Patent Publication Number: US-2007101250-A1

Title: Data analysis visualization with hyperlink to external content

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The invention generally relates to data analysis and visualization, and more particularly to systems and methods for graphically visualizing data.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Data handling and analysis software is well known in the art. Usually, such software imports raw data and analyzes this data in accordance with predefined or user-specified rules. Generally, the aim of data analysis is to extract useful information and facilitate data conclusions. This may include statistical methods, curve fitting, selecting or discarding certain subsets based on specific criteria, or other techniques. One example of a conventional data analysis system is the R environment which can be regarded as an implementation of the S language developed at Bell Laboratories.  
      Data analysis results are usually provided in the form of data, and this data is sometimes visualized by the data analysis system itself. For example, a data analysis system could obtain raw data from one or more sources, apply statistical techniques to obtain a spatial or temporal distribution, and then present the result to a user on a screen in the form of an x/y graph. This graph can then be studied by the user, and it may sometimes be useful to print the result on a printer, or store it in an electronic document.  
      However, the data analysis results are always isolated from other information pertaining to the context in which the data analysis was performed. That is, even when the data analysis system produces well-designed publication-quality plots, this visualization does not include any other information than just the result of data analysis. This is undesirable since understanding data analysis results often requires additional information.  
      For this reason, data analysis results, even when produced as high-quality graphics, are often supplemented with extra information afterwards. For instance, the data analysis results could be exported to an electronic file which is then imported into other software such as Microsoft Word or Microsoft PowerPoint which is then used to add further information. This may however be cumbersome since it requires a significant amount of extra work in a succeeding step at a time where the data analysis is finished.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A data analysis and visualization system, a method for graphically visualizing statistical data, and a computer-readable medium are provided that may allow for easier combining of data analysis results with other relevant information.  
      In one embodiment, a data analysis and visualization system is provided which comprises a graphics module that is adapted to produce graphics to visualize data to be analyzed and/or visualize an outcome of data analysis. The graphics module is adapted to embed at least some of the graphics in an exportable electronic document. The graphics module is further adapted to associate graphics embedded in the exportable electronic document and/or graphics to be embedded in the exportable electronic document with hyperlink information pointing to electronically accessible content located outside the data analysis and visualization system.  
      In another embodiment, a method for graphically visualizing statistical data comprises specifying at least one graphical object to be used for visualizing the statistical data, and specifying hyperlink information pointing to external, electronically accessible content. The method further comprises associating the specified hyperlink information with the specified at least one graphical object, and embedding the specified at least one graphical object with associated hyperlink information in an exportable electronic document.  
      According to a further embodiment, a computer-readable medium stores instructions, that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to operate a data handling facility to associate a hyperlink with a graphical object and export the associated graphical object and hyperlink in an electronic document. The hyperlink points to content external to the data handling facility and the electronic document. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The accompanying drawings are incorporated into and form a part of the specification for the purpose of explaining the principles of the invention. The drawings are not to be construed as limiting the invention to only the illustrated and described examples of how the invention can be made and used. Further features and advantages will become apparent from the following and more particular description of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a data analysis and visualization system and a data presentation environment according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a data handling and presentation process according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a visualization process according to an embodiment;  
       FIG. 4A  is a box plot trend chart according to an embodiment where the mouse pointer is outside any link sensitive area;  
       FIG. 4B  is a box plot trend chart according to an embodiment where the mouse pointer is moved over a link sensitive area; and  
       FIG. 4C  is a box plot trend chart according to an embodiment where the mouse pointer is moved over another link sensitive area.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The illustrative embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the figure drawings wherein like elements and structures are indicated by like reference numbers.  
      Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , a system according to an embodiment is depicted. In one part, there is a data analysis and visualization system  100  that has a statistics module  110  and a graphics module  120 . The statistics module  110  receives raw data from an external source, and applies statistics methods for data analysis purposes.  
      In an embodiment, the statistics module  110  performs collection and interpretation of quantitative data and uses probability theory to make investigations and estimations. It may use empirical data expressed in quantitative form, and may be concerned with modelling randomness and uncertainty. Specifically, the statistics module  110  may further perform curve fitting, interpolation and extrapolation, time, space and frequency distribution calculation, correlation and autocorrelation, and other data handling techniques. Further, embodiments exist where the statistics module  110  performs non-statistics techniques in addition to statistics methods. It is noted that further embodiments do solely apply non-statistics techniques.  
      The outcome of the data analysis in statistics module  110  is provided to the graphics module  120  for visualization purposes. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the graphics module  120  visualizes the data analysis results by producing graphics and embedding the graphics in an exportable electronic document  130 . Thus, it is noted that visualization according to the present embodiment does not require that the graphics are actually presented to a user at that time. Rather, graphics are produced and embedded in an exportable electronic document  130  such that the graphics can be presented some time later.  
      While the data analysis and visualization system  100  of  FIG. 1  is depicted to include both a statistics module  110 , and a graphics module  120 , it is noted that other embodiments may exist not having a statistics module  110 . In this case, the raw data is provided directly to the graphics module  120  so that the data analysis and visualization system  100  then produces graphics to visualize the raw data. In a further embodiment, the raw data may be provided to the graphics module  120  even though there is a statistics module  110  provided in the data analysis and visualization system  110 . In this case, the graphics module  120  produces graphics to visualize the data to be analyzed, i.e., the raw data, but not the outcome of data analysis performed by the statistics module  110 . In yet another embodiment, the data analysis and visualization system  100  may have the graphics module  120  coupled in a manner so as to be capable to produce graphics to visualize data to be analyzed as well as an outcome of data analysis.  
      As may be seen from  FIG. 1 , there is further provided a data presentation environment  140  which may be a computer system having a display to present graphics. The data presentation environment  140  of the present embodiment receives the exportable electronic document  130  from the graphics module  120  of the data analysis and visualization system  100 . Based on the received exportable electronic document  130 , the data presentation environment  140  then performs a graphical visualization of the graphical objects present in the document. For this purpose, the data presentation environment  140  may contain a module  150  for storing and graphically visualizing the data analysis results received from the data analysis and visualization system  100 .  
