Modifying the graphical display of data entities and relational database structures

• US 7,703,028 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tomlyn, Craig R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu; Tadesse
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAUDHURI, ANITA
• Application Number:
  US10/319,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20040113942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,686 Days
• Field of Search: 345/440, 345/440.1, 345/804, 715/762, 715/764, 715/765
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer products that efficiently present large amounts of entity information with a graphical display that retains all or most of the relevant contextual information. More particularly, the preferred embodiment of the present invention enables efficient analysis of data with a graphical display that minimizes distortion of the text in the graphical display, that retains contextual information associated with data objects in the graphical display, and that positions the objects to optimally represent relational database associations.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, said computer including a processor and having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with data, said method comprising:

splitting said graphical display into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

displaying a star schema in said graphical display by displaying dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and additional dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said right area and by displaying connecting lines across said rectangles in the graphical display to illustrate associations between said facts object and said dimension objects, wherein said objects in each area are manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said objects in each other area;

accepting input that enlarges said at least one object in one area, wherein said at least one object is one of said dimension objects and facts objects; and

in response to enlarging said at least one object in said one area;

enlarging said display of said one area that includes said enlarged at least one object;

realigning vertically and horizontally other objects within said enlarged area relative to said enlarged at least one object in said enlarged area;

moving said display of said each other area including at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area to create more space on the graphical display for said enlarged area, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said enlarged area; and

realigning said objects in said each other area with the realigned other objects within said enlarged area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate alignment of said other objects within said each other area.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising including vertical movement of said at least one object.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising including horizontal movement of said at least one object.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:

including said at least one moved object in another area; and

aligning said at least one moved object within said another area.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising including at least one additional object that is associated with said data within said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

6. A computer-implemented method, said computer including a processor and having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with data, said method comprising:

splitting said graphical display into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

displaying a star schema in said graphical display by displaying dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and additional dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said right area and by displaying connecting lines across said rectangles in the graphical display to illustrate associations between said facts object and said dimension objects, wherein said objects in each area are manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said objects in each other area;

accepting input that reduces said at least one object in one area, wherein said at least one object is one of said dimension objects and facts objects; and

in response to reducing said at least one object in said one area;

reducing said display of said one area that includes said reduced at least one object;

realigning vertically and horizontally other objects within said reduced area relative to said reduced at least one object in said reduced area;

moving said display of said each other area including at least one object that is not included in said reduced area in response to reduction of the display of said reduced area on the graphical device, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said reduced area; and

realigning said objects in said each other area with the realigned other objects within said reduced area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate alignment of said other objects within said each other area.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising including vertical movement of said at least one object.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising including horizontal movement of said at least one object.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising:

including said at least one moved object in another area; and

aligning said at least one moved object within said another area.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 further comprising including at least one additional object that is associated with said data within said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

11. A computer-implemented method, said computer including a processor and having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, said method comprising:

splitting said graphical display into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

displaying a star schema in said graphical display by displaying at least one dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and at least one additional dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said right area, wherein said at least one object in each area is manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said at least one object in each other area;

displaying in at least one area said at least two objects in said graphical display;

accepting input that enlarges at least one of said at least two objects in one area; and

in response to enlarging said at least one object in said one area;

enlarging said display of said one area that includes said enlarged at least one object;

moving and realigning vertically and horizontally at least one of said at least two objects that is not enlarged relative to said enlarged at least one object in said enlarged area thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects;

moving said display of said each other area to create more space on the graphical display for said enlarged area;

realigning said objects in said each other area with the realigned other objects within said enlarged area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate movement and alignment of at least one of said at least two objects that is not enlarged; and

displaying said relationship on said graphical display by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said enlarged area with said at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising aligning said at least one moved object within said other area.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising:

including at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said enlarged area; and

moving said at least one object not included in said enlarged area, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said enlarged area.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, the method further comprising representing said at least two entities with said at least two objects.

