Determining user preferences for data visualizations

• US 9,542,616 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2015
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Keahey, T. Alan, Rope, Daniel J., Wills, Graham J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, KANJIBHAI B
• Application Number:
  US14/753,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20160379084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 382/165, 382/173, 382/224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/00 Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/44 Browsing; Visualisation therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/40 Extraction of image or video features

Abstract

A method for determining user preferences for data visualizations is provided. The method may include receiving data visualizations. The method may also include collecting the shapes, the line segments, and the colors associated with the data visualizations. The method may further include converting the shapes and the line segments to polygonal outlines. Additionally, the method may include categorizing and measuring the line segments. The method may further include identifying and categorizing the angles formed by the line segments and determining weighted values for the angles. The method may further include calculating the total length for the line segments, and the total weighted value for the angles. The method may also include characterizing the line segments based on the categorization of the line segments and the angles based on the categorization of the angles. The method may further include scoring the at least one data visualization based on the characterizations.

Claims

1. A method for determining user preferences for at least one data visualization, the method comprising:

receiving the at least one data visualization;

collecting a plurality of shapes, a plurality of line segments, and a plurality of colors associated with the at least one data visualization;

converting the plurality of collected shapes and the plurality of collected line segments to a plurality of polygonal outlines;

categorizing the converted plurality of collected line segments;

measuring a plurality of lengths associated with the converted plurality of collected line segments;

identifying and categorizing a plurality of angles formed by the converted plurality of collected line segments;

determining a plurality of weighted values associated with the plurality of angles;

calculating a total length for the converted plurality of collected line segments, and calculating a total weighted value for the plurality of angles;

characterizing the converted plurality of collected line segments based on the categorization of the converted plurality of collected line segments and the plurality of angles based on the categorization of the plurality of angles;

scoring the at least one data visualization based on the characterization of the converted plurality of collected line segments and the plurality of angles; and

determining the user preferences for the at least one data visualization by presenting an impact characterization to users based on the scored at least one data visualization, wherein the impact characterization is a determination of an impact of the at least one data visualization on a plurality of users.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one data visualization is in a format selected from a group comprising at least one of a portable document format and a vector graphic.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the categorizing the converted plurality of collected line segments is based on a selection from a group comprising at least one of an angled line segment, a horizontal line segment, and a vertical line segment.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the categorizing the plurality of angles is based on a selection from a group comprising at least one of a sharp angle, a right angle, and a gentle angle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring the plurality of lengths associated with the converted plurality of collected line segments and the determining the plurality of weighted values associated with the plurality of angles are based on a plurality of pixels.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the scoring the at least one data visualization is based on a ratio of the plurality of lengths associated with the converted plurality of collected line segments to the total length for the converted plurality of collected line segments, and a ratio of the plurality of weighted values associated with the plurality of angles to the total weighted value for the plurality of angles.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a total area of the plurality of polygonal outlines;

categorizing the plurality of collected colors;

determining a plurality weighted values associated with the collected colors; and

calculating a ratio of the plurality of weighted values associated with the plurality of collected colors to the total area of the polygonal outlines.

8. A computer system for determining user preferences for at least one data visualization, comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, wherein the computer system is capable of performing a method comprising;

receiving the at least one data visualization;

collecting a plurality of shapes, a plurality of line segments, and a plurality of colors associated with the at least one data visualization;

converting the plurality of collected shapes and the plurality of collected line segments to a plurality of polygonal outlines;

categorizing the converted plurality of collected line segments;

measuring a plurality of lengths associated with the converted plurality of collected line segments;

identifying and categorizing a plurality of angles formed by the converted plurality of collected line segments;

determining a plurality of weighted values associated with the plurality of angles;

calculating a total length for the converted plurality of collected line segments, and calculating a total weighted value for the plurality of angles;

characterizing the converted plurality of collected line segments based on the categorization of the converted plurality of collected line segments and the plurality of angles based on the categorization of the plurality of angles;

scoring the at least one data visualization based on the characterization of the converted plurality of collected line segments and the plurality of angles; and

determining the user preferences for the at least one data visualization by presenting an impact characterization to users based on the scored at least one data visualization, wherein the impact characterization is a determination of an impact of the at least one data visualization on a plurality of users.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the at least one data visualization is in a format selected from a group comprising at least one of a portable document format and a vector graphic.

10. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the categorizing the converted plurality of collected line segments is based on a selection from a group comprising at least one of an angled line segment, a horizontal line segment, and a vertical line segment.

11. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the categorizing the plurality of angles is based on a selection from a group comprising at least one of a sharp angle, a right angle, and a gentle angle.

12. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the measuring the plurality of lengths associated with the converted plurality of collected line segments and the determining the plurality of weighted values associated with the plurality of angles are based on a plurality of pixels.

13. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the scoring the at least one data visualization is based on a ratio of the plurality of lengths associated with the converted plurality of collected line segments to the total length for the converted plurality of collected line segments, and a ratio of the plurality of weighted values associated with the plurality of angles to the total weighted value for the plurality of angles.

14. The computer system of claim 8, further comprising:

calculating a total area of the plurality of polygonal outlines;

categorizing the plurality of collected colors;

determining a plurality weighted values associated with the collected colors; and

calculating a ratio of the plurality of weighted values associated with the plurality of collected colors to the total area of the polygonal outlines.

15. A computer program product for determining user preferences for at least one data visualization, comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage devices, the program instructions executable by a processor, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive the at least one data visualization;

program instructions to collect a plurality of shapes, a plurality of line segments, and a plurality of colors associated with the at least one data visualization;

program instructions to convert the plurality of collected shapes and the plurality of collected line segments to a plurality of polygonal outlines;

program instructions to categorize the converted plurality of collected line segments;

program instructions to measure a plurality of lengths associated with the converted plurality of collected line segments;

program instructions to identify and categorize a plurality of angles formed by the converted plurality of collected line segments;

program instructions to determine a plurality of weighted values associated with the plurality of angles;

program instructions to calculate a total length for the converted plurality of collected line segments, and calculate a total weighted value for the plurality of angles;

program instructions to characterize the converted plurality of collected line segments based on the categorization of the converted plurality of collected line segments and the plurality of angles based on the categorization of the plurality of angles;

program instructions to score the at least one data visualization based on the characterization of the converted plurality of collected line segments and the plurality of angles; and

program instructions to determine the user preferences for the at least one data visualization by presenting an impact characterization to users based on the scored at least one data visualization, wherein the impact characterization is a determination of an impact of the at least one data visualization on a plurality of users.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to categorize the converted plurality of collected line segments is based on a selection from a group comprising at least one of an angled line segment, a horizontal line segment, and a vertical line segment.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to categorize the plurality of angles is based on a selection from a group comprising at least one of a sharp angle, a right angle, and a gentle angle.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the program instructions to measure the plurality of lengths associated with the converted plurality of collected line segments and the program instructions to determine the plurality of weighted values associated with the plurality of angles are based on a plurality of pixels.

19. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the file path information associated with the computer file comprises a plurality of synchronization status indicators.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

program instructions to calculate a total area of the plurality of polygonal outlines;

program instructions to categorize the plurality of collected colors;

program instructions to determine a plurality weighted values associated with the collected colors; and

program instructions to calculate a ratio of the plurality of weighted values associated with the plurality of collected colors to the total area of the polygonal outlines.