User interface for data comparison

• US 9,239,672 B2
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Issued: 01/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: MeLLmo Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Kraut, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US13/415,651
• Publication Number:
  US 20120272186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,412 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715/765, 715/767, 715770-773, 715798-802, 715/834, 715/861, 715/964, 345/440, 345/676
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/0482 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/543 User-generated data transfer, e.g. clipboards, dynamic data exchange [DDE], object linking and embedding [OLE]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/24 involving graphical user interfaces [GUIs]

Abstract

Systems and methods perform comparison of data represented as charts, for example, bar graphs, pie charts, line charts or stacked bar charts. The charts present visual representations mapping source values to target values. A user can select charts associated with a data records for comparison from an index of data records. The user selects a chart and a particular source value from the reference chart. The target values corresponding to the source value from other charts are compared against the target value from the reference chart. An aggregate of the target values associated with the source value from each chart may be presented to the user. The user can also use multi-touch input to select object representing data and drag them to perform actions associated with the objects. The actions performed on the objects depend on the locations of the objects as the user drags them.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying on a display screen a comparison of data presented as charts, the method comprising:

displaying a plurality of charts simultaneously on a screen of a portable display device, each chart including a plurality of records obtained from reports based on statistical data of an organization, each record having a first variable, a second variable, and a third variable, the first variable representing a time value, the second variable representing a statistical data value and the third variable representing an attribute of the organization, each chart mapping a set of time values to a set of statistical data values for a particular value of the third variable, each chart associated with a slider for receiving selections of records, the plurality of charts comprising a first chart and a second chart, wherein the first chart maps a first set of time values to a first set of statistical data values and the second chart maps the first set of time values to a second set of statistical data values, wherein the first set of statistical data values is distinct from the second set of statistical data values;

receiving an input selecting a first record of a first chart using the slider, the first record having a first time value and a first statistical data value, the first chart included in the plurality of displayed charts, wherein each of the other charts in the plurality of charts maps the first time value to a statistical data value distinct from the first statistical data value;

responsive to the selection of the first record of the first chart, modifying the display of each of the other charts in the plurality of charts displayed simultaneously on the screen of the portable display device, the modifying comprising, for each of the other charts;

displaying a matching record from the other chart, wherein the time value of the matching record matches the first time value and a visual representation of the matching record in the chart distinguishes the matching record from a visual representation of remaining records of the chart; and

displaying in association with the other chart, indicia of a difference between the statistical data value of the matching record from the chart and the first statistical data value of the first record;

receiving a dynamic input indicating movement along the slider, the movement causing the first time value to change; and

responsive to the dynamic input, modifying the display of each of the other charts by updating the indicia of difference between the statistical data value of the other chart for the first time value and the statistical data value of the first chart for the first time value as the first time value changes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying an index of database records, each database record associated with a chart; and

receiving a selection of the plurality of charts from the index.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each selection of a chart from the index causes the index to display a gap in place of the selected chart.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein each selection of a data set from the index causes a chart corresponding to the selected data set to appear in a display portion of the screen adjacent to the index.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a chart is one of a pie chart, a line chart, a bar chart, or a stacked bar chart.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a chart is a stacked bar chart and the statistical data value of the first record is an aggregate value based on the stacked bars for the first time value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a chart is a stacked bar chart and the first time value comprises a selection of a bar from a stacked bar of the first record.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each chart is a pie chart associated with a pointer, the method further comprising:

receiving a first input causing a first source sector of a first pie chart to be aligned to the pointer corresponding to the first pie chart;

responsive to receiving the first input, modifying each of the other pie charts, the modifying comprising, for each of the other pie charts;

presenting the pie chart such that a first matching sector corresponding to the first source sector is aligned with the pointer of the pie chart;

receiving a second input causing a second source sector of the first pie chart to be aligned with the pointer of the first pie chart; and

responsive to receiving the second input, modifying each of the other pie charts, the modifying comprising, for each of the other pie charts;

presenting the pie chart such that a second matching sector of the pie chart corresponding to the second source sector is aligned with the pointer of the pie chart.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the third variable represents a geographic location associated with the organization.

