System and method for data visualization using a synchronous display of sequential time data and on-map planning

• US 7,688,322 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uncharted Software, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Uncharted Software, Inc.
• Inventors: Hall, Eric, Kapler, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): GOOD JOHNSON, MOTILEWA
• Application Number:
  US11/333,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20060238538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/419, 715/700
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A system and method is provided for coordinating display of synchronized spatial information and time-variant information on a visual interface as a visual representation of a multi-dimensional planned process. The system and method comprise a data store configured for storing the time-variant information, such that the data store is further configured for storing the spatial information as a plurality of data elements for representing visual elements for display in the visual representation with respect to a reference surface. Each of the visual elements is operatively coupled to at least one sequenced element of a plurality of sequenced elements. The system and method also include a synchronization module coupled to the data store and is configured for synchronizing a displayed state on the visual interface of the spatial information with a displayed state on the visual interface of the time-variant information. The time-variant information includes timeline data including at least two of the plurality of sequenced elements having overlapping time spans with respect to a common temporal reference frame, and includes a marker for facilitating navigation of the plurality of sequenced elements with respect to the common temporal reference frame. Changes in the displayed state of the time-variant information are reflected in changes to the displayed state of the spatial information.

Claims

1. A system for coordinating display of synchronized spatial information and time-variant information on a visual interface as a visual representation of a multi-dimensional planned process, the system comprising:

a conversion module configured for converting sequencing charts to extract and format timeline data and chart data, the timeline data including at least two of a plurality of sequenced elements having overlapping time spans with respect to a common temporal reference frame and the chart data including interdependencies between the sequenced elements;

a data store configured for storing the time-variant information as the timeline data and the chart data, the data store further configured for storing the spatial information as a plurality of data elements for representing visual elements for display in the visual representation with respect to a reference surface in the visual representation, each of the visual elements operatively coupled to at least one sequenced element of a plurality of sequenced elements; and

a synchronization module coupled to the data store and configured for synchronizing a displayed state on the visual interface of the spatial information with a displayed state on the visual interface of the time-variant information, the time-variant information including the timeline data, the chart data, and including a marker for facilitating navigation of the plurality of sequenced elements with respect to the common temporal reference frame;

wherein changes in the displayed state of the time-variant information are reflected in changes to the displayed state of the spatial information such that the navigation through the timeline data is synchronized with changes in the display of the visual elements representing the data elements and the chart data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein chart data is synchronously displayed on the visual interface along with the time-variant information and the spatial information, the chart data representing dynamic definitions of data objects, such that each of the visual elements and their corresponding chart data is operatively coupled to said at least one sequenced element.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising an association module configured for updating the data store of the time-variant information and the corresponding chart data and spatial information based on user selection of at least one of the displayed visual elements in the visual representation with at least one of the displayed sequenced elements of the time variant information.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a navigation module for manipulating the marker to effect navigation of the timeline data.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the marker is displayed as a movable icon in the context of the common temporal reference frame.

6. The system of claim 4 further comprising the navigation module configured for facilitating adjustment of the display of the timeline data to account for a variable time scale.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the time scale is chosen based on at least one element selected from the group comprising:

the sequenced elements; and

the data elements.

8. The system of claim 4 further comprising an association module configured for updating the data store of the time-variant information and the spatial information based on a data stream when received from a data source coupled to the association module.

9. The system of claim 4 further comprising an association module configured for updating the data store of the time-variant information and the spatial information based on user manipulation of at least one of the displayed visual and sequenced elements.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the association module is configured for associating the selected at least one of the displayed visual elements with the at least one of the displayed sequenced elements using a drag and drop user interface operation.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the simultaneous update includes association of a selected one of the data elements with each of the sequenced elements of the selected group of the sequenced elements.

12. The system of claim 4, wherein the data elements of the plurality of data elements are selected from the group comprising:

battlefield units;

terrain;

routes on the terrain;

routes above the terrain; and

terrain markings, and the chart data contains detailed parameter definitions of the data elements and their interdependencies.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein the multi-dimensional planned process is selected from the group comprising:

a manufacturing process;

a theatrical production;

a battlefield simulation;

an engineering project; and

a real-time battlefield scene.

14. The system of claim 4, wherein the sequencing charts are a Gantt chart data source.

15. The system of claim 4, wherein the sequenced elements of the plurality of sequenced elements are selected from the group comprising:

actions;

resources;

tasks;

process step; and

events.

16. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the visual elements is a route shown on or above the geographic terrain and the route is associated with at least one of the plurality of sequenced elements.

17. A method for coordinating display of synchronized spatial information and time-variant information on a visual interface as a visual representation of a multi-dimensional planned process, the method comprising the steps of:

converting sequencing charts to extract and format timeline data and chart data, the timeline data including at least two of a plurality of sequenced elements having overlapping time spans with respect to a common temporal reference frame and the chart data including interdependencies between the sequenced elements;

accessing the time-variant information from a data store including timeline data and the chart data a marker for facilitating navigation of the plurality of sequenced elements with respect to the common temporal reference frame;

accessing the spatial information from a data store including a plurality of data elements for representing visual elements for display in the visual representation with respect to a reference surface, each of the visual elements operatively coupled to at least one sequenced element of a plurality of sequenced elements; and

synchronizing through use of the marker a displayed state on the visual interface of the spatial information with a displayed state on the visual interface of the time-variant information including the timeline data and the chart data;

wherein changes in the displayed state of the time-variant information are reflected in changes to the displayed state of the spatial information such that the navigation through the timeline data is synchronized with changes in the display of the visual elements representing the data elements and the chart data.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of synchronously displaying chart data on the visual interface along with the time-variant information and the spatial information, the chart data representing dynamic definitions of data objects, such that each of the visual elements and their corresponding chart data is operatively coupled to said at least one sequenced element.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of updating the data store of the time-variant information and the corresponding chart data and spatial information based on user selection of at least one of the displayed visual elements in the visual representation with at least one of the displayed sequenced elements of the time variant information.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising a navigation module for manipulating the marker to effect navigation of the timeline data.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the marker is displayed as a movable icon in the context of the common temporal reference frame.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of adjusting of the display of the timeline data to account for a variable time scale.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the time scale is chosen based on at least one element selected from the group comprising:

the sequenced elements; and

the data elements.

24. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of updating the data store of the time-variant information and the spatial information based on a data stream when received from a data source coupled to the association module.

25. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of updating the data store of the time-variant information and the spatial information based on user manipulation of at least one of the displayed visual and sequenced elements.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the updating step simultaneously updates a selected group of the sequenced elements.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the simultaneous update includes association of a selected one of the data elements with each of the sequenced elements of the selected group of the sequenced elements.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the data elements of the plurality of data elements are selected from the group comprising:

battlefield units;

terrain;

routes; and

terrain markings.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the multi-dimensional planned process is selected from the group comprising:

a manufacturing process;

a theatrical production;

a battlefield simulation;

an engineering project; and

a real-time battlefield scene.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the sequencing charts are a Gantt chart data source.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the sequenced elements of the plurality of sequenced elements are selected from the group comprising:

actions;

resources;

tasks;

process step; and

events.