User interface method and apparatus for data from data cubes and pivot tables

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer readable media provide space-efficient user interfaces to data cubes and pivot table information. Because the user interfaces are more efficient in usage of display area, smaller displays can be used more effectively in reviewing such data. The user interfaces provide a multi-dimensional navigation approach among dimensions represented in the data, which allows users to more easily maintain context when reviewing large pivot table reports, and the like. Other user interface features that ease review of such reports on smaller devices also are disclosed.

1 . A method for displaying summarization results on a display of a device with limited display area, the results based on field data, the method comprising:
 displaying a first set of coordinate values in a first portion of a display screen of the device;   displaying a second set of coordinate values in a second portion of the display screen;   displaying a first set of aggregate values in a third portion of the display screen, each aggregate value from the set of aggregate values obtained by aggregating field data associated with a coordinate value from the first set of coordinate values and a coordinate value from the second set of coordinate values;   receiving an input identifying a value from the first set of coordinate values;   receiving a third set of coordinate values mapping to the value identified by the input;   receiving a second set of aggregate values, each aggregate value obtained by aggregating field data associated with a coordinate value from the third set of coordinate values and a coordinate value from the second set of coordinate values; and   displaying the third set of coordinate values substantially in the first portion of display screen and the second set of aggregate values substantially in the third portion of the display screen.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to receiving the input, ceasing the display of the first set of coordinate values in the first portion of display screen.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to receiving the input, ceasing the display of the first set of aggregate values in the first portion of display screen.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the third set of coordinate values in the first portion of display screen replaces the display of the first set of coordinate values, and displaying the second set of aggregate values in the third portion of the display screen replaces the display of the first set of aggregate values. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the field data comprises values associated with a first ordered set of dimensions and a second ordered set of dimensions, each dimension from the first ordered set and the second ordered set associated with a set of coordinate values, and each value from the field data associated with a coordinate value from each dimension. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein each coordinate value from a selected dimension from an ordered set of dimensions maps to one or more coordinate values from a dimension succeeding the selected dimension in the ordered set. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of coordinate values is from a first dimension of the first ordered set of dimensions and the third set of coordinate values is from a second dimension of the first set of dimensions, such that the first dimension and second dimension are adjacent to each other in the first ordered set of dimensions. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of coordinate values is displayed as a vertical column, the second set of coordinates is displayed as a horizontal row, and the first set of aggregate values is displayed as a matrix of rows and columns, the rows associated with coordinate values from the first set of coordinates and the columns associated with coordinate values from the second set of coordinates. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identified value is displayed adjacent to the third set of coordinate values. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the input received is a first input received and the value identified is a first identified value, the method further comprising:
 receiving a second input identifying a second value from the second set of coordinate values;   receiving a fourth set of coordinate values, wherein each of the fourth set of coordinate values is associated with the second identified value;   receiving a third set of aggregate values, each aggregate value of the third set of aggregate values obtained by aggregating field data associated with a coordinate value from the third set and a coordinate value from the fourth set; and   displaying the fourth set of coordinate values substantially in the second portion of display screen and the third set of aggregate values substantially in the third portion of the display screen.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first set of aggregate values includes a row substantially parallel to an edge of the display screen, the method further comprising
 receiving scrolling input in a direction substantially perpendicular to the edge;   quantifying an amount of scrolling input received; and   responsive to the amount of scrolling input received being greater than or equal to about one half of a width of the row, shifting a matrix of cells displaying the first set of aggregate values in a direction of the scrolling input received, in an amount approximately equal to the width of the row.   
     
     
         12 . A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer readable instructions for implementing a method for displaying summarization results based on field data on a display of a device with limited display area, the method comprising:
 displaying a first set of coordinate values in a first portion of a display screen of a device having a limited display area, a second set of coordinate values in a second portion of the display screen, and a first set of aggregate values in a third portion of the display screen, each aggregate value from the set of aggregate values obtained by aggregating field data associated with a coordinate value from the first set of coordinate values and a coordinate value from the second set of coordinate values;   receiving an input identifying a value from the first set of coordinate values;   receiving a third set of coordinate values, such that the identified value maps to each of the third set of coordinate values;   receiving a second set of aggregate values, each aggregate value from the second set of aggregate values obtained by aggregating field data associated with a coordinate value from the third set of coordinate values and a coordinate value from the second set of coordinate values; and   displaying the third set of coordinate values substantially in the first portion of display screen and the second set of aggregate values substantially in the third portion of the display screen.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
 responsive to receiving the input, ceasing the display of the first set of coordinate values in the first portion of display screen.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein displaying the third set of coordinate values in the first portion of display screen replaces the display of the first set of coordinate values, and displaying the second set of aggregate values in the third portion of the display screen replaces the display of the first set of aggregate values. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the field data comprises values associated with a first ordered set of dimensions and a second ordered set of dimensions, each dimension from the first ordered set and the second ordered set associated with a set of coordinate values, and each value from the field data associated with a coordinate value from each dimension. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the first set of coordinate values is from a first dimension of the first ordered set of dimensions and the third set of coordinate values is from a second dimension of the first set of dimensions, such that the first dimension and second dimension are adjacent to each other in the first ordered set of dimensions.