Hierarchical Data Visualization via Progressive Disclosure Pie Charts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Displaying hierarchical network data in a way that is understandable and useful is challenging due to the overwhelming volume of information, with important data often becoming buried in traditional tabular or tree formats.
Innovation Solution
The use of progressive disclosure in pie charts to represent hierarchical data, where each level is summarized with N+1 slices, allowing users to select and filter data for deeper analysis, and enabling drill-down capabilities to lower levels of the data structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional tabular or tree formats are used to display hierarchical network data, then complete data representation is achieved, but user comprehension becomes difficult due to overwhelming volume of information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments hierarchical network data into multiple levels of pie charts, where each pie chart represents a specific level of the hierarchy. This segmentation allows the complete data to be divided into manageable portions that can be displayed and understood sequentially, resolving the contradiction between showing all data and maintaining user comprehension.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional two-dimensional tabular or tree formats to a multi-level pie chart visualization that adds a hierarchical dimension. Each level of the hierarchy is represented as a separate pie chart, allowing users to navigate through data dimensions rather than being overwhelmed by a flat, comprehensive view.
2Loss of information
If all hierarchical data levels are displayed simultaneously, then comprehensive data coverage is achieved, but important data becomes buried and difficult to identify
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by displaying summary information at higher hierarchical levels before allowing users to drill down to detailed levels. Each pie chart at a higher level provides an overview that helps users identify important categories before they commit to examining specific sub-categories, ensuring important data is not buried.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic, interactive visualization where users can navigate between hierarchical levels by selecting segments of pie charts. This dynamic approach allows the display to adapt to user interests, showing comprehensive data coverage only when and where users choose to explore, rather than presenting all data statically at once.
3Loss of information
If detailed hierarchical data is displayed, then complete information is provided, but the display becomes overwhelming and unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent structures the visualization as nested pie charts where each level is contained within the hierarchical context of the previous level. This nesting allows complete information to be organized in a compact, manageable structure where detailed data is nested within broader categories, reducing display complexity while maintaining information completeness.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for monitoring IP flows in a network is disclosed. A plurality of monitor probes are coupled to links in the network, the monitor probes capture data packets from the links and determine protocols in OSI Layers 3, 4, and 5/7 of the packets. A user interface receives user inputs selecting the links and protocols for analysis. A display is coupled to the monitor probes and the user interface. The display and user interface receiving a user selection of links for analysis and display a first protocol analysis to the user, the first protocol analysis display comprising a pie chart representing all OSI Layer 3 protocols captured on the selected links, a pie chart representing all OSI Layer 4 protocols captured on the selected links, and a pie chart representing all OSI Layer 5/7 protocols captured on the selected links.