System and method for interactive visual analytics of multi-dimensional temporal data

Abstract

Multi-dimensional temporal data can provide insight into patterns, trends and correlations. Traditional 2D-charts are widely used to support domain analysts' work, but are limited to present large-scale complicated data intuitively and do not allow further exploration to gain insight. A visual analytics system and method which supports interactive analysis of multi-dimensional temporal data, incorporating the idea of a novel visualization method is provided. The system extends the ability of mapping techniques by visualizing domain data based on a 3D geometry enhanced by color, motion and sound. It allows a compact universal overview of large-scale data and drilling down for further exploration. By customizable visualization, it can be adapted to different data models and applied to multiple domains. It helps analysts interact directly with large-scale data, gain insight into the data, and make better decisions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 62 . (canceled) 
     
     
         63 . An apparatus for generating a graphical user interface for displaying multi-dimensional temporal data on a display device, comprising:
 an input component for receiving one or more data feeds comprising a plurality of data points;   a processor device for generating a graphical user interface based upon the one or more received data feeds;   a display device for displaying the generated graphical user interface; and   a storage device comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 generate a three-dimensional global sphere displayed within the graphical user interface based upon a first predetermined set of rules for determining a radius of the three-dimensional global sphere; 
 segment the three-dimensional global sphere displayed within the graphical user interface according to longitudinal segments to define a first criterion for locating a data point in one of the longitudinal segments; 
 segment the three-dimensional global sphere displayed within the graphical user interface according to latitudinal segments to define a second criterion for locating a data point in one of the latitudinal segments; 
 track one or more changes of each data point from a time T 0  to time T N  according to information about each data point received from the one or more data feeds; 
 generate a modified three-dimensional global sphere based upon the one or more tracked changes; and 
   enable a user to interact with the modified three-dimensional global sphere.