Abstract:
A method for visualization of big data using three dimensional pie charts. The method includes receiving at least a first set of data, comprising information detailing one or more subsets of values, each value having an associated time element. The method includes determining a three dimensional pie chart based on the at least first set of data, which includes at least as first layer comprising a first set of wedges and a second layer comprising a second set of wedges. The method includes displaying the three dimensional pie chart comprising at least the first layer and the second layer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of visualization of data, and more particularly to visualization of big data using three dimensional representations. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Big data, or large, complex sets of data that are difficult to process using traditional data processing applications, and three dimensional (3-D) representations are expanding areas, increasing the value in efficient ways to visualize the data. Good data visualization allows non-experts to understand and interpret the meaning behind a set of given data. Good visualization techniques pick out the critical information and put it in a consumer-friendly model. Bar graphs, line graphs, scatter plots, and pie charts are each ways to visually represent sets of data. 
     A pie chart is a circular chart divided into sectors, illustrating numerical proportion. The arc length of each sector is proportional to the quantity it represents. Pie charts are used to concisely represent the relative proportion of a set of values across various categories. Programs, such as EXCEL and gnuplot, can create pie charts, as well as 3-D pie charts. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and computer system for visualization of big data using three dimensional pie charts. A computing device receives at least a first set of data comprising information detailing one or more subsets of values, each value having an associated time element. The computing device determines a three dimensional pie chart based on the at least first set of data, which includes at least a first layer comprising a first set of wedges, and a second layer comprising a second set of wedges. The computing device displays the three dimensional pie chart comprising at least the first layer and the second layer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating a computing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart depicting operational steps of a pie chart generating program for generating a 3-D pie chart using input data, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates an example of the text of an input code, written in gnuplot programming language, for generating the 3-D pie chart of  FIG. 3B , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates an example of a layered 3-D pie chart with 3 sets of data represented, generated from the example input code of  FIG. 3A , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates an example of a 3-D pie chart in which the height of each layer represents the non-uniform spacing of the data in the additional (third) axis, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3D  illustrates an example of a 3-D pie chart in which the variation of the diameter of a layer represents variation in the overall total value represented by the layer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3E  illustrates an example of a 3-D pie chart representing interpolation of missing data with a variation of the diameter of each layer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of internal and external components of a data processing system, such as the client computing device of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A pie chart is a useful tool to assist in the visualization of data. Better visualization of data can improve understanding of the data, and may allow the data to be more accessible to all users. Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide a method for visualizing a change in data over time, using three axes in one representation, in the form of a 3-D pie chart. 
     The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the Figures.  FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram illustrating a computing device, designated  120 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  provides only an illustration of one implementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depicted environment may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as recited by the claims. 
     In various embodiments of the present invention, computing device  120  can be a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a netbook computer, a personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smart phone, or any programmable electronic device capable of executing computer readable program instructions. Computing device  120  can be a server, including a management server, a web server, or any other electronic device or computing system capable of receiving and sending data. 
