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Methods and software for visualizing data by applying physics-based tools to data objectifications

  • US 9,761,036 B2
  • Filed: 04/24/2015
  • Issued: 09/12/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2014
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of enabling a user to visualize a data set on a graphical display of a computing system, wherein the data set contains a plurality of records each having a plurality of attributes common to the plurality of records, the method comprising:

  • displaying, by the computing system, a physics-based sandbox on the graphical display, wherein the physics-based sandbox contains a chart having at least one axis representing a corresponding attribute of the plurality of attributes;

    objectifying, by the computing system, each of the plurality of records to create a corresponding plurality of simulated physical objects, wherein each of the simulated physical objects defines a peripheral boundary that simulates an exterior surface of a real-world physical object, wherein each of the simulated physical objects has a corresponding plot location on the chart based on the attribute of the at least one axis;

    displaying the simulated physical objects in the physics-based sandbox, wherein said displaying includes;

    applying an attraction algorithm to attract each simulated physical object toward the corresponding plot location by simulating electromagnetic attraction between each simulated physical object and the corresponding plot location; and

    when ones of the simulated physical objects are attracted to identical or proximate plot locations, applying a collision algorithm in conjunction with the attraction algorithm to cause the ones of the simulated physical objects to collide with one another and cluster together with corresponding respective peripheral boundaries abutting one another;

    receiving, by the computing system, a user selection of a physics-based data-manipulation tool, wherein the physics-based data-manipulation tool invokes a physics-based interaction with one or more of the plurality of simulated physical objects, wherein the physics-based interaction is modeled by one or more physics-based modeling algorithms;

    displaying a graphical representation of the physics-based data-manipulation tool in the physics-based sandbox;

    determining, by the computing system, which one or more of the plurality of simulated physical objects experiences the physics-based interaction;

    applying, by the computing system, the one or more physics modeling algorithms to each of the plurality of simulated physical objects determined to experience the physics-based interaction so as to determine at least one updated graphical representation for each of the one or more of the plurality of physical objects experiencing the physics-based interaction; and

    rendering each of the at least one updated graphical representation in the physics-based sandbox.

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