15. A computer-implemented method, said computer including a processor and having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, said method comprising:

splitting said graphical display into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

displaying a star schema in said graphical display by displaying at least one dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and at least one additional dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said right area, wherein said at least one object in each area is manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said at least one object in each other area;

displaying in at least one area said at least two objects in said graphical display;

accepting input that reduces at least one of said at least two objects in one area; and

in response to reducing said at least one object in said one area;

reducing said display of said one area that includes said reduced at least one object;

moving and realigning vertically and horizontally at least one of said at least two objects that is not reduced relative to said reduced at least one object in said reduced area thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects;

moving said display of said each other area in response to reduction of the display of said reduced area on the graphical device;

realigning said objects in said each other area with the realigned other objects within said reduced area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate movement and alignment of at least one of said at least two objects that is not reduced; and

displaying said relationship on said graphical display by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said reduced area with said at least one object that is not included in said reduced area.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising aligning said at least one moved object within said other area.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

including at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said reduced area; and

moving said at least one object not included in said reduced area, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said reduced area.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, the method further comprising representing said at least two entities with said at least two objects.

19. A computer system including a processor for enabling efficient analysis of data in said computer system, said computer system having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with said data, said computer system comprising:

said graphical display is split into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

said graphical display displays a star schema by displaying dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and additional dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said right area and by displaying connecting lines across said rectangles in the graphical display to illustrate associations between said facts object and said dimension objects, wherein said objects in each area are manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said objects in each other area;

an input device accepts input that enlarges said at least one object in one area, wherein said at least one object is one of said dimension objects and facts objects; and

in response to said at least one object in said one area being enlarged;

said display of said one area that includes said enlarged at least one object is enlarged;

other objects within said enlarged area are realigned vertically and horizontally relative to said enlarged at least one object in said enlarged area;

said display of said each other area including at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area is moved to create more space on the graphical display for said enlarged area, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said enlarged area; and

said objects in said each other area are realigned with the realigned other objects within said enlarged area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate alignment of said other objects within said each other area.

20. The computer system of claim 19 further comprising said at least one object that is vertically moved.

21. The computer system of claim 19 further comprising said at least one object that is horizontally moved.

22. The computer system of claim 19 further comprising:

said at least one moved object is included in another area; and

said at least one moved object is aligned within said another area.

23. The computer system of claim 19 further comprising:

at least one additional object that is associated with said data; and

said at least one additional object that is included in said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

24. A computer system including a processor for enabling efficient analysis of data in said computer system, said computer system having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with said data, said computer system comprising:

said graphical display is split into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

said graphical display displays a star schema by displaying dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and additional dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said right area and by displaying connecting lines across said rectangles in the graphical display to illustrate associations between said facts object and said dimension objects, wherein said objects in each area are manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said objects in each other area;

an input device accepts input that reduces said at least one object in one area, wherein said at least one object is one of said dimension objects and facts objects; and

in response to said at least one object in said one area being reduced;

said display of said one area that includes said reduced at least one object is reduced;

other objects are realigned vertically and horizontally within said reduced area relative to said reduced at least one object in said reduced area;

said display of said each other area including at least one object that is not included in said reduced area is moved in response to reduction of the display of said reduced area on the graphical device, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said reduced area; and

said objects in said each other area are realigned with the realigned other objects within said reduced area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate alignment of said other objects within said each other area.

25. The computer system of claim 24 further comprising said at least one object that is vertically moved.

26. The computer system of claim 24 further comprising said at least one object that is horizontally moved.

27. The computer system of claim 24 further comprising:

said at least one moved object is included in another area; and

said at least one moved object is aligned within said another area.

