Visualization Point Abstraction for Arbitrary 2D Datasets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current data visualization tools struggle with handling complex two-dimensional datasets, requiring human interaction and limiting flexibility, as they are often tied to specific data consumers and formats, making it difficult to adapt existing datasets for consumption by different visualization engines.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that determines a set of visualization points from any given two-dimensional dataset to best describe a visual analytic using a best-match algorithm and strategy pool, transforming the dataset into metadata for flexible consumption without human interaction, allowing for user-defined strategies and binding datasets to various visual analytics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If existing data visualization tools use traditional methods to handle datasets, then they can process trivial datasets, but they require human interaction and cannot handle complex datasets automatically

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic dataset processingVSAvoiddataset format compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a best-match algorithm as an intermediary component that automatically analyzes dataset characteristics and selects appropriate visualization strategies without human intervention. This algorithm acts as a mediator between the data consumer and the dataset, enabling automatic processing while maintaining compatibility across different dataset formats and structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes parameters by analyzing dataset properties (such as data types, dimensions, and relationships) and adjusting the visualization strategy selection process accordingly. This allows the system to adapt to complex datasets with varying formats and structures, automatically modifying its processing approach based on the specific characteristics of each dataset

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If data visualization tools are designed for specific data consumers, then they can efficiently process designated datasets, but they lack flexibility to serve multiple data consumers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consumer compatibilityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal data extraction layer that can serve multiple data consumers with a single unified interface. This layer uses a strategy pool containing multiple visualization strategies that can be selected based on the specific needs of different data consumers, allowing the system to maintain simplicity while supporting diverse consumption requirements across multiple consumers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the data consumption process into distinct layers: a data extraction layer that handles format conversion and a visualization layer that serves multiple consumers. This segmentation allows each layer to specialize in specific functions, reducing overall system complexity while enabling the system to serve multiple data consumers with different requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If data providers format datasets in specific ways, then visualization tools can efficiently consume the data, but other visualization engines cannot consume the same datasets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consumption efficiencyVSAvoidcross-platform compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring data to be formatted for specific visualization tools, the patent inverts the approach by having the visualization system automatically adapt to various data formats. The best-match algorithm analyzes the incoming dataset and selects the most appropriate visualization strategy, eliminating the need for pre-formatting and enabling any visualization engine to consume any dataset

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9818208B2Identifying and abstracting the visualization point from an arbitrary two-dimensional dataset into a unified metadata for further consumption

Publication Date: 2017.11.14 SAP IRELAND LTD

AI summary

A system and method for determining a set of visualization points from any given two-dimensional dataset to best describe a given visual analytic. A first user selection is received in a data processing apparatus for a chart. A chart type associated with the first user selection is identified for the chart. One or more visualization strategies are accessed from a strategy pool database based on the chart type. A second user selection is received in the data processing apparatus for a two-dimensional dataset from a data provider in communication with the data processing apparatus. The two-dimensional dataset is analyzed to determine a best strategy from the one or more visualization strategies accessed from the strategy pool database. Metadata representing the two-dimensional dataset is generated based on the best strategy, and a display representing the metadata is generated to visualize the two-dimensional dataset according to the best strategy.