Auto-Grouping Data Columns for Tabular Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing devices face inefficiencies when presenting tabular data due to the need for horizontal scroll bars, which users find awkward and inefficient, especially when dealing with large datasets that require extensive scrolling.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of intelligent grouping, ungrouping, collapsing, and expanding of columns allows for efficient data presentation on a display screen, reducing the need for horizontal scroll bars by combining columns into groups, which can be expanded or collapsed based on user input and screen size adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If all columns are displayed individually in a tabular grid interface, then data completeness is improved, but horizontal space consumption increases requiring scroll bars
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual columns into grouped column structures that can be expanded or collapsed. When collapsed, multiple columns occupy the space of a single column header, reducing horizontal space consumption while maintaining the ability to access all column data when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments columns into expandable/collapsible groups that can be independently controlled. Users can segment the display to show only essential columns in a compact form, or expand specific groups to view detailed data, thus managing horizontal space dynamically.
2Loss of information
If horizontal scroll bars are added to display all columns, then data accessibility is improved, but user interface complexity and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic column grouping where the interface automatically adjusts between compact and expanded states based on user interaction. The grouped columns can be dynamically expanded to reveal hidden columns or collapsed back to save space, eliminating the need for static scroll bars.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically managing column visibility and grouping based on user preferences and screen space availability, eliminating the need for users to manually interact with scroll bars to access different portions of the data table.
3Area of stationary object
If columns are grouped and collapsed to save horizontal space, then screen space utilization is improved, but data visibility and measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic display system where grouped columns can be expanded on demand. When users need to view or analyze specific data in collapsed columns, they can expand the relevant group, which temporarily increases the display area to show all columns with full visibility and measurement precision.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes techniques for intelligently grouping, ungrouping, collapsing, and/or expanding columns of data for effective presentation on a display screen. In one example, a method includes accessing, by a computing device, data organized into a plurality of columns, each column having one or more data characteristics; determining, by the computing device and based on at least some of the data characteristics of the columns, one or more column groups, each column group including a subset of the plurality of columns; determining, by the computing device and based on attributes of a window for presentation of the data, whether the plurality of columns will fit within the window; and in response to determining that the plurality of columns will not fit within the window, outputting a user interface presenting a column group as a single column within the window so that the plurality of columns fits within the window.