9. A method for displaying on a display screen aggregate values based on data from charts, the method comprising:

presenting a plurality of charts simultaneously on a screen of a portable display device, each chart comprising records obtained from reports based on statistical data of an organization, each record having a first variable, a second variable, and a third variable, the first variable representing a time value, the second variable representing a statistical data value and the third variable representing an attribute of the organization, each chart mapping a set of time values to a set of statistical data values for a particular value of the third variable, each chart associated with a slider for receiving selections of records, the plurality of charts comprising a first chart and a second chart, wherein the first chart maps a first set of time values to a first set of statistical data values and the second chart maps the first set of time values to a second set of statistical data values, wherein the first set of statistical data values is distinct from the second set of statistical data values;

receiving an input identifying a first time value using the slider, wherein each of the charts in the plurality of charts maps the first time value to a distinct statistical data value;

responsive to receiving the input identifying the first time value, modifying the display of each of the plurality of charts displayed simultaneously on the screen of the portable display device to display a matching record from the chart, wherein the time value of the matching record matches the first time value and a visual representation of the matching record in the chart distinguishes the matching record from a visual representation of remaining records of the chart; and

presenting an aggregate value based on the statistical data values from the matching records from each of the plurality of chart;

receiving a dynamic input indicating movement along the slider, the movement causing the first time value to change; and

responsive to the dynamic input, modifying the display of each of the other chart by updating the aggregate value based on the statistical data values from matching records as the time value changes.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein an aggregate value comprises a statistical metric based on target values from the displayed records.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the aggregate value comprises indicia of a difference between target values of displayed records from two of the plurality of charts.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

presenting an index displaying database records, each database record associated with a chart; and

receiving a selection of the plurality of charts from the index.

13. A computer-implemented system for displaying on a display screen comparison of data presented as charts, the system comprising:

a computer processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium storing computer program modules configured to execute on the computer processor, the computer program modules comprising;

an user interface manager module configured to;

display a plurality of charts simultaneously on a screen of a portable display device, each chart including a plurality of records obtained from reports based on statistical data of an organization, each record having a first variable, a second variable, and a third variable, the first variable representing a time value, the second variable representing a statistical data value and the third variable representing an attribute of the organization, each chart mapping a set of time values to a set of statistical data values for a particular value of the third variable, each chart associated with a slider for receiving selections of records, the plurality of charts comprising a first chart and a second chart, wherein the first chart maps a first set of time values to a first set of statistical data values and the second chart maps the first set of time values to a second set of statistical data values, wherein the first set of statistical data values is distinct from the second set of statistical data values;

receive an input selecting a first record of a first chart using the slider, the first record having a first time value and a first statistical data value, the first chart included in the plurality of displayed charts, wherein each of the other charts in the plurality of charts maps the first time value to a statistical data value distinct from the first statistical data value;

responsive to the selection of the first record of the first chart, modify the display of each of the other charts in the plurality of charts displayed simultaneously on the screen of the portable display device, the modifying comprising, for each of the other charts;

displaying a matching record from the chart, wherein the time value of the matching record matches the first time value and a visual representation of the matching record in the chart distinguishes the matching record from a visual representation of remaining records of the chart; and

displaying in association with the chart, indicia of a difference between the statistical data value of the matching record from the chart and the first statistical data value of the first record;

receive a dynamic input indicating movement along the slider, the movement causing the first time value to change; and

responsive to the dynamic input, modifying the display of each of the other chart by updating the indicia of difference between the statistical data value of the other chart for the first time value and the statistical data value of the first chart for the first time value as the first time value changes.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable code for displaying on a display screen comparison of data presented as charts, the code comprising:

an user interface manager module configured to;

display a plurality of charts simultaneously on a screen of a portable display device, each chart including a plurality of records obtained from reports based on statistical data of an organization, each record having a first variable, a second variable, and a third variable, the first variable representing a time value the second variable representing a statistical data value and the third variable representing an attribute of the organization, each chart mapping a set of time values to a set of statistical data values for a particular value of the third variable, each chart associated with a slider for receiving selections of records, the plurality of charts comprising a first chart and a second chart, wherein the first chart maps a first set of time values to a first set of statistical data values and the second chart maps the first set of time values to a second set of statistical data values, wherein the first set of statistical data values is distinct from the second set of statistical data values;

