Graphical interface with data presence indicators

• US 8,754,890 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Gilmore, Nina, Schulze, Chloe, Workman, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): WANG, JIN CHENG
• Application Number:
  US12/533,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20110025717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: 345440-442, 345/419, 715/763, 715784-786
• US Class Current: 345/440
• 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 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/203 Drawing of straight lines or curves
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/40 Filling a planar surface by adding surface attributes, e.g. colour or texture

Abstract

A computer-readable medium, computer-implemented method, and system for generating a user interface is provided. One or more data presence indicators are generated which allows users to locate data on a graph displayed in the user interface by indicating where data is present, even when the data itself is not visible in the user interface. The system can modify the format of the data presence indicator depending on the location of the data. In one embodiment of the invention, the system can update the data presence indicators in response to a user modification of the magnification or scroll position of the user interface.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to generate a user interface for displaying data presence indicators, the generating comprising:

displaying a graph, wherein the graph comprises a first axis, a second axis, a first scroll bar, a second scroll bar, and one or more data points, wherein the first scroll bar is displayed along the first axis, and the second scroll bar is displayed along the second axis;

for each data point in the graph, displaying a first data presence indicator that indicates a position of the data point in the graph in a first format at a position along the first axis, when the data point is within a region represented by the second scroll bar;

for each data point in the graph, displaying the first data presence indicator in a second format at a position along the first axis, when the data point is not within the region represented by the second scroll bar;

for each data point in the graph, displaying a second data presence indicator that indicates the position of the data point in the graph in a third format at a position along the second axis, when the data point is within a region represented by the first scroll bar; and

for each data point in the graph, displaying the second data presence indicator in a fourth format at a position along the second axis, when the data point is not within the region represented by the first scroll bar;

wherein, for at least one data point in the graph, the at least one first data presence indicator and the at least one second data presence indicator that correspond to the at least one data point indicate a position of the at least one data point in the graph, when the at least one data point is not visible within the user interface.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, the generating further comprising:

for each data point in the graph, displaying the first data presence indicator in a fifth format when one or more additional data points are present along a first line which intersects the data point, wherein the first line is parallel to the second axis of the graph; and

for each data point in the graph, displaying the second data presence indicator in a sixth format when one or more additional data points are present along a second line which intersects the data point, wherein the second line is parallel to the first axis of the graph.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 2,

wherein the first format and the third format each comprise a black line,

wherein the second format and the fourth format each comprise a grey line,

wherein the fifth format comprises a black line of greater length than the length of the first format and third format, and

wherein the sixth format comprises a grey line of greater length than the length of the second format and the fourth format.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, the generating further comprising:

for each data point in the graph, updating the first data presence indicator in response to a user modifying a view of the graph; and

for each data point in the graph, updating the second data presence indicator in response to a user modifying the view of the graph.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the user modifying the view of the graph comprises the user increasing or decreasing the magnification of the view via a zoom button.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the user modifying the view of the graph comprises the user navigating to a different region of the graph via a scrolling bar.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1,

wherein the first format and the third format each comprise a black line, and

wherein the second format and the fourth format each comprise a grey line.

8. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, the generating further comprising

determining a location of each data point in the graph by,

for each point of a set of points along the first axis of the graph determining whether data is present along a first line which intersects the point, wherein the first line is parallel to the second axis of the graph, and

for each point of a set of points along the second axis of the graph, determining whether data is present along a second line which intersects the point, wherein the second line is parallel to the first axis of the graph.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the location of each data point is known.

10. A computer-implemented method for generating a user interface which displays data presence indicators, the method comprising:

displaying, by a system comprising a memory and a processor, a graph, wherein the graph comprises a first axis, a second axis, a first scroll bar, a second scroll bar, and one or more data points, wherein the first scroll bar is displayed along the first axis, and the second scroll bar is displayed along the second axis;

for each data point in the graph, displaying, by the system, a first data presence indicator that indicates a position of the data point in the graph in a first format at a position along the first axis, when the data point is within a region represented by the second scroll bar;

for each data point in the graph, displaying, by the system, the first data presence indicator in a second format at a position along the first axis, when the data point is not within the region represented by the second scroll bar;

for each data point in the graph, displaying, by the system, a second data presence indicator that indicates the position of the data point in the graph in a third format at a position along the second axis, when the data point is within a region represented by the first scroll bar; and

for each data point in the graph, displaying, by the system, the second data presence indicator in a fourth format at a position along the second axis, when the data point is not within the region represented by the first scroll bar;

wherein, for at least one data point in the graph, the at least one first data presence indicator and the at least one second data presence indicator that correspond to the at least one data point indicate a position of the at least one data point in the graph, when the data point is not visible within the user interface.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

