Patent ID: 6995768

Claim:
An interactive system for visualizing business data organized according to a dimensional model, said system comprising: a. means for retrieving data from at least one dimensional data source; b. means for converting said retrieved data into a graphical form; c. means for presenting said converted data to a user as a hierarchically organized graphical multi-metric visualization combining data from more than one data source, said hierarchy of visualization elements including, in descending order, sheets, scenes, panels, and charts, said chart being a component of said panel, said panel being a component of said scene, said scene being a component of said sheet said sheet being a component of said visualization; and d. means for prompting a user to select data and layout features, said converting means generating a number of candidate visualizations based on said selected data and said selected layout features, and numerically evaluating said candidate visualizations for their visualizing quality using a scoring algorithm, wherein said scoring algorithm includes heuristic rules, said presenting means presenting said candidate visualizations to a user for selection in a ranked order based on numerical values scored.