In-Memory Sankey Diagrams for Real-Time Business Data Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack the ability to intuitively and dynamically customize Sankey diagrams for real-time visualization of complex business data, making it difficult for users to quickly understand and analyze high-volume, high-speed data from various business operations.
Innovation Solution
The use of in-memory databases and graphical user interfaces allows for the customization of Sankey diagrams, enabling users to select, process, and display relevant information in real-time, with features like dynamic path selection, filtering, and contextual statistical data integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional databases are used for data processing, then data storage capacity is sufficient, but data processing speed and real-time visualization capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical disk-based database systems with an in-memory database system that uses electronic memory for data storage and processing. This substitution of the underlying storage mechanism enables significantly faster data access and processing speeds, directly resolving the contradiction between processing speed and system complexity by providing real-time capabilities without requiring complex batch processing architectures.
2Loss of information
If Sankey diagrams display all available business data, then information completeness is high, but visualization complexity and user comprehension difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and highlights only the most relevant paths and data elements from the complete business data set within the Sankey diagram visualization. By selectively extracting key information such as top customer journeys, critical business paths, or anomaly-highlighted routes, the system maintains information completeness for analysis while improving user comprehension by preventing visual overload.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different visual qualities and levels of detail to different regions of the Sankey diagram. High-traffic or critical paths are displayed with greater detail, color coding, and interactivity, while less important paths are simplified or aggregated. This local differentiation of visual quality allows comprehensive data representation while maintaining ease of understanding for the most relevant information.
3Adaptability or versatility
If Sankey diagrams are customized for different user groups, then user-specific relevance is improved, but system configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal configuration framework that serves multiple user groups and customization scenarios through a single system architecture. The Sankey diagram engine can dynamically adapt to different user roles (executives, managers, analysts) by applying pre-defined configuration templates that control data filtering, path selection, and visual presentation. This multi-functional approach enables extensive customization flexibility while avoiding configuration complexity through centralized, reusable settings.
4Loss of time
If real-time data processing is implemented, then decision-making speed is improved, but computational resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial real-time processing by continuously processing only the most critical and time-sensitive data streams while using batch processing for less urgent data. The system identifies and prioritizes key business metrics that require immediate visualization in the Sankey diagrams, processing these in real-time, while other data can be updated with slightly less frequency. This selective real-time approach reduces computational resource usage compared to processing all data continuously, while still achieving the decision-making speed benefits for critical insights.
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer program product for selecting, processing, and visually depicting information in real time using in-memory technology and user-customizable Sankey diagrams in a graphical user interface. Embodiments receive data describing contact interactions with a business establishment, select interactions occurring frequently during a given time span that led to selected target events, and aggregate similar interaction sequences into paths displayed with widths denoting relative flow quantities. Embodiments modify the depicted information according to user customization of the Sankey diagram. Coherent coordination of visual depiction by context, associated algorithms and models, data sources, event types, and various graphical indicia helps provide an intuitive exploratory situational overview and enables user-driven detailed investigations of complex data via manipulations of the Sankey diagrams. Business assessments and properly directed business actions may improve marketing campaign and customer service effectiveness and increase return on investment without requiring extensive user training or database expertise.