for each data point in the graph, displaying the first data presence indicator in a fifth format when one or more additional data points are present along a first line which intersects the data point, wherein the first line is parallel to the second axis of the graph; and

for each data point in the graph, displaying the second data presence indicator in a sixth format when one or more additional data points are present along a second line which intersects the data point, wherein the second line is parallel to the first axis of the graph.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

for each data point in the graph, updating the first data presence indicator in response to a user modifying a view of the graph; and

for each data point in the graph, updating the second data presence indicator in response to a user modifying the view of the graph.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining a location of each data point in the graph by,

for each point of a set of points along the first axis of the graph determining whether data is present along a first line which intersects the point, wherein the first line is parallel to the second axis of the graph, and

for each point of a set of points along the second axis of the graph, determining whether data is present along a second line which intersects the point, wherein the second line is parallel to the first axis of the graph.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the location of each data point is known.

15. A system for generating a user interface which displays data presence indicators, the system comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions;

a processor configured to;

display a graph, wherein the graph comprises a first axis, a second axis, a first scroll bar, a second scroll bar, and one or more data points, wherein the first scroll bar is displayed along the first axis, and the second scroll bar is displayed along the second axis;

for each data point in the graph, display a first data presence indicator that indicates a position of the data point in the graph in a first format at a position along the first axis, when the data point is within a region represented by the second scroll bar,

for each data point in the graph, display the first data presence indicator in a second format at a position along the first axis, when the data point is not within the region represented by the second scroll bar,

for each data point in the graph, display a second data presence indicator that indicates the position of the data point on the graph in a third format at a position along the second axis, when the data point is within a region represented by the first scroll bar, and

for each data point in the graph, display the second data presence indicator in a fourth format at a position along the second axis, when the data point is not within the region represented by the first scroll bar;

wherein, for at least one data point in the graph, the at least one first data presence indicator and the at least one second data presence indicator that correspond to the at least one data point indicate a position of the at least one data point in the graph, when the at least one data point is not visible within the user interface.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

for each data point in the graph, display the first data presence indicator in a fifth format when one or more additional data points are present along a first line which intersects the data point, wherein the first line is parallel to the second axis of the graph; and

for each data point in the graph, display the second data presence indicator in a sixth format when one or more additional data points are present along a second line which intersects the data point, wherein the second line is parallel to the first axis of the graph.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

for each data point in the graph, update the first data presence indicator in response to a user modifying a view of the graph; and

for each data point in the graph, update the second data presence indicator in response to a user modifying the view of the graph.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a location of each data point in the graph by,

for each point of a set of points along the first axis of the graph determining whether data is present along a first line which intersects the point, wherein the first line is parallel to the second axis of the graph, and

for each point of a set of points along the second axis of the graph, determining whether data is present along a second line which intersects the point, wherein the second line is parallel to the first axis of the graph.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the location of each data point is known.

20. A system, comprising:

a memory configured to store instructions;

a processor configured to display a graphical user interface;

wherein the graphical user interface comprises;

a graph;

a vertical axis;

a horizontal axis;

a plurality of data points;

a zoom button configured to change a magnification;

a horizontal scroll bar, wherein the horizontal scroll bar represents a region of the horizontal axis;

a vertical scroll bar, wherein the vertical scroll bar represents a region of the vertical axis,

wherein, upon a change in magnification via the zoom button, the user interface further comprises,

a plurality of horizontal data presence indicators that indicate positions of the plurality of data points in the graph, wherein each horizontal data presence indicator corresponds to a point on the horizontal axis; and

a plurality of vertical data presence indicators that indicate positions of the plurality of data points in the graph, wherein each vertical data presence indicator corresponds to a point on the vertical axis,

wherein, when at least one data point of the plurality of data points is present along a vertical line which intersects a point on the horizontal axis, the corresponding horizontal data presence indicator is displayed in a first format at a position along the horizontal axis where the at least one data point is within the region represented by the vertical scroll bar, and is displayed in a second format at a position along the horizontal axis where the at least one data point is not within the region represented by the vertical scroll bar,

wherein, when at least one data point of the plurality of data points is present along a horizontal line which intersects a point on the vertical axis, the corresponding vertical data presence indicator is displayed in a third format at a position along the vertical axis where the at least one data point is within the region represented by the horizontal scroll bar, and is displayed in a fourth format at a position along the vertical axis where the at least one data point is not within the region represented by the horizontal scroll bar, and

wherein, at least one horizontal data presence indicator and at least one vertical data presence indicator indicate at least one position of at least one data point in the graph, when the at least one data point is not visible within the graphical user interface.