Presenting data to a user in a three-dimensional table

• US 7,774,695 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kobylinski, Krzysztof R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, I CHAN
• Application Number:
  US11/382,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20070266308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 715/227, 715/212, 715/214, 715/848, 715/850
• US Class Current: 715/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

An improved solution for presenting data to a user is provided. In particular, the data can include multiple instances of a dataset, which are displayed in a three-dimensional table. The three-dimensional table allows the user to perform various manipulations on it. For example, the user can rotate the table, scroll through the table, simultaneously view at least two instances of the dataset, and the like. Additionally, the three-dimensional table can enable the user to perform various operations on the data to further customize the presented data.

Claims

1. A method of managing a three-dimensional table for presenting data, the method executed using a processor of a computer and comprising:

generating the three-dimensional table for the data, wherein the three-dimensional table comprises a plurality of two-dimensional tables that define a front face and at least one side face;

receiving a manipulation request to simultaneously display a particular one of the two-dimensional tables displayed as the front face of a three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table and a selected one of the two-dimensional tables which is distinct from the particular one; and

manipulating the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table to visually slide the selected one of the two-dimensional tables out from the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table, based on the manipulation request, thereby simultaneously displaying the particular one of the two-dimensional tables displayed as the front face and the selected one.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a subsequent manipulation request to simultaneously display a different one of the two-dimensional tables, while simultaneously displaying the particular one and the selected one, wherein the different one is distinct from the particular one and the selected one; and

manipulating, responsive to the subsequently-received manipulation request, the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table by visually sliding the different one out from the three-dimensional display to a different position than a position occupied by the slid-out selected one.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manipulation request is received from a user.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the manipulation request is received from a software application responsive to an update of the data.

5. A system for managing a three-dimensional table for presenting data, the system comprising:

a computer comprising a processor; and

instructions which are executable, using the processor, to provide;

a display system for generating the three-dimensional table for the data, wherein the three-dimensional table comprises a plurality of two-dimensional tables that define a front face and at least one side face; and

a manipulation system for receiving a manipulation request to simultaneously display a particular one of the two-dimensional tables displayed as the front face of a three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table and a selected one of the two-dimensional tables which is distinct from the particular one, and manipulating the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table to visually slide the selected one of the two-dimensional tables out from the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table, based on the manipulation request, to thereby simultaneously display the particular one of the two-dimensional tables displayed as the front face and the selected one.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein:

the manipulation system receives a subsequent manipulation request to simultaneously display a different one of the two-dimensional tables, while simultaneously displaying the particular one and the selected one, wherein the different one is distinct from the particular one and the selected one; and

the manipulation system manipulates, responsive to the subsequently-received manipulation request, the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table by visually sliding the different one out from the three-dimensional display to a different position than a position occupied by the slid-out selected one.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the manipulation request is received from a user.

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein the manipulation request is received from a software application responsive to an update of the data.

9. A program product stored on a computer-readable storage medium, which when executed, manages a three-dimensional table for presenting data, the program product comprising:

program code for generating the three-dimensional table for the data, wherein the three-dimensional table comprises a plurality of two-dimensional tables that define a front face and at least one side face;

program code for receiving a manipulation request to simultaneously display a particular one of the two-dimensional tables displayed as the front face of a three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table and a selected one of the two-dimensional tables which is distinct from the particular one; and

program code for manipulating the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table to visually slide the selected one of the two-dimensional tables out from the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table, based on the manipulation request, thereby simultaneously displaying the particular one of the two-dimensional tables displayed as the front face and the selected one.

10. The program product according to claim 9, wherein:

the program code for receiving a manipulation request receives a subsequent manipulation request to simultaneously display a different one of the two-dimensional tables, while simultaneously displaying the particular one and the selected one, wherein the different one is distinct from the particular one and the selected one; and

the program code for manipulating the three-dimensional display manipulates, responsive to the subsequently-received manipulation request, the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table by visually sliding the different one out from the three-dimensional display to a different position than a position occupied by the slid-out selected one.

11. The program product according to claim 9, wherein the manipulation request is received from a user.

12. The program product according to claim 9, wherein the manipulation request is received from a software application responsive to an update of the data.

13. An interface for presenting data to a user, the interface comprising:

means for generating a three-dimensional table for the data, wherein the three-dimensional table comprises a plurality of two-dimensional tables that define a front face and at least one side face;

means for displaying a three-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional table to the user;

means for receiving a manipulation request from the user to simultaneously display a particular one of the two-dimensional tables displayed as the front face of the displayed three-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional table and a selected one of the two-dimensional tables which is distinct from the particular one; and

means for manipulating the displayed three-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional table to visually slide the selected one of the two-dimensional tables out from the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table, based on the manipulation request, thereby simultaneously displaying the particular one of the two-dimensional tables displayed as the front face and the selected one.

14. The interface according to claim 13, further comprising:

means for receiving a subsequent manipulation request to simultaneously display a different one of the two-dimensional tables, while simultaneously displaying the particular one and the selected one, wherein the different one is distinct from the particular one and the selected one; and

means for manipulating, responsive to the subsequently-received manipulation request, the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table by visually sliding the different one out from the three-dimensional display to a different position than a position occupied by the slid-out selected one.

15. The interface according to claim 13, wherein the manipulation request is received from a user.

16. The interface according to claim 13, wherein the manipulation request is received from a software application responsive to an update of the data.

17. A method of deploying an application for managing a three-dimensional table for presenting data, the method comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable on a processor of a computer to;

obtain the data, wherein the data comprises a plurality of instances of a dataset;

generate a plurality of two-dimensional tables, each comprising data for one of the plurality of instances;

generate a three-dimensional table from the plurality of generated two-dimensional tables;

display a three-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional table;

receive a manipulation request to simultaneously display a particular one of the two-dimensional tables displayed as a front face of the displayed three-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional table and a selected one of the two-dimensional tables which is distinct from the particular one; and

manipulate the displayed three-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional table to visually slide the selected one of the two-dimensional tables out from the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table, based on the manipulation request, thereby simultaneously displaying the particular one of the two-dimensional tables displayed as the front face and the selected one.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to:

receive a subsequent manipulation request to simultaneously display a different one of the two-dimensional tables, while simultaneously displaying the particular one and the selected one, wherein the different one is distinct from the particular one and the selected one; and

manipulate, responsive to the subsequently-received manipulation request, the three-dimensional display of the three-dimensional table by visually sliding the different one out from the three-dimensional display to a different position than a position occupied by the slid-out selected one.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the manipulation request is received from one of a user or a software application responding to an update of the data.