      As apparent from  FIG. 1 , the graphical visualization  150  of data analysis results may be linked to separate, independent content  160  provided within the data presentation environment  140 . The independent content  160  is content not generated by the data analysis and visualization system  100 . Nevertheless, the graphics within the exportable electronic document  130  and graphically visualized in module  150  are linked to the independent content  160 , as illustrated by arrow  170  in  FIG. 1 .  
      For instance, the graphical visualization  150  may be a pie chart, and certain areas within the pie chart are linked to content  160 . This link may be activated in an embodiment by clicking on the respective pie chart area using a pointing device such as a mouse. Exemplarily assuming that presentation takes place in a windowing environment, the respective independent content may then be shown in a popup window nearby the mouse pointer, in a bottom line of the window, or in an extra window which may be a daughter window or a new window instance. Other embodiments not using pie charts but any other diagram, chart, plot or the like exist as well.  
      In any of the embodiments, the graphics module  120  of the data analysis and visualization system  100  receives link information from a user or another external data source. Using this link information, the graphics module  120  associates at least some of the produced visualization graphics with hyperlink information pointing to the electronically accessible content  160  located outside the data analysis and visualization system  100 .  
      That is, although the independent content  160  is not located in or provided by the data analysis and visualization system  100 , the graphics module  120  of the data analysis and visualization system  100  associates hyperlink information to this content. In other words, although the link information received by the graphics module  120  of the data analysis and visualization system  100  is not used to perform the data analysis but only used later by the data presentation environment  140  at a time where data analysis is completed, it is a task of the graphics module  120  of the data analysis and visualization system  100  to associate respective hyperlink information with graphics which are embedded or to be embedded. The associated and embedded hyperlink information may then be primarily or exclusively used in the data presentation afterwards to provide links  170  from the graphical visualization  150  of data analysis results, to independent content  160 .  
      It is noted that the term “hyperlink” refers to any link in a document to independent content  160 . The hyperlink may be a hypertext link or any other cross-referencing pointer. For instance, the hyperlink may include a URI (Uniform Resource Identifier) which may be a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). It is however noted that the embodiments are not restricted to the use of HTML (Hyper Text Mark-up Language) documents to visualize the graphics.  
      In any embodiment, the independent content  160  may be static content or dynamic content. For instance, the content may be provided by static or dynamic HTML pages, or by internet or intranet applications which are dynamic.  
      In an embodiment, the exportable electronic document  130  may be a PDF (Portable Document Format) document but other embodiments may use other document formats such as SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics), XML (Extensible Markup Language), HTML or the like. In any case, the document format allows for embedding graphical objects having hyperlink information associated.  
      Turning now to  FIG. 2 , a flow chart is depicted for illustrating data handling and presentation. In step  200 , the data analysis and visualization system  100  receives raw data. Step  210  then applies statistical methods to the received raw data. Once the data analysis is performed in step  210 , the data analysis results can be visualized in step  220  in an independent environment such as the data presentation environment  140  with integrated referencing by links  170  to content  160 . This then allows a user to navigate in step  230  from a graphical presentation of the data analysis results to a presentation of the referenced content, for instance by clicking on a graphic object.  
      An example of how to perform step  220  is depicted in more detail in the flow chart of  FIG. 3 . In step  300 , the graphics module  120  of the data analysis and visualization system  100  specifies a graphical object to be embedded. Then, a hyperlink target may be specified in step  310  based on link information received by the graphics module  120 . The graphical object is then associated with a hyperlink in step  320  and embedded in the document  130  in step  330 . Document  130  is then exported in step  340  for immediate or later use by one or more data presentation environments  140 . In step  350 , the exported electronic document  130  is presented to the user in a manner so as to allow the user to follow a link  170  from a graphical visualization of the data analysis results  150  to independent content  160 .  
      Referring to the flowcharts of  FIGS. 2 and 3 , it is noted that the flowcharts show various process steps in a specific order, but the embodiments should not be understood to be restricted to this specific order. For instance, the order of steps  300  and  310  may be reversed, or both steps may even be performed simultaneously. In another embodiment, steps  300  and  310  may be merged with step  320  so that the graphical object and the hyperlink target are then actually specified at the time of association of the graphical object with the hyperlink.  
      It is further noted that the embodiments are not restricted to perform the hyperlink association prior to embedding of the graphical object in the document  130 . Rather, embodiments exist where the graphical object is first embedded, and the hyperlink information is then added afterwards.  
      Turning now to  FIGS. 4A  to  4 C, an example of a graphical visualization technique according to the embodiments is depicted. In this example, a box plot trend chart is shown which has link sensitive areas. The box plot trend chart is embedded in a PDF document and includes multiple rectangular boxes which are located side by side. Assuming that the vertical axis of the charts is a time axis, each box indicates a different time period which is greater for large boxes and smaller for small boxes. Further, boxes located above other boxes could indicate later time periods. Further assuming that the box plot trend chart of  FIGS. 4A  to  4 C illustrate product engineering stages in a multiple component manufacturing process, and each box is for a different product component, the chart allows for understanding which component manufacturing stages are temporally aligned with other component stages. It is noted that the location and the vertical size of the boxes may be the result of complex data analysis based on a huge amount of raw data received from manufacturing equipment.  
      Some or all of the boxes may be hyperlinked to external, independent content provided on intranet pages. Taking for instance  FIG. 4A , the mouse pointer is outside a link sensitive area, i.e., a box so that pressing the mouse button will not activate any hyperlink. In  FIG. 4B , the mouse pointer is located above the second box which may be related to a product component having a product identifier (PRID) of “PR 124 ”. Thus, clicking on this box will open an intranet page showing data analysis independent content with respect to the component PR 124 . A similar example is given in  FIG. 4C  where the first box is used which relates to the product component PR 123 .  
      It is noted that  FIGS. 4A  to  4 C illustrate the temporal relationship of various stages in a manufacturing process of multiple product components, but the embodiments are not restricted to this example.  
      Any of the above described embodiments may be implemented within the data analysis and visualization system  100  using a modified R environment. For instance, the R language can be modified to add a new link argument to the rect( ) command. The rect( ) command produces a rectangle of specified size and the added links argument would then indicate the hyperlink target. For instance, 
          rect(1,1,2,2,links=“http://www.domain.com”)        

