving at least one of said first and second controllers to direct said path.

26. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said means for enabling the processor to permit the user to select said path includes means for enabling the processor to permit the user to select a predefined path.

27. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said means for enabling the processor to permit the user to select said path includes an animation control panel.

28. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said data visualization includes at least one of a map, graph, chart, histogram, figure, virtual reality data representation, information landscape, hierarchy, and tree.