28. The computer system of claim 24 further comprising:

at least one additional object that is associated with said data; and

said at least one additional object that is included in said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

29. A computer system including a processor and having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, said computer system comprising:

said graphical display is split into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

said graphical displays a star schema by displaying at least one dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and at least one additional dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said right area, wherein said at least one object in each area is manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said at least one object in each other area;

said graphical display displays in at least one area said at least two objects;

an input device accepts input that enlarges at least one of said at least two objects in one area; and

in response to said at least one object in said one area being enlarged;

said display of said one area that includes said enlarged at least one object is enlarged;

at least one of said at least two objects that is not enlarged are moved and realigned vertically and horizontally relative to said enlarged at least one object in said enlarged area thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects;

said display of said each other area is moved to create more space on the graphical display for said enlarged area;

said objects in said each other area are realigned with the realigned other objects within said enlarged area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate movement and alignment of at least one of said at least two objects that is not enlarged; and

said graphical display displays said relationship by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said enlarged area with said at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area.

30. The computer system of claim 29, further comprising said at least one moved object that is aligned within said other area.

31. The computer system of claim 29, further comprising at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said enlarged area and that is moved, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said enlarged area.

32. The computer system of claim 29, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, the computer system further comprising said at least two entities that are represented by said at least two objects.

33. A computer system including a processor and having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, said computer system comprising:

said graphical display is split into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

said graphical display displays a star schema by displaying at least one dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and at least one additional dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said right area, wherein said at least one object in each area is manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said at least one object in each other area;

said graphical display displays in at least one area said at least two objects;

an input device accepts input that reduces at least one of said at least two objects in one area; and

in response to said at least one object in said one area being reduced;

said display of said one area that includes said reduced at least one object is reduced;

at least one of said at least two objects that is not reduced is moved and realigned vertically and horizontally relative to said reduced at least one object in said reduced area thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects;

said display of said each other area is moved in response to reduction of the display of said reduced area on the graphical device;

said objects in said each other area are realigned with the realigned other objects within said reduced area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate movement and alignment of at least one of said at least two objects that is not reduced; and

said graphical display displays said relationship by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said reduced area with said at least one object that is not included in said reduced area.

34. The computer system of claim 33, further comprising said at least one moved object that is aligned within said other area.

35. The computer system of claim 33, further comprising at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said reduced area and that is moved, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said reduced area.

36. The computer system of claim 33, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, the computer system further comprising said at least two entities that are represented by said at least two objects.

37. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program usable medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a computer for enabling efficient analysis of data in said computer system, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with said data, wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform:

splitting said graphical display into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

displaying a star schema in said graphical display by displaying dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and additional dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said right area and by displaying connecting lines across said rectangles in the graphical display to illustrate associations between said facts object and said dimension objects, wherein said objects in each area are manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said objects in each other area;

accepting input that enlarges said at least one object in one area, wherein said at least one object is one of said dimension objects and facts objects; and

in response to enlarging said at least one object in said one area;

enlarging said display of said one area that includes said enlarged at least one object;

realigning vertically and horizontally other objects within said enlarged area relative to said enlarged at least one object in said enlarged area;

moving said display of said each other area including at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area to create more space on the graphical display for said enlarged area, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said enlarged area; and

realigning said objects in said each other area with the realigned other objects within said enlarged area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate alignment of said other objects within said each other area.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 37 wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform including vertical movement of said at least one object.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 37 wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform including horizontal movement of said at least one object.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 37 wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform:

including said at least one moved object in another area; and

aligning said at least one moved object within said another area.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 37 wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform including at least one additional object that is associated with said data within said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

42. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program usable medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a computer for enabling efficient analysis of data in said computer system, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least one object that is associated with said data, wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform:

splitting said graphical display into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

displaying a star schema in said graphical display by displaying dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and additional dimension objects including dimension tables that include attribute data in said right area and by displaying connecting lines across said rectangles in the graphical display to illustrate associations between said facts object and said dimension objects, wherein said objects in each area are manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said objects in each other area;

accepting input that reduces said at least one object in one area, wherein said at least one object is one of said dimension objects and facts objects; and

in response to reducing said at least one object in said one area;

reducing said display of said one area that includes said reduced at least one object;

realigning vertically and horizontally other objects within said reduced area relative to said reduced at least one object in said reduced area;

moving said display of said each other area including at least one object that is not included in said reduced area in response to reduction of the display of said reduced area on the graphical device, thereby enabling efficient analysis of said data associated with said at least one object that is included in said reduced area; and

realigning said objects in said each other area with the realigned other objects within said reduced area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate alignment of said other objects within said each other area.

