Methods and systems for implementing a dynamic hierarchical data viewer

Abstract

Methods, systems, and machine-readable mediums are disclosed for viewing multiply-dimensioned data. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed which comprises displaying multiply-dimensioned data in a table format, the table format having a plurality of rows, a plurality of columns, and a plurality of cells displaying data, a first column of the plurality of columns including data having at least two hierarchical levels. Data for at least a first set of the plurality of cells is displayed in a graphical format, the first set including cells in the first column, the graphical format of the cells in the first set in the first column indicating a hierarchical level associated with the cell data and a mechanism is displayed for a first one of the rows to display at least one additional row having data in the first column associated with a lower hierarchical level of the first row data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of displaying graphical representations of multiply-dimensioned data, the method comprising:
 displaying multiply-dimensioned data in a table format, the table format comprising a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, one or more cells of the plurality of cells being capable of displaying data graphically, and a column of the plurality of columns having at least two hierarchical levels, the at least two hierarchical levels comprising a parent hierarchical level and a child hierarchical level;   displaying in each cell of one or more cells of the plurality of cells of the child rows, wherein the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data is associated with the cell;   providing, using a processor, a visual correlation within the plurality of cells between the display of the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data of the parent row and the display of the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data of the child rows; and   changing the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data in the cells of the first row to a numerical representation of the data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more aggregation functions comprise at least one or more of the following: a sum function, an average function, a mean function, a median function, a maximum function, a minimum function, and a statistical function based on data distribution of one or more columns in the table. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the child rows utilizes the average function for aggregation and the at least one parent row utilizes the sum function for aggregation. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 dynamically selecting the aggregation function for each row based at least in part on one or more of the following: the level of the row in the hierarchy, a number of child rows associated with the row, a number of parent rows above the child row in the hierarchy, and the row's numeric value.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising providing a user with an interface configured to receive input, wherein the input defines the aggregation function for each row. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation comprises one or more of the following: a line graph, a histogram, and a picture chart. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the displaying the graphical representation from at least one child differs from the displaying of the graphical representation of at least one parent. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the aggregation of the data is performed simultaneously with the providing of the visual correlation. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the aggregation of the data is performed using pre-defined aggregation computations computed prior to the providing of the visual correlation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising scaling the graphical representation of the data for each of the plurality of rows. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the scaling comprises one or more of the following scaling functions: absolute scaling, set width scaling, scaling relative to child and parent rows associated with the row, and cross column scaling. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the scaling of the graphical representation of the data for at least one child row differs from the scaling of at least one parent row. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a scaling function selected for a row is based at least in part on an aggregation function used for the row. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical representation for a row represents the row and at least one child row or parent row. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting an activation of a mechanism associated with the plurality of rows, the plurality of rows having cell data in a column at the parent hierarchical level; and   displaying one or more of the plurality of rows having data in the column at the child hierarchical level, the data at the child hierarchical level sharing at least one data dimension with the cell data.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:
 display multiply-dimensioned data in a table format, the table format comprising a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, one or more cells of the plurality of cells being capable of displaying data graphically, and a column of the plurality of columns having at least two hierarchical levels, the at least two hierarchical levels comprising a parent hierarchical level and a child hierarchical level;   display in each cell of one or more cells of the plurality of cells of the child rows, wherein the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data is associated with the cell;   provide a visual correlation within the plurality of cells between the display of the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data of the parent row and the display of the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data of the child rows; and   change the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data in the cells of the first row to a numerical representation of the data.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein one or more aggregation functions comprise at least one or more of the following: a sum function, an average function, a mean function, a medium function, a maximum function, and a minimum function. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one of the child rows utilizes the average function for aggregation and the at least one parent row utilizes the sum function for aggregation. 
     
     
         19 . A system for displaying graphical representations of multiply-dimensioned data, the method comprising:
 a memory device; and   a processor in communication with the memory device, wherein the memory device includes sets of instruction stored thereon which, when executed vy the processor, cause the processor to:
 display multiply-dimensioned data in a table format, the table format comprising a plurality of cells arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, one or more cells of the plurality of cells being capable of displaying data graphically, and a column of the plurality of columns having at least two hierarchical levels, the at least two hierarchical levels comprising a parent hierarchical level and a child hierarchical level; 
 display in each cell of one or more cells of the plurality of cells of the child rows, wherein the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data is associated with the cell; 
 provide a visual correlation within the plurality of cells between the display of the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data of the parent row and the display of the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data of the child rows; and 
 change the non-character and non-numerical graphical representation of the data in the cells of the first row to a numerical representation of the data. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein, wherein the graphical representation for a row represents the row and at least one child row or parent row.