Use of dynamic numeric axis to indicate and highlight data ranges

• US 9,824,470 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Kuo, Heng-Chun Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, M Good
• Application Number:
  US13/724,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176555A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 345440
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A method and system for highlighting portions of a graph based on exception highlight rules is described. Highlight rules for a graph are received from a selection of a portion of an axis of the graph. Portions of the graph satisfying the highlight rules are identified. Visualization on the graph is generated to highlight the identified portions of the graph satisfying the highlight rules.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

causing display of a graph using an application of a computer, the graph comprising at least two axes and a plurality of graphical elements representing data relative to the at least two axes;

receiving user input highlight rules for the graph, the rules including a user input value and an indication that graphical elements of the plurality of graphical elements should be highlighted based on whether a value of a portion of the graphical elements is greater than the user input value or an indication that graphical elements of the plurality of graphical elements should be highlighted based on whether a value of a portion of the graphical elements is less than the user input value;

analyzing, using at least one processor of the computer, a value of each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, to determine whether a portion of the graphical element is greater than the user input value or whether a portion of the graphical element is less than the user input value, based on the user input highlight rules;

identifying, using at least one processor of the computer, a portion of at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that satisfies the user input highlight rules based on the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is greater than the user input value or the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is less than the user input value;

modifying the display of the graph to highlight the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements to indicate the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is greater than the user input value or the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is less than the user input value based on the user input highlight rules; and

wherein the modified display of the graph is displayed to the user.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, the rules further including a range between two user input values, or a range not between two user input values.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the graph further comprises:

displaying at least one axis of the graph; and

generating a visualization for one or more axis graphical elements corresponding to the portions of the graphical elements that satisfy the user input highlight rules, wherein the one or more axis graphical elements are displayed adjacent the at least one axis to identify the portions of the graphical elements that satisfy the user input highlight rules.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising modifying a visual format of the portion of each graphical element displayed that satisfy the user input highlight rules relative to a format of other graphical elements that do not satisfy the user input highlight rules.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the modifying further comprises:

displaying the portion of the graphical elements that satisfy the user input highlight rules in a different color than a color of the other portions of the graphical elements that do not satisfy the user input highlight rules.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the modifying further comprises displaying the portion of the graphical element in a larger dimensions relative to dimensions of other graphical elements that do not satisfy the user input highlight rules.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a total range of data displayed in the graph remains unchanged after modifying the display of the graph to highlight the portions of each of the graphical elements that satisfy the user input highlight rules.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the graph is a bar chart, and each of the graphical elements correspond to a bar of the bar chart.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the graph is a line chart, and each of the graphical elements correspond to a line of the line chart.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the user input highlight rules indicate that the graphical elements of the plurality of graphical elements should be highlighted based on whether a portion of the graphical element is greater than the user input value, and wherein not all of the plurality of graphical elements have a portion of the graphical element that is greater than the user input value.

11. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising;

displaying a graph using an application of a computer, the graph comprising at least two axes and a plurality of graphical elements representing data relative to the at least two axes;

receiving user input highlight rules for the graph, the rules including a user input value and an indication that graphical elements of the plurality of graphical elements should be highlighted based on whether a value of a portion of the gaphical elements is greater than the user input value or an indication that graphical elements of the plurality of graphical elements should be highlighted based on whether a value of a portion of the graphical elements is less than the user input value;

analyzing a value of each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, to determine whether a portion of the graphical element is greater than the user input value or whether a portion of the graphical element is less than the user input value;

identifying a portion of at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that satisfies the user input rules based on the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is greater than the user input value or the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is less than the user input value;

modifying the display of the graph to highlight the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements to indicate the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is greater than the user input value or the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is less than the user input value, based on the user input highlight rules; and

wherein the modified display of the graph is displayed to the user.

12. The system of claim 11, the rules further including a range between two user input values, or a range not between two user input values.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the portion of the at least one graphical element comprises data exceeding a user-selected threshold rule, within a user-selected range rule, outside a user-selected range rule, and meeting a user-selected threshold rule.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one axis of the graph is displayed, and a visualization for a one or more graphical elements corresponding to the graphical elements that satisfy the user input highlight rules, and wherein the one or more axis graphical elements are displayed adjacent the at least one axis to identify the user input value.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein a visual format of at least one a portion of the graphical element displayed that satisfy the user input highlight rules is modified relative to a format of other graphical elements that do not satisfy the user input highlight rules.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the graphical elements that satisfy the user input highlight rules is displayed in a different color than a color of the other graphical elements that do not satisfy the user input highlight rules.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the portion of the graphical element is displayed in a larger dimension relative to dimensions of other graphical elements that do not satisfy the user input highlight rules.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein a total range of data displayed in the graph remains unchanged after modifying the display of the graph to highlight the portions of each of the graphical elements that satisfy the user input highlight rules.

19. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, performs operations comprising:

displaying a graph using an application of a computer, the graph comprising at least two axes and a plurality of graphical elements representing data relative to the at least two axes;

receiving user input highlight rules for the graph, the rules including a user input value and an indication that graphical elements of the plurality of graphical elements should be highlighted based on whether a value of a portion of the graphical elements is greater than the user input value or an indication that graphical elements of the plurality of graphical elements should be highlighted based on whether a value of a portion of the graphical elements is less than the user input value;

analyzing a value of each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, to determine whether a portion of the graphical element is greater than the user input value or whether a portion of the graphical element is less than the user input value;

identifying a portion of at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that satisfies the user input highlight rules based on the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is greater than the user input value or the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is less than the user input value;

modifying the display of the graph to highlight the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements to indicate the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is greater than the user input value or the portion of the at least one graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements that is less than the user input value, based on the user input highlight rules; and

wherein the modified display of the graph is displayed to the user.