Visualization of multi-dimensional data having an unbounded dimension

• US 6,819,344 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2001
• Issued: 11/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Robbins, Daniel C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chuong, Truc T
• Application Number:
  US09/804,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20020126121A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 365/771, 365/765, 365/734-738, 365/712, 365/713, 365/744-747, 365/721, 365/441, 345/848, 345/852, 345/853
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

An interactive visualization of stored data includes a representation of a three-dimensional generally helical path extending between spaced apart ends of the path. Selected parts of the stored data are mapped to corresponding parts of the helical path to facilitate visualization of the stored data. The stored data may include an unbounded dimension (e.g., time) that is mapped along the helical path. One or more user interface elements may be associated with the helical path to effect display of additional information associated with a selected part of the path.

Claims

1. A system to facilitate visualization of data having at least one substantially unbounded dimension, comprising:

at least one storage system operative to store the data; and

a graphic engine operative to access the stored data and characterize the stored data as a three-dimensional graphical representation, the graphical representation including an elongated generally helical path, the helical path having a plurality of segments corresponding to different aspects of the substantially unbounded dimension of the stored data, the substantially unbounded dimension corresponding to time, the helical path having associated periodic intervals with which the stored data is associated, wherein the periodic intervals extend between ends of the helical path and the helical path tapers as a three-dimensional spiral near at least one of the ends of the helical path to substantially constitute a conical envelope, and the stored data comprises programming data indicative of at least one of audio and visual programming and the graphical representation forms part of an interactive electronic program guide operative to visualize the programming data.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface associated with the graphic engine, the user interface operative to receive instructions based on a selection of a selectable element of the graphical representation, the graphic engine adjusting the graphical representation in response to instructions received by the user interface.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a mapping system associated with the storage system, the mapping system being operative to map selected data from the storage system to a corresponding part of the graphical representation, the graphic engine converting the selected data to the corresponding part of the graphical representation.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface associated with the graphic engine, the user interface operative to receive instructions based on a selection of part of the graphical representation, the graphic engine changing the graphical representation in response to instructions received by the user interface to visualize other aspects of associated programming data.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface element operative to select a user-controllable viewpoint of the graphical representation, the graphic engine being operative to manipulate the graphical representation to visualize the graphical representation based on the selected viewpoint.

6. A tool running as computer-executable instructions on a machine to facilitate interactive visualization of stored data, the tool comprising:

a graphic control system operative to generate a three-dimensional graphical representation of substantially all of the stored data having at least one substantially unbounded dimension and comprises programming data indicative of at least one of audio and visual programming, the graphical representation forms part of an interactive electronic program guide operative to visualize the programming data and includes a generally helical path having associated periodic intervals with which the stored data are associated, selected data of the substantially unbounded dimension of the stored data being mapped to different parts of the helical path, wherein the periodic intervals extend between ends of the helical path and a central part of the helical path axially tapers as a three-dimensional spiral path toward at least one of the ends to effectively describe a corresponding conical envelope; and

a user interface operative to receive instructions relative the graphical representation, the graphic control system being operative to manipulate the graphical representation based on instructions received by the user interface.

7. The tool of claim 6, further comprising a mapping system associated with the data storage system, the mapping system being operative to map selected stored data to a corresponding part of the graphical representation, the graphic control system converting the selected data to the corresponding part of the graphical representation.

8. The tool of claim 6, wherein the graphic control system is further operative to manipulate the graphical representation to visualize the graphical representation as seen along a user-selected viewpoint in response to corresponding activation of the user interface.

9. An interactive program guide, comprising:

a graphical user interface operative to visualize stored program data as an interactive three-dimensional graphical representation thereof having a generally helical path with spaced apart ends, the stored program data comprises programming data indicative of at least one of audio and visual programming, the graphical representation forms part of an interactive electronic program guide operative to visualize the programming data, and the generally helical path tapering as a three dimensional spiral path near at least one of the ends to effectively describe a conical envelope; and

at least one selectable user interface element along the helical path, the user interface element being associated with corresponding program data and operative to, when selected, effect further visualization of the corresponding program data.

10. The program guide of claim 9, wherein time is graphically represented as extending between the spaced apart ends of the helical path.

11. The program guide of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of selectable user interface elements along the helical path, wherein each selectable interval characterizes programming characteristics for a different time period.

12. The program guide of claim 9, wherein the helical path visually correlates the stored program data relative a substantially unbounded dimension of the stored program data.

13. The program guide of claim 12, wherein the at least one substantially unbounded dimension includes time.

14. The program guide claim 13, wherein at least one end portion of the helical path tapers as a three-dimensional spiral path axially in the direction of the at least one end, thereby representing an unbounded characteristic of the stored program data.

15. A system to facilitate visualization of data, comprising:

means for graphically representing stored data as an interactive three-dimensional generally helical path having spaced apart ends in which different parts of the stored data are mapped to different parts of the graphical representation, at least one of the spaced apart ends substantially describing a conical envelope, the stored data comprises programming data indicative of at least one of audio and visual programming, the graphical representation provides part of an interactive electronic program guide operative to visualize the programming data;

selection means for selecting part of the graphical representation; and

means for modifying the graphical representation based on part of the graphical representation being selected.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising means for mapping a substantially unbounded dimension of the stored data along the helical path.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the substantially unbounded dimension corresponds to time, the helical path having associated periodic intervals to which the stored data is mapped.

18. A method to visualize stored data, comprising:

accessing multi-dimensional data comprising programming data indicative of at least one of audio and visual programming;

generating a visualization based on at least some of the accessed data, the visualization comprising a representation of a three-dimensional generally helical path having spaced apart ends, at least one spaced apart end effectually circumscribing a conical envelope, the generated visualization providing part of an interactive electronic program guide operative to visualize the programming data;

mapping different parts of the accessed data to corresponding parts of the helical path; and

changing the visualization in response an interactive part of the visualization being selected.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the mapping further comprises mapping a substantially unbounded dimension of the stored data along the generally helical path.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the substantially unbounded dimension corresponds to time, the helical path having associated periodic intervals with which corresponding of stored data are associated.