Data visualization extensibility architecture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016104307-A1
Application number	US-201514683079-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 9, 2015
Priority date	Oct 14, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An extensibility framework for enabling the creation of new visualizations and the extension of existing visualizations is provided to improve the functionality of a computer. According to aspects, the architecture enables building data visualizations via a one-directional chain of separate stages that have simple input and output interfaces. The described extensibility architecture enables quick and simple extensibility of visualization types via series layouts that are independent of the rest of the architecture. The extensibility architecture allows for the compositing of features in such a way that allows clients to add additional functionality and the build-out of visualization types via a multiplicative behavior of chaining capabilities together. Accordingly, series layouts can be plugged into the data visualization platform in a generic way. The architecture is operable to work in multiple environments, and is not biased toward a single client.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A computer-executed method for improving the functionality of a computer providing a data visualization according to an existing architecture, comprising:
managing a pipelined flow of information, wherein the information is used to graphically represent data including series via a visualization, by inserting a transform into the pipelined flow to customize the visualization; receiving the data and a surface description of the visualization; creating geometry to graphically represent each series of the data within the visualization based on the surface description, wherein the transform customizes one or more of the geometry; and transmitting the customized geometry to a client operable to render the visualization in accordance with the transform.

2 . The computer-executed method of claim 1 , wherein the inserted transform is a data transform, wherein the data transform modifies a format of the received data, wherein the data according to the modified format is operable to produce the customized geometry.

3 . The computer-executed method of claim 1 , wherein the inserted transform is a geometry transform, wherein the geometry transform modifies how the customized geometry is rendered by the client.

4 . The computer-executed method of claim 1 , wherein the inserted transform is a series layout, wherein the series layout modifies the created geometry to graphically represent at least one of the series of the data within the visualization.

5 . The computer-executed method of claim 1 , wherein the client is operable to present a plurality of transforms to be inserted that are determined to be appropriate for the data based on features of each transform of the plurality of transforms, wherein each transform of the plurality of transforms includes annotations operable to indicate its features to the client.

6 . The computer-executed method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of the plurality of transforms is inserted.

7 . The computer-executed method of claim 1 , wherein the pipelined flow of information is unidirectional, wherein the information flows from the client, to a data visualization platform, operable to create the geometry, and flows back to the client, where the geometry is rendered within the visualization.

8 . The computer-executed method of claim 1 , wherein the pipelined flow of information includes:
a data transform stage, corresponding to receiving the data and the surface description of the visualization; a layout transform stage, corresponding to creating the geometry; a geometry transform stage, corresponding to rendering the visualization; and wherein the transform is operable to be inserted at each of the stages.

9 . A system for improving the functionality of a computer providing a data visualization according to an existing architecture, comprising:
a processor; and a memory storage including instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the computing device to be operable to provide:
a data visualization platform, including:
a series layout module, operable to create geometry to graphically represent data series in a visualization; and
a core engine, operable to:
receive the data series and surface description of the visualization;
transmit the data series and the surface description to the series layout module to create the geometry based on the surface description; and
assemble the visualization based on the geometry and the surface description; and

an extension module, operable to insert transforms into the data visualization platform to customize the visualization, wherein the transforms modify information used by the data visualization platform to provide a customized visualization.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the transforms are data transforms, wherein the data transforms are operable to modify a format of the received data.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the transforms are geometry transforms, wherein the geometry transforms are operable to modify how the geometry are rendered.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the transforms are layout transforms, wherein the layout transforms are operable to modify how the geometry are defined to graphically represent the data series in the visualization.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the layout transforms are further operable to provide shared functionalities within the visualization.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the data visualization platform comprises a unidirectional pipeline in which the information flows, the unidirectional pipeline including:
a data transform stage, corresponding to receiving the data and the surface description of the visualization; a layout transform stage, corresponding to creating the geometry; a geometry transform stage, corresponding to assembling the visualization; and wherein the extension module is further operable to insert the transforms at each of the stages.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the transforms include series layouts, wherein the series layouts include interfaces operable to isolate the series layouts from the system and provide the series layouts with only the data and a coordinate space from the surface description, wherein the series layout are operable to produce the geometry from the data and the coordinate space.

16 . A computing device operable for improving the functionality of a computer providing a data visualization according to an existing architecture, comprising:
a processor; and a memory storage including instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the computing device to be operable to:
manage a unidirectional pipelined flow of information, wherein the information is used to graphically representing data via a visualization, by inserting a transform into the pipelined flow to customize the visualization, wherein the unidirectional pipelined flow includes a data transform stage, a layout transform stage, and a geometry transform stage;
receive the data and a surface description of the visualization, wherein the data includes data series, and wherein receiving the data and the surface description corresponds to the data transform stage;
provide the data series of the data and the surface description to a series layout to create geometry to graphically represent each data series within the visualization, wherein creating geometry corresponds to the layout transform stage;
transmit the geometry to a client operable to render the visualization, wherein transmitting corresponds to the geometry transform stage; and
wherein the transform is inserted at one of the stages to customize one or more of the geometry.

17 . The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the inserted transform is a data transform, wherein the data transform is inserted at the data transform stage and modifies a format of the received data, wherein the data according to the modified format is operable to produce the customized geometry.

18 . The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the inserted transform is a layout transform, wherein the layout transform is determined to be appropriate for the data based on annotations included in the layout transform, wherein the layout transform is inserted at the layout transform stage and modifies a definition used to create the geometry to create the customized geometry.

19 . The computing device of claim 16 , wherein the inserted transform is a geometry transform, wherein the geometry transform is inserted at the geometry transform stage and modifies how the custo

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Allyn Barry Christopher
• Zhou Qijin
• Hufnagel Peter H

Classifications

• G06T12/00

  Tomographic reconstruction from projections · CPC title

• G06T11/26 Primary

  Drawing of charts or graphs · CPC title

• G06F16/164 Primary

  File meta data generation · CPC title

• G06T2210/44

  Morphing · CPC title

• G06T15/40

  Hidden part removal · CPC title