Data visualizations including interactive time line representations

• US 8,839,133 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2010
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Rytt, Christian, Abeln, Christian Olaf
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORR, HENRY W
• Application Number:
  US12/959,243
• Publication Number:
  US 20120144335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 715/771
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/34 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Interactive data visualization features are provided, including an interactive graphical data representation, but the embodiments are not so limited. An exemplary computer-implemented method provides an interactive data visualization interface that includes a graphical time line representation and a number of visual change indicators used in part to provide symbolic cues and highlight changes made to adjustable aspects of the graphical time line representation. An exemplary computing architecture includes at least one client and server including a data communication interface used in part to provide visualization data to display an interactive time line representation as part of providing an interactive data visualization tool. Other embodiments are included and available.

Claims

1. A method of visualizing data comprising:

providing a data visualization interface including an interactive graphical representation, the interactive graphical representation including time parameters and data values corresponding to one or more data types;

populating portions of the visualization interface with data of one or more of the data types using the interactive graphical representation to display one or more of the data types;

detecting changes to adjustable data portions of the interactive graphical representation and automatically adjusting the display of the interactive graphical representation based in part on detected changes; and

,

displaying one or more visual change indicators for adjusted data portions of the interactive graphical representation, wherein the interactive graphical representation comprises a step line graphical representation used in part to identify periods of time during which a step falls below or reaches zero using a first visual representation for a forecast step, a second visual representation for a booked transaction step, and a third visual representation for a change step.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the display of the interactive graphical representation to present data levels affected by the adjustment of one or more data adjustable values as part of one or more of a forward looking data point adjustment and backward looking data point adjustment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the display of the interactive graphical representation to present data levels affected by the adjustment of one or more adjustable data values as part of one or more of an upward data point adjustment and downward data point adjustment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive graphical representation comprises the step line graphical representation that includes filled and patterned step line portions including different presentation colors for each type of data, responsive to zoom and other control inputs.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the visual change indicators based in part on an adjustment type, the visual change indicators including one or more of an increased value indicator, a decreased value indicator, an adjustable value indicator, and a non-adjustable value indicator.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing the visual change indicators based in part on an adjustment type, the visual change indicators further including one or more of a new supply indicator, a deleted supply indicator, and a forecast indicator.

7. The method of claim 6, the interactive graphical representation further comprising a first axis including dates over some period of time and a second axis including data values of one or more of forecast values, booked transaction values, and change values, each step portion colored using a distinct color for a forecast, a booked transaction, and change.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactive graphical representation comprises the step line graphical representation used in part to visualize comparisons with target levels, including interacting with aspects of the step line graphical representation to identify change consequences based in part on using a unique application defined value to reference a document that represents a transaction.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting user interactions back to a resource planning system for one or more of processing, validation, application, and rejection.

10. A computer-implemented visualization interface that uses at least one processor and memory to provide data visualizations by:

providing an interactive time line graphical representation including a time scale and data values associated with one or more data types;

rendering portions of the time line graphical representation using data of one or more data types including a first type of data, a second type of data, and a third type of data;

receiving change inputs to adjustable data points of the time line graphical representation and automatically adjusting the rendering based in part on the change inputs; and

,

symbolizing a change to one or more of the adjustable data points using one or more visual change cues for the corresponding adjustable data points of the time line graphical representation, wherein the time line graphical representation comprises a step line graphical representation used in part to identify periods of time during which a step falls below or reaches zero using a first visual representation for a forecast step, a second visual representation for a booked transaction step, and a third visual representation for a change step.

11. The computer-implemented user interface of claim 10, further to provide aspects of a data visualization by adjusting the rendering of step portions of the time line graphical representation as part of a visualizing effects of data point adjustments, including capturing and communicating change transactions using a communication port and data set.

12. The computer-implemented user interface of claim 10, further to provide aspects of the data visualization by providing a tabular view of the time line data adjacent to the time line graphical representation.

13. The computer-implemented user interface of claim 10, further to provide aspects of a data visualization by enabling adjustment of adjustable time line points and providing change symbols including one or more of an upward change symbol, a downward change symbol, a forecast symbol, and a new quantity symbol, wherein each symbol can be coupled for display with other symbols.

14. The computer-implemented user interface of claim 13, further to provide aspects of the data visualization by filling and patterning step portions including using a different color for each type of data including forecast data, changed data, and booked transaction data.

15. The computer-implemented user interface of claim 10, further to provide aspects of a data visualization by using the time line graphical representation to visualize comparisons with target levels, including interacting with adjustable levels to visualize change in level consequences of data adjustments.

16. The computer-implemented user interface of claim 15, further to provide aspects of the data visualization by using visual change indicators to indicate one or more of a data point moved forward in time, a data point moved backward in time, a data point moved to a higher value, and a data point moved to a lower value.

17. A system comprising:

processing and memory resources used in part to provide visualization data; and

a visualization component to;

display a data visualization including an interactive time line representation of data values plotted over time, the data values including one or more of forecast values, change values, and booked transaction values, wherein visual symbols are used to indicate one or more of a movement of a data point forward in time, a movement of a data point backward in time, a movement of a data point to a higher value, and a movement of a data point to a lower value; and

,

dynamically update the interactive time line representation as a user interacts with adjustable time line portions, wherein the time line graphical representation comprises a step line graphical representation used in part to identify periods of time during which a step falls below or reaches zero using a first visual representation for a forecast step, a second visual representation for a booked transaction step, and a third visual representation for a change step; and

,

a display component to display the data visualization.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a client including the visualization component that includes a changes element to contain one or more of a new type, a deleted type, a supply change type, a rescheduled type, and a reverted type.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising a planning application and a unique application defined value used to reference a document that represents a transaction used as part of providing the interactive time line representation.

20. The system of claim 17, further configured to provide aspects of the data visualization by using the time line representation to visualize comparisons with target levels including using adjustable levels to visualize change in level consequences of data adjustments.