     Computing device  120  includes user interface (UI)  122 , display program  123 , and pie chart generating program  124 . In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, display program  123  and pie chart generating program  124  are included within one program. In other embodiments, display program  123  and pie chart generating program  124  are separate programs included within one or more computing devices, and interact via a network. Computing device  120  may include internal and external components, as depicted and described in further detail with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, UI  122  is a graphical user interface (GUI) or a web user interface (WUI), and can display text, documents, web browser windows, user options, application interfaces, and instructions for operation. UI  122  is capable of receiving data, user commands, and data input modifications from a user. UI  122  is also capable of communicating with display program  123  and/or pie chart generating program  124 . UI  122  is capable of displaying the output from the execution of pie chart generating program  124 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment, display program  123  is capable of communicating with UI  122 . Display program  123  and pie chart generating program  124  are capable of interacting via a network when embodied as separate programs, or located on separate computing devices. Display program  123  is capable of receiving input data for three different dimensions from UI  122  and/or pie chart generating program  124  and mapping and displaying the input data as a 3-D pie chart, visually representing the input data in three dimensions. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, pie chart generating program  124  is capable of communicating with UI  122  and display program  123 . Pie chart generating program  124  is capable of interacting with display program  123  via a network when embodied as separate programs, or when located on separate computing devices. Pie chart generating program  124  is capable of receiving input data for three different dimensions from UI  122 , executing the input data as computer readable code, and displaying the results in three dimensions as a 3-D pie chart, via UI  122  and/or display program  123 . 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart depicting operational steps of pie chart generating program  124  for generating a 3-D pie chart using input data, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Pie chart generating program  124  receives input data (step  201 ). In the exemplary embodiment, pie chart generating program  124  receives data from display program  123 , input by a user of computing device  120 . The input data are sets of data capable of being converted into a computer code, which can be visually represented in three dimensions, the third dimension representing an additional axis, e.g., time data. For example, pie chart generating program  124  may receive data that changes over a period of time, input to a computer code from a user of computing device  120 , via gnuplot, a command-line driven graphing program that can generate 3-D plots of data. In another embodiment, responsive to a request by a user, pie chart generating program  124  retrieves the desired data from an outside database, via a network. In yet another embodiment, pie chart generating program  124  receives, via a network, a set of data as it is generated, through a real-time stream of data. For example, pie chart generating program  124  may receive current revenue data for a company, via a network, as it is being updated in real time. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, pie chart generating program  124  reads in the data files containing the desired data to be graphed into a 3-D pie chart, in a comma separated value (CSV) file, which stores numbers and text in a plain-text format. In other embodiments, pie chart generating program  124  reads in the received data files, written in any suitable format. For example, pie chart generating program  124  can read-in a data file formatted as an XML file, a text file, an EXCEL file, and/or directly from a database via a network, among other formats. 
     Pie chart generating program  124  receives a modification to the input data, from a user (step  202 ). In the exemplary embodiment, supplemental code, written in any corresponding programming language, is appended by a user of computing device  120  to the computer code receiving the input data in step  201 , using pie chart generating program  124 , in order to change the appearance of the 3-D pie chart visual representation. For example, a user may append additional code written in gnuplot programming language that changes one or more of: the height of one or more layers (described in  FIG. 3C ); the diameter of one or more layers (described in  FIG. 3D ); and/or interpolates missing data into one or more layers (described in  FIG. 3E ). In another embodiment, the modification indicates a suitable range of data to represent in the third dimension of the pie chart. For example, a user may choose to limit the range of time in the third dimension to ten years, to make the output data represented in the 3-D pie chart easier to visualize for other users. 
     Pie chart generating program  124  generates a 3-D pie chart from the input data (step  203 ). In the exemplary embodiment, pie chart generating program  124  executes the computer code, which includes data input by a user of computing device  120 , and display program  123  generates a 3-D pie chart from the computer code. For example, the 3-D pie chart in  FIG. 3B  is generated by the gnuplot graphing program, from the gnuplot language computer code of  FIG. 3A  (discussed below). In other embodiments, pie chart generating program  124  executes the input computer code and any supplemental code appended by a user written in any suitable programming language, and generates the output as a data file containing the information to generate a 3-D pie chart from the input data, and is capable of being input directly into various sources. 
     Pie chart generating program  124  displays the pie chart data (step  204 ). In the exemplary embodiment, pie chart generating program  124  directly outputs the resulting data from the generation of the 3-D pie chart to display program  123 , which visually represents the 3-D pie chart. For example, pie chart generating program  124  may output the resulting data from the generation of the 3-D pie chart to the gnuplot graphing program, which is capable of displaying the output data on a screen as an interactive 3-D pie chart. A user of computing device  120  may subsequently manipulate the generated 3-D pie chart, for example, zooming in on particular areas of the 3-D pie chart in the display program. In other examples, the gnuplot graphing program may output the resulting data as a static screen display, a direct output to a file, such as a Portable Network Graphics (PNG) and a Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG), and/or in a mouseable web display format, such as HTML5. 
