Patent ID: 7996786

Claim:
One or more computer-storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for dynamically rendering a visual representation of a data set, the method comprising: receiving data associated with a plurality of data items from at least one data source; organizing the received data items into groups in accordance with at least one criterion; assigning a common visual identifier to members of the groups, respectively; determining a spatial layout of the members of the groups within the display area; selecting a format of the visual identifier assigned to each of the members of the groups, respectively; estimating, based upon the selected visual identifiers, at least a portion of the plurality of data items that is capable of concurrent visual display by way of an estimation process comprising: (a) determining a size of a display area; and (b) estimating the portion of the plurality of data items capable of concurrent visual display based upon a combination of the spatial layout, the visual-identifier format associated with the groups, respectively, and the size of the display area; retrieving a minimum portion of the received data necessary to render the visual representation of the data set; and rendering the visual representation of the data set.