receive an input selecting a first record of a first chart using the slider, the first record having a first time value and a first statistical data value, the first chart included in the plurality of displayed charts, wherein each of the other charts in the plurality of charts maps the first time value to a statistical data value distinct from the first statistical data value;

responsive to the selection of the first record of the first chart, modify the display of each of the other charts in the plurality of charts displayed simultaneously on the screen of the portable display device, the modifying comprising, for each of the other charts;

displaying a matching record from the chart, wherein the time value of the matching record matches the first time value and a visual representation of the matching tuple in the chart distinguishes the matching record from a visual representation of remaining records of the chart; and

displaying in association with the chart, indicia of a difference between the statistical data value of the matching record from the chart and the first statistical data value of the first record;

receive a dynamic input indicating movement along the slider, the movement causing the first time value to change; and

responsive to the dynamic input, modifying the display of each of the other chart by updating the indicia of difference between the statistical data value of the other chart for the first time value and the statistical data value of the first chart for the first time value as the first time value changes.

15. A computer-implemented method for displaying on a display screen a comparison of data presented as charts, the method comprising:

presenting an index displaying database records, each database record associated with a chart;

receiving a selection of a plurality of charts from the index;

presenting the plurality of charts simultaneously on a screen of a portable display device, each chart displaying a plurality of records obtained from reports based on statistical data of an organization, each record having a first variable, a second variable, and a third variable, the first variable representing associating a time value, the second variable representing a statistical data value and the third variable representing an attribute of the organization, each chart mapping a set of time values to a set of statistical data values for a particular value of the third variable, wherein the sets of time values for the plurality of charts include one or more time values common to each of the sets of time values, each chart associated with a slider for receiving selections of records, the plurality of charts comprising a first chart and a second chart, wherein the first chart maps a first set of time values to a first set of statistical data values and the second chart maps the first set of time values to a second set of statistical data values, wherein the first set of statistical data values is distinct from the second set of statistical data values;

receiving an input identifying a first record from a first chart using the slider, the first record associating a first time value with a statistical data value, wherein each of the other charts in the plurality of charts maps the first time value to a statistical data value distinct from the first statistical data value;

responsive to the selection of the first record of the first chart, modifying the display of each of the other charts in the plurality of charts displayed simultaneously on the screen of the portable display device, the modifying comprising, for each of the other charts;

displaying a matching record from the chart, wherein the time value of the matching record matches the first time value and a visual representation of the matching record in the chart distinguishes the matching record from a visual representation of remaining records of the chart;

displaying in association with the chart, indicia of a difference between the statistical data value of the matching record and the statistical data value of the first record;

receiving a dynamic input indicating movement causing the first time value to change; and

updating for each chart the display of indicia of difference between the statistical data value of the other chart for the first time value and the statistical data value of the first chart for the first time value as the first time value changes.

16. A computer-implemented method for comparing data displayed on a plurality of charts, the method comprising:

displaying simultaneously, on a screen of a portable display device, a plurality of charts, each chart displaying a plurality of records representing statistical data obtained from reports associated with an organization, each record having a first variable, a second variable, and a third variable, the first variable representing a time value, the second variable representing a statistical data value and the third variable representing an attribute of the organization, each chart mapping a set of time values to a set of statistical data values for a particular value of the third variable, the plurality of charts comprising a first chart and a second chart, wherein the first chart maps a first set of time values to a first set of statistical data values and the second chart maps the first set of time values to a second set of statistical data values, wherein the first set of statistical data values is distinct from the second set of statistical data values;

displaying a slider associated with a reference chart from the plurality of charts;

receiving a selection of a time value based on the slider position, wherein each of the charts in the plurality of charts maps the first time value to a distinct statistical data value;

responsive to the selection of the time value, modifying each of the other charts, the modifying comprising, for each of the other charts, displaying information comparing the statistical data value of the other chart at the selected time with the statistical data value of the reference chart at the selected time;

receiving a dynamic input indicating movement along the slider, the movement causing the selection of the time value to change, thereby changing the selection of the record of the reference chart; and

responsive to the dynamic input, modifying the display of each of other charts, the modifying comprising, for each of the other charts;

changing the selection of the record of the other chart as the time value changes responsive to the dynamic input; and

updating the displayed comparison information for the other chart, the information comparing the statistical data value of the other chart with a statistical data value of the reference chart corresponding to the dynamically changing selection of the time value.