     In another embodiment, pie chart generating program  124  outputs the executed computer code for generating a 3-D pie chart in a file format, and the file can be input into various display programs. For example, pie chart generating program  124  may output the executed computer code as a graphics file, such as a PDF, Graphics Interchange Format (GIF), and/or a JPEG, among other file formats, which may later be retrieved and input into a display program, such as display program  123 . In other embodiments, pie chart generating program  124  outputs the generated code in a file format, and the generated code file is converted to a 3-D printer compatible file allowing the output to be 3-D printed, displaying the output results as a physical 3-D pie chart. 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates an example of the text of an input code, written in the gnuplot graphing program, for generating the 3-D pie chart of  FIG. 3B . The gnuplot program is a command-line graphing program, and is capable of being executed on most computing devices and operating systems. For example, the command “set urange [0:1]; set vrange [0:1]” sets the surface parametric ranges, while the command “set xrange [−2:2]; set yrange [−2:2]; set zrange [0:20]” sets the desired horizontal and vertical ranges of the function to be plotted. 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates an example of a layered 3-D pie chart with three sets of data represented, generated from the example input code of  FIG. 3A , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Data  320 , data  321 , and data  322  are each sets of different exemplary data, showing the pass and failure rates of all planned test cases, as well as the number of test cases yet to be run. 3-D pie chart layers  323 ,  324 , and  325  are each the same height, and each represents the data from the years 2011, 2012, and 2013, respectively. For example, in pie chart layer  325  (year 2013), data  320  represents 50% of layer  325 , the number of planned test cases not yet run, data  321  represents 25% of layer  325 , the number of test cases that passed, and data  322  represents 25% of layer  325 , the number of test cases that failed. As depicted in  FIG. 3B , data  320 , the number of cases not yet run, decreases in percentage of the total pie layer represented over the span of years from 2011 to 2013 (layer  323  through layer  325 ). Data  321  (number of passed test cases) and data  322  (number of failed test cases) both increase in percentage of the total pie layer represented over the span of years from 2011 to 2013 (layer  323  through layer  325 ). 
       FIG. 3C  illustrates an example of a 3-D pie chart in which the height of each layer represents the non-uniform spacing of data in the additional axis, representing time, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 3-D pie chart layers  330 ,  331 , and  332  each represent one layer of the 3-D pie chart, and each represents time data compiled from January 2013 through February 2013, March 2013 through April 2013, and May 2013 through July 2013, respectively. Data  333 ,  334 , and  335  are each exemplary sets of data represented in each 3-D pie chart layer  330 ,  331 , and  332 , showing the pass and failure rates of all planned test cases, as well as the number of test cases yet to be run. The height of layers  330  and  331  are equal, as each represents the same range of time data (2 months). The height of layer  332  is 1½ times the height of both layers  330  and  331 , as layer  332  represents time data from 1½ times (3 months) the range of time as layers  330  and  331 . 
       FIG. 3D  illustrates an example of a 3-D pie chart in which the total revenue of a year is proportionately represented by the size of the diameter of the layer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 3-D pie chart layers  340 ,  341 ,  342 ,  343 , and  344  are each the same height, and each layer represents a relative change over time of the overall revenue for the year. For example, a change in the diameter of a layer may represent a change (increase or decrease) in the total revenue between years. As depicted in  FIG. 3D , diameter  345  of layer  344  (year 2013) is proportionately smaller than diameter  346  of layer  343  (year 2012), as the total revenue represented by layer  344  ($11,000) is less than the total revenue represented by layer  343  ($12,000). Diameter  345  of layer  344  is proportionately larger than diameter  347  of layer  341  (year 2010), as the total revenue represented by layer  344  ($11,000) is greater than the total revenue represented by layer  341  ($9,500). 
       FIG. 3E  illustrates an example of a 3-D pie chart representing interpolation of missing data with a variation of the diameter of each layer, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Interpolation is a method of constructing new data points within the range of a discrete set of known data points. Missing or unknown data, such as time data, may be estimated using an interpolation calculation and input into the 3-D pie chart for visual display. 
