Data visualization interactivity architecture

• US 8,176,096 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2008
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Becker, Chris, Ruble, B. Scott, Allyn, Barry C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lovel, Kimberly
• Assistant Examiner(s): Uddin, Mohammed R
• Application Number:
  US12/337,851
• Publication Number:
  US 20100162152A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 707/805, 707/999.107
• US Class Current: 707/805
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A data visualization interactivity architecture may be provided. The architecture may allow the creation of a data visualization, such as a chart, and may expose an interactive feature on the visualization. The architecture may provide integration with multiple rendering platforms. When a user selects the exposed feature, the architecture may translate the selection into a common format and modify the data visualization according to layout rules independent of the rendering platform.

Claims

1. A method for providing data visualization interactivity, the method comprising:

providing a core of visualization services capable of being shared between different computer operating system types;

providing a plurality of functions to the core of visualization services for providing interactive visualizations;

creating a data visualization of a layout of data using a data visualization platform;

exposing at least one interactive feature for the data visualization of the layout using the plurality of functions provided to the core of visualization services;

providing an integration object associated with at least one of a plurality rendering platforms and having integration code to provide generic interface information usable by the data visualization platform for the at least one of the plurality rendering platforms;

selecting the exposed at least one interactive feature for the data visualization of the layout created using the data visualization platform;

translating the selected at least one interactive feature via the integration object associated with the rendering platform of the data visualization platform into a format common to the plurality of functions of the core of visualization services providing interactive visualizations; and

modifying the data visualization according to the selected interactive feature independent of the rendering platform using a function from the core of visualization services based on the translating of the interactive feature.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing at least one integration object for each of the plurality of rendering platforms.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a location for a pointer of a user input device; and

retrieving information about the received location, wherein the information comprises at least one of;

a description of possible modifications to the data visualization associated with the location and a description of at least one data point at the location.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information about the received location is displayed in a tooltip.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the rendering platform is independent of the layout.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one interactive feature comprises a data modification feature.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one interactive feature comprises a data filtering feature.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one interactive feature comprises a visual adjustment feature.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the layout comprises at least one of:

a pie chart, a bar chart, a scatter chart, a column chart, a line chart, an area chart, a doughnut chart, a radar chart, a surface chart, a bubble chart, and a stock chart.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising exposing at least one hotspot object specific to the layout.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one hotspot object is associated with at least one structural element of the data visualization.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the selection of the at least one interactive feature comprises receiving a selection input from at least one of:

a mouse, a stylus, a keyboard, and a touch screen.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for providing extensible interactivity for a data visualization, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

providing a core of visualization services capable of being shared between different computer operating system types;

providing a plurality of functions to the core of visualization services for providing interactive visualizations;

creating a data visualization of a layout of data using a data visualization platform;

exposing at least one interactive feature for the data visualization of the layout using the plurality of functions provided to the core of visualization services;

providing an integration object associated with at least one of a plurality rendering platforms and having integration code to provide generic interface information usable by the data visualization platform for the at least one of the plurality rendering platforms;

selecting the exposed at least one interactive feature for the data visualization of the layout created using the data visualization platform;

translating the selected at least one interactive feature via the integration object associated with the rendering platform of the data visualization platform into a format common to the plurality of functions of the core of visualization services providing interactive visualizations; and

modifying the data visualization according to the selected interactive feature independent of the rendering platform using a function from the core of visualization services based on the translating of the interactive feature.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the data visualization comprises a chart.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 further comprising exposing a hotspot specific to the layout, wherein the hotspot comprises a location on the data visualization associated with at least one interactive feature.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising providing feedback to a user in response to receiving the selection of the hotspot, wherein the feedback comprises at least one of:

changing a user input cursor appearance and displaying a tooltip.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the provided feedback is associated with at least one interactive feature associated with the selected hotspot.

18. A system for providing data visualization interactivity, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

provide a core of visualization services capable of being shared between different computer operating system types;

provide a plurality of functions to the core of visualization services for providing interactive visualizations;

create a data visualization of a layout of data using a data visualization platform;

expose at least one interactive feature for the data visualization of the layout using the plurality of functions provided to the core of visualization services;

provide an integration object associated with at least one of a plurality rendering platforms and having integration code to provide generic interface information usable by the data visualization platform for the at least one of the plurality rendering platforms;

select the exposed at least one interactive feature for the data visualization of the layout created using the data visualization platform;

translate the selected at least one interactive feature via the integration object associated with the rendering platform of the data visualization platform into a format common to the plurality of functions of the core of visualization services providing interactive visualizations; and

modify the data visualization according to the selected interactive feature independent of the rendering platform using a function from the core of visualization services based on the translating of the interactive feature.