Dynamic expansion of data visualizations

• US 9,202,297 B1
• Filed: 06/27/2012
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Domo, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Domo, Inc.
• Inventors: Winters, Alan, Raubvogel, Amir H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Faulk, Devona
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEARD, CHARLES LLOYD
• Application Number:
  US13/535,019
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

A user can dynamically invoke and control the display of secondary data visualizations based on a selected element of a primary data visualization. Previews of the secondary data visualizations are presented as the user interacts with the primary visualization. In response to user input, previews can be dynamically expanded, allowing a user to dynamically “drill down” into selected elements of the primary data visualization. Any suitable input mechanism can be used, including for example, a gesture such as a two-finger spreading motion to invoke previews of available secondary visualizations, wherein the axis defined by two points of contact determines which of the displayed previews of secondary visualizations is highlighted and/or expanded. In various embodiments, a hierarchy of visualizations can be established, and the user can navigate among two or more levels of visualizations in the same interactive manner.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for dynamically expanding a displayed data visualization, comprising:

displaying a primary data visualization on a touch-sensitive display screen, the primary data visualization comprising a plurality of display elements, each of the display elements corresponding to a stored data value;

at an input device, receiving a first user input associated with a first one of the display elements;

responsive to the received first user input, displaying a plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations relating to the first one of the display elements;

at the input device, receiving a second user input highlighting one of the displayed previews, comprising at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen defining an axis pointing to one of the displayed previews;

at the input device, receiving a third user input activating the highlighted one of the displayed previews; and

responsive to the received third user input, displaying a secondary data visualization corresponding to the activated one of the displayed previews.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

displaying a plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations comprises displaying the plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations concurrently with continued display of the primary data visualization on the touch-sensitive display screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary data visualizations are associated with the first one of the display elements.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondary data visualizations comprise different representations of data associated with the first one of the display elements.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user input associated with the first one of the display elements comprises a pinch gesture defined by at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, the pinch gesture proximate to the display location of the first one of the display elements.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user input associated with a first one of the display elements comprises a pinch gesture defined by at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, the pinch gesture having a midpoint proximate to the display location of the first one of the display elements.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second user input highlighting one of the displayed previews comprises a pinch gesture.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the third user input activating the highlighted one of the displayed previews comprises removal of at least one point of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary data visualization comprises a graphical depiction of quantitative data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary data visualization comprises a bar graph comprising a plurality of bars, and wherein receiving a first user input associated with a first one of the display elements comprises receiving a first user input associated with at least one of the bars.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the secondary data visualization corresponding to the activated one of the displayed previews comprises displaying a transition effect between displaying the activated one of the displayed previews and displaying the secondary data visualization.

38. The system of claim 3, wherein the third user input activating the highlighted one of the displayed previews comprises removal of at least one point of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen.

12. A computer-implemented method for dynamically expanding a displayed data visualization, comprising:

displaying a primary data visualization on a touch-sensitive display screen, the primary data visualization comprising a plurality of display elements, each of the display elements corresponding to a stored data value;

at an input device, receiving a first user input associated with a first one of the display elements, the first user input comprising at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, the at least two points of contact proximate to a display location of the first one of the display elements, the at least two points of contact defining an axis having an orientation;

responsive to the received first user input, displaying a plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations relating to the first one of the display elements;

highlighting one of the displayed previews responsive to the orientation of the defined axis with respect to a display position of the displayed previews;

at the input device, receiving a second user input selecting one of the displayed previews; and

responsive to the received second user input, displaying a secondary data visualization corresponding to the selected one of the displayed previews.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving a second user input selecting one of the displayed previews comprises receiving an input comprising a tap on the touch-sensitive display screen at a location corresponding to one of the displayed previews.

14. A computer-implemented method for dynamically expanding a displayed data visualization, comprising:

displaying a primary data visualization on a touch-sensitive display screen, the primary data visualization comprising a plurality of display elements, each of the display elements corresponding to a stored data value;

at an input device, receiving a first user input associated with a first one of the display elements, the first user input comprising at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, the at least two points of contact proximate to a display location of the first one of the display elements, the at least two points of contact defining an axis having an orientation;

responsive to the received first user input, displaying a plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations relating to the first one of the display elements;

at the input device, receiving a second user input selecting one of the displayed previews by specifying an orientation of the defined axis aligned with one of the displayed previews; and

responsive to the received second user input, displaying a secondary data visualization corresponding to the selected one of the displayed previews.

