Symmetric log axis scaling for a data visualization user interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10698593-B1
Application number	US-201816154649-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 8, 2018
Priority date	Oct 8, 2018
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A process displays a data visualization user interface on a computing device. Using the user interface, a user selects a data set and a set of configuration parameters. The parameters selected include (i) a first data field from the data set to define a first axis of a two-dimensional data visualization and (ii) a second data field to define a second axis of the data visualization. When the user selects the first axis, the interface displays an axis configuration window. The user selects the symmetric log axis scaling option for the first axis. The device retrieves the data set from a database according to the configuration parameters. The device then generates and displays the data visualization according to the configuration parameters, including scaling the first axis of the data visualization using a symmetric log transformation function and displaying axis tick marks on the first axis according to the scaling.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of displaying data in data visualizations, comprising:
at a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors:
displaying a data visualization user interface;
receiving user selection, in the user interface, of a data set and a set of configuration parameters, including selection of (i) a first data field from the data set to define a first axis of a two-dimensional data visualization and selection of (ii) a second data field from the data set to define a second axis of the data visualization;
in response to user selection of the first axis, displaying an axis configuration window in the user interface;
receiving, in the axis configuration window, user selection of a symmetric log axis scaling option for the first axis;
retrieving the data set from a database in accordance with the set of configuration parameters;
generating and displaying the data visualization according to the configuration parameters, including scaling the first axis of the data visualization using a symmetric log transformation function and displaying axis tick marks on the first axis according to the scaling.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the symmetric log transformation function is an inverse hyperbolic sine function a sin h(x)=ln(x+√{square root over (x 2 +1)}).

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the symmetric log transformation function is log 10 (x) when x>0 and −log 10 (−x) when x<0.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein generating and displaying the data visualization comprises computing a range of values (min, max) for data values of the first data field in the retrieved data set, and displaying axis tick marks on the first axis in accordance with the computed range.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein generating and displaying the data visualization further comprises:
determining that min>0;
in response to the determination:
computing a least integer m for which 10 m ≥min;
computing a least integer n for which 10 n ≥max; and
displaying axis tick marks corresponding to 10 m , 10 m+1 , . . . , and 10 n .

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein generating and displaying the data visualization further comprises:
determining that max<0;
in response to the determination:
computing a least integer m for which 10 m ≥−max;
computing a least integer n for which 10 n ≥−min; and
displaying axis tick marks corresponding to −10 m , −10 m+1 , . . . , and −10 n .

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein generating and displaying the data visualization further comprises:
determining that min=0;
in response to the determination:
computing a least integer n for which 10 n ≥max;
computing a value m=minimum (0, n−1); and
displaying axis tick marks corresponding to 10 m , 10 m+1 , . . . , and 10 n .

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein generating and displaying the data visualization further comprises:
determining that max=0;
in response to the determination:
computing a least integer s for which 10 s ≥−min;
computing a value r=minimum (0, s−1); and
displaying axis tick marks corresponding to −10 r , −10 r+1 , . . . , and −10 s .

9. The method of claim 4 , wherein generating and displaying the data visualization further comprises:
determining that min<0 and max>0;
in response to the determination:
computing a least integer n for which 10 n ≥max;
computing a value m=minimum (0, n−1);
displaying positive axis tick marks corresponding to 10 m , 10 m+1 , . . . , and 10 n ;
computing a least integer s for which 10 s ≥−min;
computing a value r=minimum (0, s−1); and
displaying negative axis tick marks corresponding to −10 r , −10 r+1 , . . . , and −10 s .

10. The method of claim 4 , wherein generating and displaying the data visualization further comprises:
determining that min<0 and max>0;
in response to the determination:
computing a least integer n for which 10 n ≥max;
computing a value m=minimum (0, n−1);
computing a least integer s for which 10 s ≥−min;
computing a value r=minimum (0, s−1);
selecting k as the minimum of m and r;
displaying positive axis tick marks corresponding to 10 k , 10 k+1 , . . . , and 10 n ; and
displaying negative axis tick marks corresponding to −10 k , −10 k+1 , . . . , and −10 s .

11. A computing device having one or more processors and memory, wherein the memory stores one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
displaying a data visualization user interface;
receiving user selection, in the user interface, of a data set and a set of configuration parameters, including selection of (i) a first data field from the data set to define a first axis of a two-dimensional data visualization and selection of (ii) a second data field from the data set to define a second axis of the data visualization;
in response to user selection of the first axis, displaying an axis configuration window in the user interface;
receiving, in the axis configuration window, user selection of a symmetric log axis scaling option for the first axis;
retrieving the data set from a database in accordance with the set of configuration parameters;
generating and displaying the data visualization according to the configuration parameters, including scaling the first axis of the data visualization using a symmetric log transformation function and displaying axis tick marks on the first axis according to the scaling.

12. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the symmetric log transformation function is an inverse hyperbolic sine function a sin h(x)=ln(x+√{square root over (x 2 +1)}).

13. The computing device of claim 11 , wherein the symmetric log transformation function is log 10 (x) when x>0 and −log 10 (−x) when x<0.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein generating and displaying the data visualization comprises computing a range of values (min, max) for data values of the first data field in the retrieved data set, and displaying axis tick marks on the first axis in accordance with the computed range.

15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein generating and displaying the data visualization further comprises:
determining that min>0;
in response to the determination:
computing a least integer m for which 10 m ≥min;
computing a least integer n for which 10 n ≥max; and
displaying axis tick marks corresponding to 10 m , 10 m+1 , . . . , and 10 n .

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer system having one or more processors and memory, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
displaying a data visualization user interface;
receiving user selection, in the user interface, of a data set and a set of configuration parameters, including selection of (i) a first data field from the data set to define a first axis of a two-dimensional data visualization and selection of (ii) a second data field from the data set to define a second axis of the data visualization;
in response to user selection of the first axis, displaying an axis configuration window in the user interface;
receiving, in the axis configuration window, user selection of a symmetric log axis scaling option for the first axis;
retrieving the data set from a database in accordance with the set of configuration parameters;
generating and displaying the data visualization according to the configuration parameters, including scaling the first axis of the data visualization using a symmetri

Assignees

• Tableau Software Inc

Inventors

• Martin Tyler
• Frazier Boone Jeannine
• Beran Bora

Classifications

• G06F16/248

  Presentation of query results · CPC title

• G06F16/2455 Primary

  Query execution · CPC title

• G06F16/252

  between a Database Management System and a front-end application · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title

• G06F3/04847 Primary

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title