Transitioning between visual representations

Abstract

A transition may be made between first, second, and third visual representations. A first visual representation may be displayed, with a plurality of visual elements arranged in a first arrangement. A processor may generate a first animation in which the visual elements move from the first arrangement toward an intermediate arrangement, and then to a second arrangement corresponding to a second visual representation. The first animation and the second visual representation may be displayed. The processor may generate a second animation in which the visual elements move from the second arrangement toward the intermediate arrangement, and then to a third arrangement corresponding to a third visual representation. The second animation and the third visual representation may be displayed. Thus, smooth transitions may be provided between multiple visual representations via animation toward a common intermediate arrangement.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for transitioning between first, second, and third visual representations, the method comprising:
 at a display screen, displaying a first visual representation comprising a plurality of visual elements arranged in a first arrangement;   at a processor, generating a first animation in which the visual elements move from the first arrangement toward an intermediate arrangement different from the first arrangement, and then to a second arrangement different from the first arrangement and the intermediate arrangement;   at the display screen, displaying the first animation; and   at the display screen, displaying a second visual representation comprising the plurality of visual elements arranged in the second arrangement.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at the processor, generating a second animation in which the visual elements move from the second arrangement toward the intermediate arrangement, and then to a third arrangement different from the first arrangement, the second arrangement, and the intermediate arrangement;   at the display screen, displaying the second animation; and   at the display screen, displaying a third visual representation comprising the plurality of visual elements arranged in the third arrangement.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first visual representation comprises a first data visualization that graphically illustrates a data set;
 wherein the second visual representation comprises a second data visualization that graphically illustrates the data set;   and wherein the third visual representation comprises a third data visualization that graphically illustrates the data set.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein at least two of the first data visualization, the second data visualization, and the third data visualization are selected form the group consisting of column charts, bar charts, stock charts, surface charts, radar charts, line charts, area charts, pie charts, and doughnut charts, scatter charts, bubble charts, and pivot charts. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein each of the visual elements is a point, wherein, in the first animation, the points are connected together by a plurality of line segments that cooperate to define a plurality of planar elements. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein generating the first animation further comprises:
 determining that an inequality exists between an intermediate quantity of visual elements in the intermediate arrangement, and a first quantity of visual elements in the first arrangement; and   prior to moving the visual elements to the second arrangement, correcting the inequality.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein generating the second animation further comprises:
 determining that an inequality exists between an intermediate quantity of visual elements in the intermediate arrangement, and a second quantity of visual elements in the second arrangement; and   prior to displaying the second visual representation, correcting the inequality.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating the first animation comprises moving the visual elements such that the visual elements do not move to the intermediate arrangement. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating the first animation comprises:
 dividing a first time period to be occupied by the first animation into a plurality of time segments; and   at each time segment of the plurality of time segments, applying a mathematical function that uses a first position of each of the visual elements in the first arrangement, a second position of each of the visual elements in the second arrangement, and an intermediate position of each of the visual elements in the intermediate arrangement to obtain a segment position of each of the visual elements at the time segment.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the mathematical function comprises a spline. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the spline comprises a quadratic Bezier spline. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the visual elements comprises a point, wherein, in the first animation, the points are connected together by a plurality of line segments that cooperate to define a plurality of planar elements. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, after displaying the first visual representation:
 at an input device, receiving first user input indicative of a desire to display the second visual representation;   wherein generation of the first animation is carried out in response to receipt of the first user input.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising, after displaying the second visual representation:
 at the input device, receiving second user input indicative of a desire to display the third visual representation;   wherein generation of the second animation is carried out in response to receipt of the first user input.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, after displaying the third visual representation:
 at the processor, generating a third animation in which the visual elements move from the third arrangement toward a second intermediate arrangement different from the first arrangement, the second arrangement, the third arrangement, and the intermediate arrangement, and then to a fourth arrangement different from the first arrangement, the second arrangement, the third arrangement, the intermediate arrangement and the second intermediate arrangement;   at the display screen, displaying the third animation; and   at the display screen, displaying a fourth visual representation comprising the plurality of visual elements arranged in the fourth arrangement.   
     
     
         16 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium for transitioning between first, second, and third visual representations, comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor, perform the steps of:
 causing a display screen to display a first visual representation comprising a plurality of visual elements arranged in a first arrangement;   generating a first animation in which the visual elements move from the first arrangement toward an intermediate arrangement different from the first arrangement, and then to a second arrangement different from the first arrangement and the intermediate arrangement;   causing the display screen to display the first animation; and   causing the display screen to display a second visual representation comprising the plurality of visual elements arranged in the second arrangement.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 16 , further comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor, perform the steps of:
 generating a second animation in which the visual elements move from the second arrangement toward the intermediate arrangement, and then to a third arrangement different from the first arrangement, the second arrangement, and the intermediate arrangement;   causing the display screen to display the second animation; and   causing the display screen to display a third visual representation comprising the plurality of visual elements arranged in the third arrangement.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the first visual representation comprises a first data visualization that graphically illustrates a data set;
 wherein the second visual representation comprises a second data visualization that graphically illustrates the data set;   and wherein the third visual representation comprises a third data visualization that graphically illustrates the data set.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein each of the visual elements is a point, wherein, in the first animation, the points are connected together by a plurality of line segments that cooperate to define a plurality of planar elements. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein generating the first animation comprises:
 determining that an inequality exists between an intermediate quantity of visual elements in the intermediate arrangement, and one of a first quantity of visual elements in the first arrangement and a second quantity of visual elements in the second arrangement; and   prior to displaying the second visual representation, correcting the inequality.