15. A computer-implemented method for dynamically expanding a displayed data visualization, comprising:

displaying a primary data visualization on a touch-sensitive display screen, the primary data visualization comprising a plurality of display elements, each of the display elements corresponding to a stored data value;

at an input device, receiving a first user input comprising at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, proximate to a display location of a first one of the display elements and defining an axis;

responsive to the received first user input, displaying a plurality of first-level previews of secondary data visualizations relating to the first one of the display elements;

at the input device, receiving a second user input selecting one of the displayed first-level previews by specifying an orientation of the defined axis aligned with one of the displayed previews;

responsive to the received second user input, displaying a plurality of second-level previews of secondary data visualizations;

at the input device, receiving a third user input selecting one of the displayed second-level previews; and

responsive to the received third user input, displaying a secondary data visualization corresponding to the selected one of the displayed second-level previews.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first user input associated with the first one of the display elements comprises a pinch gesture defined by at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, the pinch gesture proximate to the display location of the first one of the display elements.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the first user input associated with the first one of the display elements comprises a pinch gesture defined by at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, the pinch gesture having a midpoint proximate to the display location of the first one of the display elements.

18. A computer-implemented method for dynamically expanding a displayed data visualization, comprising:

displaying a primary data visualization on a touch-sensitive display screen, the primary data visualization comprising a plurality of display elements, each of the display elements corresponding to a stored data value;

at an input device, receiving a first user input comprising at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, proximate to a display location of a first one of the display elements and defining an axis;

responsive to the received first user input, displaying a plurality of first-level previews of secondary data visualizations relating to the first one of the display elements;

at the input device, receiving a second user input selecting one of the displayed first-level previews, the second user input comprising;

a user input specifying an orientation of the defined axis aligned with one of the displayed previews; and

a user input maintaining the specified orientation for at least a predefined period of time;

responsive to the received second user input, displaying a plurality of second-level previews of secondary data visualizations;

at the input device, receiving a third user input selecting one of the displayed second-level previews; and

responsive to the received third user input, displaying a secondary data visualization corresponding to the selected one of the displayed second-level previews.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving a third user input selecting one of the displayed second-level previews comprises receiving a user input tapping on one of the displayed second-level previews.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein receiving a third user input selecting one of the displayed second-level previews comprises:

receiving a user input specifying an orientation of the defined axis aligned with one of the displayed second-level previews.

21. A computer program product for dynamically expanding a displayed data visualization, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, configured to cause at least one processor to perform the steps of;

causing a touch-sensitive display screen to display a primary data visualization, the primary data visualization comprising a plurality of display elements, each of the display elements corresponding to a stored data value;

causing the touch-sensitive display screen to receive a first user input associated with a first one of the display elements;

causing the touch-sensitive display screen to, responsive to the received first user input, display a plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations relating to the first one of the display elements;

causing the touch-sensitive display screen to receive a second user input highlighting one of the displayed previews, comprising at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen defining an axis pointing to one of the displayed previews,

causing the touch-sensitive display screen to receive a third user input activating the highlighted one of the displayed previews; and

causing the touch-sensitive display screen to, responsive to the received third user input, display a secondary data visualization corresponding to the activated one of the displayed previews.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein:

the computer program code configured to cause the touch-sensitive display screen to display a plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations comprises computer program code configured to cause the touch-sensitive display screen to display the plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations concurrently with continued display of the primary data visualization on the touch-sensitive display screen.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the secondary data visualizations comprise different representations of data associated with the first one of the display elements.

24. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the first user input associated with the first one of the display elements comprises a pinch gesture defined by at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, the pinch gesture proximate to the display location of the first one of the display elements.

25. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the third user input activating the highlighted one of the displayed previews comprises removal of at least one point of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen.

26. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the computer program code configured to cause the touch-sensitive display screen to receive a second user input selecting one of the displayed previews comprises the computer program code configured to cause the touch-sensitive display screen to receive an input comprising a tap at a location corresponding to one of the displayed previews.

27. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the primary data visualization comprises a graphical depiction of quantitative data.

28. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the primary data visualization comprises a bar graph comprising a plurality of bars, and wherein the computer program code configured to cause the touch-sensitive display screen to receive a first user input associated with a first one of the display elements comprises computer program code configured to cause the touch-sensitive display screen to receive a first user input associated with at least one of the bars.