     Data  354 ,  355 , and  356  are each exemplary sets of data, representing the sales of items A, B, and C, respectively, in each of 3-D pie chart layer  350 , layer  352 , and layer  353 , over time. 3-D pie chart layers  350 ,  352 , and  353  are each the same height, and each layer represents the relative, overall sales revenue for the year. 3-D pie chart layer  351  is missing the sales of items A, B, and C data for the year 2011, and is the layer that needs to be interpolated to estimate the diameter of the layer (total sales revenue for the year 2011), as well as the size of each of the slices of missing data  354  (sales of item A),  355  (sales of item B), and  356  (sales of item C). 
     In the exemplary embodiment, a simple linear interpolation is implemented to estimate the diameter and size of the data of the missing layer between two known layers. For example, as depicted in  FIG. 3E , a straight line is drawn connecting the midpoints of: both ends of a diameter of layer  350  and the midpoints of each data slice of layer  350 , to each corresponding midpoint of layer  352 . The diameter and size of each slice of data of missing layer  351  is estimated using the drawn interpolation lines. For example, diameter  357  and slice lines  358  of layer  351  are estimated using interpolation, as depicted in  FIG. 3E , resulting in estimated data slices A, B, and C, representing estimated data  354 ,  355 , and  356 , respectively. In other embodiments, any interpolation algorithm is used, for example, polynomial interpolation and one or more of: the diameter, the size of the data slices, and the height, which are estimated using interpolation. 
       FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of components of computing device  120 , in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that  FIG. 4  provides only an illustration of one implementation, and does not imply any limitations with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depicted environment may be made. 
     Computing device  120  includes communications fabric  402 , which provides communications between computer processor(s)  404 , memory  406 , persistent storage  408 , communications unit  410 , and input/output (I/O) interface(s)  412 . Communications fabric  402  can be implemented with any architecture designed for passing data and/or control information between processors (such as microprocessors, communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheral devices, and any other hardware components within a system. For example, communications fabric  402  can be implemented with one or more buses. 
     Memory  406  and persistent storage  408  are computer readable storage media. In this embodiment, memory  406  includes random access memory (RAM)  414  and cache memory  416 . In general, memory  406  can include any suitable volatile or non-volatile computer readable storage media. 
     User interface  122 , display program  123 , and pie chart generating program  124  are stored in persistent storage  408  for execution and/or access by one or more of the respective computer processors  404  via one or more memories of memory  406 . In this embodiment, persistent storage  408  includes a magnetic hard disk drive. Alternatively, or in addition to a magnetic hard disk drive, persistent storage  408  can include a solid state hard drive, a semiconductor storage device, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any other computer readable storage media that is capable of storing program instructions or digital information. 
     The media used by persistent storage  408  may also be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage  408 . Other examples include optical and magnetic disks, thumb drives, and smart cards that are inserted into a drive for transfer onto another computer readable storage medium that is also part of persistent storage  408 . 
     Communications unit  410 , in these examples, provides for communications with other data processing systems or devices. In these examples, communications unit  410  includes one or more network interface cards. Communications unit  410  may provide communications through the use of either or both physical and wireless communications links. Display program  123  and pie chart generating program  124  may be downloaded to persistent storage  408  through communications unit  410 . 
     I/O interface(s)  412  allows for input and output of data with other devices that may be connected to computing device  120 . For example, I/O interface  412  may provide a connection to external devices  418  such as a keyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or some other suitable input device. External devices  418  can also include portable computer readable storage media such as, for example, thumb drives, portable optical or magnetic disks, and memory cards. Software and data used to practice embodiments of the present invention, e.g., display program  123  and pie chart generating program  124 , can be stored on such portable computer readable storage media and can be loaded onto persistent storage  408  via I/O interface(s)  412 . I/O interface(s)  412  also connect to a display  420 . Display  420  provides a mechanism to display data to a user and may be, for example, a computer monitor or an incorporated display screen, such as is used in tablet computers and smart phones. 
     The programs described herein are identified based upon the application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular program nomenclature herein is used merely for convenience and thus, the invention should not be limited to use solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by such nomenclature. 
     The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. 
     The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device, such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
     Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers, and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network, and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
     Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer, or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
     Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. 
     These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture, including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.