43. The article of manufacture of claim 42 wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform including vertical movement of said at least one object.

44. The article of manufacture of claim 42 wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform including horizontal movement of said at least one object.

45. The article of manufacture of claim 42 wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform:

including said at least one moved object in another area; and

aligning said at least one moved object within said another area.

46. The article of manufacture of claim 42 wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform including at least one additional object that is associated with said data within said at least one object thereby enabling efficient analysis in a recursive manner of said data associated with said at least one additional object.

47. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program usable medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a computer, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform:

splitting said graphical display into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

displaying a star schema in said graphical display by displaying at least one dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and at least one additional dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said right area, wherein said at least one object in each area is manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said at least one object in each other area;

displaying in at least one area said at least two objects in said graphical display;

accepting input that enlarges at least one of said at least two objects in one area; and

in response to enlarging said at least one object in said one area;

enlarging said display of said one area that includes said enlarged at least one object;

moving and realigning vertically and horizontally at least one of said at least two objects that is not enlarged relative to said enlarged at least one object in said enlarged area thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects;

moving said display of said each other area to create more space on the graphical display for said enlarged area;

realigning said objects in said each other area with the realigned other objects within said enlarged area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate movement and alignment of at least one of said at least two objects that is not enlarged; and

displaying said relationship on said graphical display by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said enlarged area with said at least one object that is not included in said enlarged area.

48. The article of manufacture of claim 47, wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform aligning said at least one moved object within said other area.

49. The article of manufacture of claim 47, wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform:

including at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said enlarged area; and

moving said at least one object not included in said enlarged area, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said enlarged area.

50. The article of manufacture of claim 47, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform representing said at least two entities with said at least two objects.

51. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program usable medium storing instructions executable by a processor of a computer, said computer having a graphical display that includes at least two objects, said graphical display showing a relationship between said at least two objects, wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform:

splitting said graphical display into a left area forming a left rectangle, a center area forming a center rectangle, and a right area forming a right rectangle;

displaying a star schema in said graphical display by displaying at least one dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said left area, a facts object including a facts table that includes measurement data in said center area, and at least one additional dimension object including at least one dimension table that includes attribute data in said right area, wherein said at least one object in each area is manipulated independently of said other objects in said each area and said at least one object in each other area;

displaying in at least one area said at least two objects in said graphical display;

accepting input that reduces at least one of said at least two objects in one area; and

in response to reducing said at least one object in said one area;

reducing said display of said one area that includes said reduced at least one object;

moving and realigning vertically and horizontally at least one of said at least two objects that is not reduced relative to said reduced at least one object in said reduced area thereby showing said relationship between said at least two objects;

moving said display of said each other area in response to reduction of the display of said reduced area on the graphical device;

realigning said objects in said each other area with the realigned other objects within said reduced area, wherein positions of said objects in said each other area are adjusted in at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to accommodate movement and alignment of at least one of said at least two objects that is not reduced; and

displaying said relationship on said graphical display by including at least one connecting line that connects said at least one object in said reduced area with said at least one object that is not included in said reduced area.

52. The article of manufacture of claim 51, wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform aligning said at least one moved object within said other area.

53. The article of manufacture of claim 51, wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform:

including at least one object in said graphical display that is not included in said reduced area; and

moving said at least one object not included in said reduced area, thereby retaining said displayed relationship of said at least two objects that are included in said reduced area.

54. The article of manufacture of claim 51, said computer having data and at least two entities that are collections of said data, wherein said computer usable instructions when executed by the processor perform representing said at least two entities with said at least two objects.