Interactive business data visualization system

• US 6,995,768 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2001
• Issued: 02/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daedalus Blue LLC
• Original Assignee: Cognos Incorporated (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Jou, Stephan F., Campbell, Don, Ballantyne, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CUNNINGHAM, GREGORY F
• Application Number:
  US09/852,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/440, 345/440.1, 345/440.2, 345441-443, 345/473, 345/589, 345/593, 345/594, 345/595, 707/100, 707/903
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/545 Gui
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications

Abstract

An interactive system for visualizing business data organized according to the dimensional model allows to combine data from more than one data source and present the data in the form of a graphical, multi-metric data visualization. The visualizations are hierarchically structured and built from visualization elements including, in ascending order of hierarchy, charts, panels, scenes and sheets. The system provides a large variety of two- and three-dimensional visualization elements, mostly predefined charts, which can be combined in any number into fully customized visualizations. In a preferred embodiment, a visualization is built by the system, which prompts the user to select data sources, data items to be visualized, and certain features of the presentation layout. In response to the user input, the system generates a number of candidate visualizations and presents them to the user for selection in descending order of preference, based on numerical scores assigned to the candidate visualizations by a scoring algorithm. The data to be visualized can be filtered, drilled down for details, or presented in a series of consecutive visualizations, to create an animation effect.

Claims

1. An interactive system for visualizing business data organized according to a dimensional model, said system comprising:

a. means for retrieving data from at least one dimensional data source;

b. means for converting said retrieved data into a graphical form;

c. means for presenting said converted data to a user as a hierarchically organized graphical multi-metric visualization combining data from more than one data source, said hierarchy of visualization elements including, in descending order, sheets, scenes, panels, and charts, said chart being a component of said panel, said panel being a component of said scene, said scene being a component of said sheet said sheet being a component of said visualization; and

d. means for prompting a user to select data and layout features,

said converting means generating a number of candidate visualizations based on said selected data and said selected layout features, and numerically evaluating said candidate visualizations for their visualizing quality using a scoring algorithm, wherein said scoring algorithm includes heuristic rules,

said presenting means presenting said candidate visualizations to a user for selection in a ranked order based on numerical values scored.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the values scored are presented to a user as a relative rating.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said relative rating is a five star rating.

4. An interactive system for visualizing business data organized according to a dimensional model, said system comprising:

a. means for retrieving data from at least one dimensional data source;

b. means for converting said retrieved data into a graphical form; and

c. means for presenting said converted data to a user as a hierarchically organized graphical multi-metric visualization combining data from more than one data source, said hierarchy of visualization elements including, in descending order, sheets, scenes, panels, and charts, said chart being a component of said panel, said panel being a component of said scene, said scene being a component of said sheet, said sheet being a component of said visualization,

wherein said visualization comprises at least one visualization element, said visualization element is a two- or three-dimensional map, said map has data linked thereto, and said linked data are color-coded, using a discrete color palette defined by a user.

5. An interactive system for visualizing business data organized according to a dimensional model, said system comprising:

a. means for retrieving data from at least one dimensional data source;

b. means for converting said retrieved data into a graphical form; and

c. means for presenting said converted data to a user as a hierarchically organized graphical multi-metric visualization combining data from more than one data source, said hierarchy of visualization elements including, in descending order, sheets, scenes, panels, and charts, said chart being a component of said panel, said panel being a component of said scene, said scene being a component of said sheet, said sheet being a component of said visualization,

wherein said visualization comprises at least one visualization element, and said visualization element is a scorecard created using a two- or three-dimensional parallel coordinate chart or a swatch chart.

6. An interactive system for visualizing business data organized according to a dimensional model, said system comprising:

a. means for retrieving data from at least one dimensional data source;

b. means for converting said retrieved data into a graphical form;

c. means for presenting said converted data to a user as a hierarchically organized graphical multi-metric visualization combining data from more than one data source, said hierarchy of visualization elements including, in descending order, sheets, scenes, panels, and charts, said chart being a component of said panel, said panel being a component of said scene, said scene being a component of said sheet said sheet being a component of said visualization; and

d. a filter being added to said visualization for filtering said data, said filter being selected from the group consisting of a check filter, a radio filter, a range filter, and an animation filter,

wherein said visualization comprises at least one visualization element, and said visualization element is a two- or three-dimensional map having color-coded data linked thereto and wherein said data are coded using a discrete color palette.

7. A method of visualizing business data organized according to a dimensional model, said method comprising the steps of:

a. retrieving data from at least one dimensional data source;

b. converting said retrieved data into a graphical form;

c. presenting said converted data to a user as a hierarchically organized graphical multi-metric visualization combining data from more than one data source, said hierarchy of visualization elements including, in descending order, sheets, scenes, panels, and charts, said chart being a component of said panel, said panel being a component of said scene, said scene being a component of said sheet, said sheet being a component of said visualization; and

d. prompting a user to select data and layout features,

said converting step generating a number of candidate visualizations based on said selected data and said selected layout features, and numerically evaluating said candidate visualizations for their visualizing quality using a scoring algorithm, wherein said scoring algorithm includes heuristic rules,

said presenting step presenting said candidate visualizations to a user for selection in a ranked order based on numerical values scored.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said values scored are presented to a user as a relative rating.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said relative rating is a five star rating.

10. A method of visualizing business data organized according to a dimensional model, said method comprising the steps of:

a. retrieving data from at least one dimensional data source;

b. converting said retrieved data into a graphical form; and

c. presenting said converted data to a user as a hierarchically organized graphical multi-metric visualization combining data from more than one data source, said hierarchy of visualization elements including, in descending order, sheets, scenes, panels, and charts, said chart being a component of said panel, said panel being a component of said scene, said scene being a component of said sheet, said sheet being a component of said visualization,

wherein said visualization comprises at least one visualization element, said visualization element is a two- or three-dimensional map, said map has data linked thereto, and said linked data are color-coded, using a discrete color palette defined by a user.

11. A method of visualizing business data organized according to a dimensional model, said method comprising the steps of:

a. retrieving data from at least one dimensional data source;

b. converting said retrieved data into a graphical form; and

c. presenting said converted data to a user as a hierarchically organized graphical multi-metric visualization combining data from more than one data source, said hierarchy of visualization elements including, in descending order, sheets, scenes, panels, and charts, said chart being a component of said panel, said panel being a component of said scene, said scene being a component of said sheet, said sheet being a component of said visualization,

wherein said visualization comprises at least one visualization element, and said visualization element is a scorecard created using a two- or three-dimensional parallel coordinate chart or a swatch chart.

12. A method of visualizing business data organized according to a dimensional model, said method comprising the steps of:

a. retrieving data from at least one dimensional data source;

b. converting said retrieved data into a graphical form;

c. presenting said converted data to a user as a hierarchically organized graphical multi-metric visualization combining data from more than one data source, said hierarchy of visualization elements including, in descending order, sheets, scenes, panels, and charts, said chart being a component of said panel, said panel being a component of said scene, said scene being a component of said sheet, said sheet being a component of said visualization; and

d. providing a filter to said visualization for filtering said data, said filter being selected from the group consisting of a check filter, a radio filter, a range filter, and an animation filter,

wherein said visualization comprises at least one visualization element, and said visualization element is a two- or three-dimensional map having color-coded data linked thereto and wherein said data are coded using a discrete color palette.