Data visualization interface

Abstract

Provided is a method of preparing a data-visualization interface. The method may include receiving a request to view data; retrieving a display configuration responsive to the request to view data, the display configuration identifying two or more context dimensions and three or more sub-display dimensions; retrieving data responsive to the request to view data; designating, in visualization data, a portion of the data as visible data and a portion of the data as cache data based on the display configuration; assigning, in the visualization data, positioning data to a plurality of sub-displays based on the two or more context dimensions, the sub-displays displaying data markers; assigning, in the visualization data, a portion of the cache data to groups of the sub-displays that are co-linear based on the context dimensions; and transmitting the visualization data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of configuring a data visualization interface and visualizing data with the configuration, the method comprising:
 causing a data visualization configuration interface to be presented on a user computing device, wherein:
 the data visualization configuration interface is operative to configure a data visualization including a plurality of subdisplays; 
 the plurality of subdisplays are arranged in a rectangular grid in a display on the user computing device; and 
 at least some of the subdisplays represent at least three dimensions of data with at least three respective attributes of data markers within the respective subdisplay; 
   for at least some of the subdisplays, selecting, by a processor, a mapping of a given dimension of data to be visualized to a data marker attribute, wherein:
 the mapping is for the data marker attribute to represent the given dimension in at least some of the subdisplays; 
 the selection is based, at least in part, on whether the given dimension is expressed in discrete units and a resolution of the data marker attribute; and 
 the selection is presented in the data visualization configuration interface on the user computing device 
   receiving, via the data visualization configuration interface, a data visualization configuration including:
 the selected mapping; 
 mappings of two other dimensions of the data to be visualized to data marker positions within subdisplays; and 
 mappings of two context dimensions of the data to be visualized to horizontal and vertical positions of the subdisplays, respectively; and 
   configuring a data visualization with the received data visualization configuration; and   causing the data visualization to be presented on the user computing device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection is based, at least in part, on a cardinality of the given dimension. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection is based on a data type of the given dimension. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection is a mapping of the given dimension of data to be visualized to a color scheme. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection is a mapping of the given dimension of data to be visualized to a data mark size. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection is a mapping of the given dimension of data to be visualized to a data mark shape. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selection is based on steps for determining cardinality of a field in a database. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 quantizing the data within field of the data to be visualized to satisfy a cardinality constraint of an attribute of the data visualization.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the selection is presented as a user-adjustable option in the data visualization configuration interface.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the data visualization comprises a multi-touch interface.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 data marker size is mapped to another given dimension of the data to be visualized.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 data marker movement an animated sequence is mapped to a dimension of the data to be visualized in the configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the data visualization to be presented on the user computing device comprises:
 steps for caching visualization data on the user computing device; and   steps for presenting cached data responsive to user interaction with the data visualization.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein causing the data visualization to be presented on the user computing device comprises:
 sending content to a web browser that when rendered by the web browser causes the web browser to present the data visualization.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data visualization configuration interface is configured to present menu options by which dimensions of the data to be visualized are selected, and wherein the dimensions are arranged in the menu options based on an amount of unique values the respective dimensions can have based on a respective data type. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the data visualization configuration interface is initialized with the dimensions arranged in the menu options based on the amount of unique values the respective dimensions can have based on the respective data type. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising:
 causing data to be stored on the user computing devices before the data is presented in the data-visualization interface and before user interaction requesting presentation of the data; and   wherein the presented data visualization is configured to detect a user interaction, retrieve the stored data, and present the stored data.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , where the data to be visualized includes:
 data regarding customer relationships or sales leads,   data entered by customers regarding new orders or feedback on previous transactions,   data entered by vendors regarding orders, or   manufacturing data.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the method is executed by the user computing device or a data visualization server.   
     
     
         20 . A tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium storing instructions that when executed by one or more processors effectuate operations comprising:
 causing a data visualization configuration interface to be presented on a user computing device, wherein:
 the data visualization configuration interface is operative to configure a data visualization including a plurality of subdisplays; 
 the plurality of subdisplays are arranged in a rectangular grid in a display on the user computing device; and 
 at least some of the subdisplays represent at least three dimensions of data with at least three respective attributes of data markers within the respective subdisplay; 
   for at least some of the subdisplays, selecting, by a processor, a mapping of a given dimension of data to be visualized to a data marker attribute, wherein:
 the mapping is for the data marker attribute to represent the given dimension in at least some of the subdisplays; 
 the selection is based, at least in part, on whether the given dimension is expressed in discrete units and a resolution of the data marker attribute; and 
 the selection is presented in the data visualization configuration interface on the user computing device 
   receiving, via the data visualization configuration interface, a data visualization configuration including:
 the selected mapping; 
 mappings of two other dimensions of the data to be visualized to data marker positions within subdisplays; and 
 mappings of two context dimensions of the data to be visualized to horizontal and vertical positions of the subdisplays, respectively; and 
   configuring a data visualization with the received data visualization configuration; and   causing the data visualization to be presented on the user computing device.