Infoscenting Fields for Guided Multi-Fact Data Visualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data visualization applications struggle with complex data sources and multiple data sources, making it unclear how to generate appropriate visualizations based on user selections and the relationships between data fields, limiting analysis to a single set of facts and imposing maintenance burdens on data stewards.
Innovation Solution
A computing device with an improved user interface facilitates the creation and analysis of multi-fact data models by displaying relationships between objects, providing visual feedback, and guiding analysts through relevant field selection using grayed-out and explained irrelevant fields, while supporting query semantics compatible with Tableau's VizQL for sophisticated analytic questions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data visualization applications support multiple data sources and complex data sources, then the ability to perform comprehensive analysis is improved, but it becomes unclear how to generate appropriate visualizations and how data fields are related
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an object model as an intermediary layer between multiple data sources and the user interface. This object model contains objects that represent data fields and their relationships, serving as a mediator that organizes complex data from multiple sources into a structured format that the visualization system can process, thereby maintaining clarity while supporting comprehensive analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments complex data from multiple sources into discrete objects within an object model. Each object represents a specific data field or relationship, allowing the system to break down complex multi-source data into manageable, individually representable units that can be clearly mapped to visualization elements
2Device complexity
If analysis is restricted to a single set of facts, then the complexity of the data model is reduced, but the ability to ask sophisticated analytic questions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal object model framework that can represent multiple fact sets and their relationships through a common structure. The object model serves multiple functions: it can represent single or multiple fact sets, define relationships between them, and support various types of analytic questions, thereby enabling sophisticated analysis without proportionally increasing complexity
3Reliability
If data models span multiple fact tables with shared dimensions, then the completeness and accuracy of analysis is improved, but the maintenance burden on data stewards increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service capabilities where the system automatically generates the object model from the underlying data sources and relationships. The object model is derived automatically from the data structure, reducing the need for manual configuration and maintenance by data stewards while still supporting complete and accurate multi-fact analysis
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device displays, in a user interface, data field icons corresponding to a plurality of data fields. Each of the data fields is associated with a respective object in an object model. In response to receiving (i) user selection of a first data field icon corresponding to a first data field, and (ii) placement of the first data field icon in a shelf region of the user interface, where the first data field is associated with a first object of the object model, the computing device generates a first data visualization and updates a visual characteristic of a subset of the data field icons from a first visual characteristic to a second visual characteristic. Each data field icon in the subset is associated with a second object of the object model. The data field icons in the subset are user-selectable independently of the first or second visual characteristic.