Using objects in an object model as database entities

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11809459-B2
Application number	US-202217943072-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 12, 2022
Priority date	Jul 30, 2020
Publication date	Nov 7, 2023
Grant date	Nov 7, 2023

Abstract

A computing device displays a data visualization user interface that includes a schema region. Each data field displayed in the schema region is visually associated with a respective data object of a plurality of data objects in an object model. The device receives user input to specify a mathematical expression that includes a first data field from a first object and a second data field from a second object. The first object and the second object are distinct objects in the object model. The device generates a calculated data field based on the mathematical expression. The device assigns the calculated data field as a member of a third object in the object model according to relations in the object model connecting the first object to the second object. The device displays the calculated data field, in the schema region, visually associated with the third object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for analyzing data from data sources, comprising:
at a computer system having a display, one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors:
loading a data visualization user interface on the display, the data visualization user interface including a schema region with information about a plurality of data fields, wherein each data field of the plurality of data fields is visually associated with a respective data object of a plurality of data objects in an object model;
receiving user input to specify a mathematical expression that includes a first data field from a first data object of the plurality of data objects and a second data field from a second data object of the plurality of data objects, wherein:
the second data field is distinct from the first data field; and
the first data object and the second data object are distinct data objects in the object model; and

in response to the user input:
generating a calculated data field based on the mathematical expression;
assigning the calculated data field as a member of a third data object of the plurality of data objects according to relations in the object model connecting the first data object to the second data object; and
displaying the calculated data field, in the schema region, visually associated with the third data object.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving user selection of the calculated data field from the schema region and placement of the calculated data field into a shelf region; and
generating and displaying a data visualization according to calculated data values for the calculated data field.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third data object is distinct from the first data object and distinct from the second data object.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the object model includes a many-to-one relationship from the third data object to the first data object and a many-to-one relationship from the third data object to the second data object; and
the third data object is distinct from each of the first data object and the second data object.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third data object is the same as the first data object or the third data object is the same as the second data object.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the object model includes a many-to-one relationship from the first data object to the second data object; and
assigning the calculated data field as a member of the third data object in the object model comprises assigning the calculated data field as a member of the first data object.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the mathematical expression includes a third data field from a fourth data object;
the object model includes a many-to-one relationship from the first data object to the second data object and a many-to-one relationship from the first data object to the fourth data object; and
assigning the calculated data field as a member of the third data object in the object model comprises assigning the calculated data field as a member of the first data object.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the mathematical expression includes a third data field from a fourth data object, distinct from the first data object and distinct from the second data object;
the object model includes:
a many-to-one relationship from the third data object to the first data object;
a many-to-one relationship from the third data object to the second data object;
a many-to-one relationship from the third data object to the fourth data object; and

the third data object is distinct from each of the first data object, the second data object, and the fourth data object.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein assigning the calculated data field as a member of the third data object in the object model includes:
identifying a set of candidate data objects, each candidate data object having a respective sequence of zero or more many-to-one relations in the object model from the respective candidate data object to each of the first and second data objects; and
selecting the third data object as an object in the set of candidate objects having a smallest total sequence length to the first and second data objects.

10. A computing device, comprising:
one or more processors;
memory;
a display; and
one or more programs stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
loading a data visualization user interface on the display, the data visualization user interface including a schema region with information about a plurality of data fields, wherein each data field of the plurality of data fields is visually associated with a respective data object of a plurality of data objects in an object model;
receiving user input to specify a mathematical expression that includes a first data field from a first data object of the plurality of data objects and a second data field from a second data object of the plurality of data objects, wherein:
the second data field is distinct from the first data field; and
the first data object and the second data object are distinct data objects in the object model;

generating a calculated data field based on the mathematical expression;
assigning the calculated data field as a member of a third data object of the plurality of data objects according to relations in the object model connecting the first data object to the second data object; and
displaying the calculated data field, in the schema region, visually associated with the third data object.

11. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein each of the first data object, the second data object, and the third data object belongs to a same data source.

12. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:
automatically generating a name and a caption associated with the calculated data field.

13. The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:
displaying the calculated data field in a first display mode of the user interface.

14. The computing device of claim 13 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:
receiving, in the first display mode, a user input to switch from the first display mode to a second display mode that is different from the first display mode; and
in the second display mode, displaying, in the schema region of the user interface, the calculated data field as belonging to a default folder.

15. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:
in a second display mode:
receiving user input to associate the calculated data field with a user-defined folder distinct from the default folder; and
displaying, in the schema region of the user interface, the calculated data field as belonging to the user-defined folder.

16. The computing device of claim 15 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:
in the second display mode:
receiving user input to associate the first data field with the user-defined folder; and
displaying, in the schema region of the user interface, the first data field and the calculated data field as belonging to the user-defined folder.

17. The computing device of claim 14 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:
in either the first display mode or the second display mode:

Assignees

• Tableau Software Llc

Inventors

• Nhan Thomas
• Sulc Elaine Weatherfield
• Doan Susan Denise
• Luebbert Mathew Henry

Classifications

• G06F16/287 Primary

  Visualization; Browsing · CPC title

• G06F3/04812

  Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects · CPC title

• G06F16/2246

  Trees, e.g. B+trees · CPC title

• G06F16/2282

  Tablespace storage structures; Management thereof · CPC title

• G06F40/177 Primary

  of tables; using ruled lines · CPC title