Interactive data exploration and visualization tool

• US 9,298,856 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: John, Jerry, Kohli, Kaushik
• Primary Examiner(s): Hershley, Mark E
• Application Number:
  US13/453,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20130282696A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 707/722
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for data visualization includes determining a query context for a user'"'"'s search query, and retrieving relevant data for the query context. The method combines the relevant data with data that is filtered according to search parameters in the user'"'"'s search query. The method further includes generating an interactive presentation to display the combined data from the perspective of the user'"'"'s search query or from the perspectives of other entities.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

retrieving filtered data that conforms to parameter(s) in a user'"'"'s search query;

determining a query context for the user'"'"'s search query;

retrieving relevant data that conforms to the query context;

combining the relevant data and the filtered data,

the combined relevant and filtered data including one or more data sectors or entities;

generating an interactive presentation to display a portion of the combined relevant and filtered data from the perspective of a data sector or entity associated with the user'"'"'s search query; and

in response to user-selection of another data sector or entity in the combined relevant and filtered data,

changing the presentation to display another portion of the combined relevant and filtered data from a perspective of the user-selected another data sector or entity in the combined relevant and filtered data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a query context for the user'"'"'s search query includes relaxing filter parameters in the search query.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a query context for the user'"'"'s search query includes using learning algorithms to learn the range or extent of the query context from other search queries.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a query context for the user'"'"'s search query includes determining or limiting the query context according to user-selected context criteria.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a query context for the user'"'"'s search query includes using information on an electronic or Internet network to which the user belongs.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, dynamically updating query context and updating presentations of information related to the query contexts.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data sector or entity associated with the user'"'"'s search query includes at least an entity from an electronic or Internet network to which the user belongs.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the presentation to display another portion of the combined relevant and filtered data from the perspective of the user-selected another data sector or entity includes associating at least a data sector and/or entity with the another portion of the combined data from the perspective of the user-selected another data sector or entity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein associating at least a data sector and/or entity with the portion of the combined data from the perspective of the user-selected another data sector or entity includes associating an entity from an electronic or Internet network to which the user-selected another entity belongs.

10. A system, comprising:

a processor and a memory supporting a physical or virtual computer;

a data visualization solution hosted on the physical or virtual computer; and

a user-interface that is communicatively linked to data visualization solution,

wherein the data visualization solution is configured to;

in response to a user'"'"'s search query,

retrieve filtered data that conforms to filter parameter(s) in the user'"'"'s search query;

determine a query context for the user'"'"'s search query;

retrieve relevant data that conforms to the query context but does not conform to the filter parameter(s) in the user'"'"'s search query;

combine the relevant data and the filtered data, the combined data including one or more data sectors or entities;

make an interactive presentation to display a portion of the combined data from the perspective of a data sector or entity associated with the user'"'"'s search query; and

in response to user-selection of another data sector or entity in the combined relevant and filtered data,

change the presentation to display another portion of the combined data from the perspective of the user-selected another data sector or entity in the combined relevant and filtered data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the data visualization solution is configured to determine the context of the user'"'"'s search query by relaxing data filter parameters in the user'"'"'s search query.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the data visualization solution is configured to determine the context of the user'"'"'s search query automatically based on the user'"'"'s search query.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the data visualization solution is configured to determine a context of the user'"'"'s search query by based on user-selected context criteria.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the data visualization solution is configured to determine the context of the user'"'"'s search query by using learning algorithms to learn a range or extent of the context from other user queries.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the data visualization solution is configured to determine the context of the user'"'"'s search query by using information from an electronic or Internet network to which the user belongs.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the data visualization solution is configured to dynamically update query context and update presentations of information related to the query contexts.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the data visualization solution is configured to associate at least a data sector or entity from an electronic or Internet network to which the user belongs with the portion of the combined data.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the data visualization solution is configured to associate at least a data sector or entity with the portion of the combined data in the presentation from the perspective of the user-selected another data sector or entity.

19. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer-readable media that includes executable code, which when executed:

retrieve filtered data that conforms to parameter(s) in a user'"'"'s search query;

determine a query context for the user'"'"'s search query;

retrieve relevant data that conforms to the query context but does not conform to parameter(s) in the user'"'"'s search query;

combine the relevant data and the filtered data, the combined data including one or more data sectors or entities;

make an interactive presentation of a portion of the combined data from the perspective a data sector or entity associated with the user'"'"'s search query; and

in response to user-selection of another data sector or entity of the combined data,

change the presentation to another portion of the combined data from the perspective of the user-selected another data sector or entity in the combined relevant and filtered data.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, which further includes executable code, which when executed:

identifies at least a data sector or entity from an electronic or Internet network to which the user belongs with the portion of the combined data; and

associates at least a data sector or entity from an electronic or Internet network to which the user-selected entity belongs with the portion of the combined data in the changed presentation from the perspective of the user-selected another data sector or entity.