29. A computer program product for dynamically expanding a displayed data visualization, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium; and

computer program code, encoded on the medium, configured to cause at least one processor to perform the steps of;

causing a touch-sensitive display screen to display a primary data visualization, the primary data visualization comprising a plurality of display elements, each of the display elements corresponding to a stored data value;

causing the touch-sensitive display screen to receive a first user input associated with a first one of the display elements, comprising at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, the at least two points of contact proximate to a display location of the first one of the display elements, wherein the two points of contact define an axis having an orientation;

causing the touch-sensitive display screen to, responsive to the received first user input, display a plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations relating to the first one of the display elements;

causing the touch-sensitive display screen to highlight one of the displayed previews responsive to the orientation of the defined axis with respect to a display position of the displayed previews;

causing the touch-sensitive display screen to receive a second user input selecting one of the displayed previews; and

causing the touch-sensitive display screen to, responsive to the received second user input, display a secondary data visualization corresponding to the selected one of the displayed previews.

30. A system for dynamically expanding a displayed data visualization, comprising:

a processor; and

a touch-sensitive display screen, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to;

display a primary data visualization, the primary data visualization comprising a plurality of display elements, each of the display elements corresponding to a stored data value;

receive a first user input associated with a first one of the display elements, comprising at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, the at least two points of contact proximate to a display location of the first one of the display elements, wherein the two points of contact define an axis having an orientation;

responsive to the received first user input, display a plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations relating to the first one of the display elements;

highlight one of the displayed previews responsive to the orientation of the defined axis with respect to a display position of the displayed previews;

receive a second user input selecting one of the displayed previews; and

responsive to the received second user input, display a secondary data visualization corresponding to the selected one of the displayed previews.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein:

the touch-sensitive display screen is configured to display the plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations concurrently with continued display of the primary data visualization.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein the secondary data visualizations comprise different representations of data associated with the first one of the display elements.

33. The system of claim 30, wherein the first user input associated with the first one of the display elements comprises a pinch gesture defined by at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, the pinch gesture proximate to the display location of the first one of the display elements.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein:

the touch-sensitive display screen is configured to receive the second user input selecting one of the displayed previews by receiving an input comprising a tap on the touch-sensitive display screen at a location corresponding to one of the displayed previews.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the primary data visualization comprises a graphical depiction of quantitative data.

36. The system of claim 30, wherein the primary data visualization comprises a bar graph comprising a plurality of bars, and wherein the touch-sensitive display screen is configured to receive the first user input associated with a first one of the display elements by receiving a first user input associated with at least one of the bars.

37. A system for dynamically expanding a displayed data visualization, comprising:

a processor; and

a touch-sensitive display screen, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to;

display a primary data visualization, the primary data visualization comprising a plurality of display elements, each of the display elements corresponding to a stored data value;

receive a first user input associated with a first one of the display elements;

responsive to the received first user input, display a plurality of previews of secondary data visualizations relating to the first one of the display elements;

receive a second user input highlighting one of the displayed previews, comprising at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen defining an axis pointing to one of the displayed previews;

receive a third user input activating the highlighted one of the displayed previews; and

responsive to the received third user input, display a secondary data visualization corresponding to the activated one of the displayed previews.

39. A system for dynamically expanding a displayed data visualization, comprising:

a processor; and

a touch-sensitive display screen, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to;

display a primary data visualization on a display screen, the primary data visualization comprising a plurality of display elements, each of the display elements corresponding to a stored data value;

receive a first user input associated with a first one of the display elements, comprising at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, proximate to a display location of the first one of the display elements and defining an axis;

responsive to the received first user input, display a plurality of first-level previews of secondary data visualizations relating to the first one of the display elements;

receive a second user input selecting one of the displayed first-level previews by;

receiving a user input specifying an orientation of the defined axis aligned with one of the displayed previews; and

receiving a user input maintaining the specified orientation for at least a predefined period of time;

responsive to the received second user input, display a plurality of second-level previews of secondary data visualizations;

receive a third user input selecting one of the displayed second-level previews; and

responsive to the received third user input, display a secondary data visualization corresponding to the selected one of the displayed second-level previews.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the first user input associated with the first one of the display elements comprises a pinch gesture defined by at least two points of contact with the touch-sensitive display screen, the pinch gesture proximate to the display location of the first one of the display elements.