Graphical Analytic Data Modules for Interactive What-If Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for performing 'what-if' analysis in business decision-making are limited by the need for indirect interaction with raw data, lack of real-time updates, and difficulty in simultaneously adjusting multiple variable values, making it cumbersome for users to optimize business outcomes.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method for graphically managing interactive analytic data, which presents a virtual workspace with graphical modules that allow users to adjust variables through intuitive UI actions like drag and drop, resize, and other graphical interactions, enabling real-time updates and simultaneous changes to multiple variables, and displaying the results in a visual format.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional table-based what-if analysis is used, then users can perform sensitivity analysis, but the interaction with raw data is indirect and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates visual copies of data variables represented as draggable objects that mirror the underlying raw data. These visual representations allow users to interact directly with data concepts without accessing the complex raw data structure, resolving the contradiction by providing intuitive access while preserving data integrity through the copying mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual variable objects as intermediaries between the user and raw data. These objects serve as mediators that simplify user interaction while maintaining accurate connections to the underlying data, allowing indirect manipulation of raw data through user-friendly visual elements.
2Productivity
If multiple variable values are adjusted simultaneously, then analysis efficiency improves, but the complexity of managing multiple changes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the analysis process into individual draggable variable objects, each representing a separate parameter. Users can select and manipulate multiple segmented objects independently or collectively, reducing the perceived complexity while enabling simultaneous adjustment of multiple variables for improved productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional single-dimensional table editing to a multi-dimensional visual workspace where variables can be arranged spatially. This dimensional change allows users to manage multiple variable adjustments simultaneously through visual grouping and spatial organization, reducing complexity while maintaining productivity.
3Speed
If real-time updates are implemented, then user feedback is immediate, but the computational load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial real-time updates by recalculating only the specific business process outputs affected by variable changes rather than performing full system recalculations. This selective approach provides immediate user feedback on impacted areas while conserving computational energy by avoiding unnecessary updates to unrelated outputs.
4Ease of operation
If visual graphical interface is used, then user interaction is simplified, but the precision of data manipulation may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms that display precise numerical values alongside visual graphical elements. When users interact with visual objects, the system provides real-time feedback showing exact data values, ensuring that simplified visual interaction does not compromise data manipulation precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains precise parameter control by allowing users to modify both visual properties and numerical values of variable objects. The system accepts input through multiple modalities (dragging, clicking, direct numerical entry) while ensuring that all parameter changes maintain mathematical precision in the underlying calculations.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for graphically managing interactive analytic data include presenting a virtual workspace to a user that includes a visual representation of a simulation analysis that includes a plurality of graphical analytic data modules, each graphical analytic data module including a plurality of variables that define a business process; identifying a change to a particular variable of a particular graphical analytic data module, the change defined by a user interface (UI) adjustment of a dimension of the particular graphical analytic data module that represents the particular variable; based on the identified change to the particular variable of the particular graphical analytic data module, adjusting at least one business process output of the simulation analysis; and presenting a revised virtual workspace to the user, the revised virtual workspace including the particular graphical analytic data module and at least one business process output of the simulation analysis.