Navigable Hierarchical Data Visualization via Animated Strip Charts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for visualizing and navigating hierarchical data sets are not intuitive or efficient, making it difficult for users to understand and explore large sets of quantitatively-structured data effectively for decision-making.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that generates a navigable visualization of a quantitative hierarchical data set using a stacked bar chart and bar graph, allowing users to drill down into sub-categories through clickable segments, with the option to display typographic labels and navigate between parent and child levels, implemented on a computer device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional bar graphs and pie charts are used to visualize hierarchical data, then the visualization is simple and easy to understand, but it becomes difficult to navigate and explore sub-categories effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hierarchical data into multiple levels of strip charts, where each strip chart represents a different hierarchical level. Users can navigate through these segmented levels to explore data from high-level categories down to detailed sub-categories, maintaining both overview and detail simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a temporal and spatial dimension to the visualization by animating the transition between hierarchical levels. Instead of static charts, the system uses animated strip charts that smoothly transform between levels, allowing users to navigate through time (animation sequence) and space (different chart positions) to explore hierarchical relationships.
2Loss of information
If detailed hierarchical data is displayed in full, then complete information is provided, but the visualization becomes complex and difficult to interpret
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic visualization where the strip charts can be animated to expand or collapse hierarchical levels on demand. This allows the system to adapt between showing complete detailed data and simplified summaries based on user interaction, maintaining information completeness while controlling visual complexity through dynamic state changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested strip charts where each level of hierarchy is contained within or transitions to the next level. This nested structure allows detailed information to be organized in concentric layers, with users able to access deeper levels only when needed, thus preserving information completeness while managing complexity through hierarchical nesting.
3Productivity
If users can drill down into sub-categories, then deeper analysis is enabled, but the navigation becomes less intuitive and more time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares multiple levels of strip charts in advance and pre-positions them for smooth transitions. The animation sequences are pre-calculated to show the most efficient path between hierarchical levels, allowing users to drill down into sub-categories with minimal navigation time and maximum intuitiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous navigation flow through animated transitions between hierarchical levels. Instead of discrete jumps that require users to re-orient themselves, the system provides continuous visual transformation that maintains context and orientation throughout the drilling down process, reducing cognitive load and navigation time.
Data Source
AI summary
An example system generates, for a target data set, a navigable space based upon quantitatively-visualized menus. The navigable space is provided within a viewing area on a display device and comprises a stacked bar chart at the left end of a viewing area and, on the right end of the viewing area, a bar graph comprising set of bars. The stacked bar chart is also usable as an actionable menu.