      would produce an invisible rectangle with link.  
                                                  rect(2,c(2,6),5,c(4,8),links=c(“http://www.domain.com/           page1.html”,“http://www.domain.com/page2.html”))                      
 
 would produce two transparent rectangles, each having one link. 
          rect(2,c(2,6),5,c(4,8),links=c(“http://www.domain.com”, NA)) 
 
 would also produce two transparent rectangles each having one link, but the second rectangle would not be drawn. 
       

      It is noted that the hyperlink information to be associated with the graphics may be split into hyperlink base data and hyperlink supplement data so that the hyperlink information is formed by concatenating the hyperlink base data and the hyperlink supplement data. For instance, the hyperlink base data may be a base URL such as “http://www.domain.com/page.php”, and the hyperlink supplement data may then provide parameter information such as “?PRID=PR 123 ”. Activating this hyperlink will then result in “http://www.domain.com/page.php?PRID=PR123.” 
      The graphics module  120  may be adapted to receive the hyperlink base data in a command to open the exportable electronic document for later embedding of one or more graphics and receive the hyperlink supplement data in a command to embed a graphic in the opened exportable electronic command. For instance, the base URL may be an additional argument to the pdf( ) command in a modified R environment while the hyperlink supplement data may be provided using the above-mentioned additional links argument in a modified rect( ) command.  
      It is noted that the embodiments are not restricted to the use of rectangles. Rather, any other graphical object may be used instead such as triangles, circles, lines, points, free-curve objects, and so on.  
      When taking the example of generating a PDF document as exportable electronic document  130 , the graphics module  120  may be further adapted to create the PDF document in a manner specifically adapted to facilitate inclusion in other electronic documents. For instance, the graphics module  120  may be configured to add only generic font information to document  130 . In another embodiment, the graphics module  120  may be configured to not apply any compression mechanism within the exportable electronic document  130 .  
      While the invention has been described with respect to the physical embodiments constructed in accordance therewith, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications, variations and improvements of the present invention may be made in the light of the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention. In addition, those areas in which it is believed that those of ordinary skill in the art are familiar, have not been described herein in order to not unnecessarily obscure the invention described herein. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative embodiments, but only by the scope of the appended claims.