Interactive Visualization of Multiple Data Sources Across Multiple Computers

Abstract

A data pool receives first data derived from user-generated input that identifies events that have occurred at the corresponding remote first computing system. Thereafter, the data pool generates messages based on the identified events that specify data to be extracted from each of a plurality of data sources. The data pool then transmits data comprising the generated messages to at least one of a plurality of data daemons. The data pool subsequently receives second data extracted and processed by the data daemons in response to the transmitted data. In addition, the data pool transmits at least a portion of the received second data to at least one remote second computing system to enable the remote second computing system to render visualizations that are based on the received data and which are displayed within at least one data lens that overlays a substrate in the graphical user interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving first data derived from user-generated input on at least one first computing system that identifies events that have occurred at the corresponding first computing system;   generating messages based on the identified events that specify data to be extracted from each of a plurality of data sources;   transmitting data comprising the generated messages to at least one of a plurality of data daemons, each data daemon being connected to a different data source among a plurality of data sources;   receiving second data extracted and processed by the data daemons in response to the transmitted data; and   transmitting at least a portion of the received second data to at least one second computing system to enable the second computing system to render, in a graphical user interface, visualizations that are based on the received data and which are displayed within at least one data lens that overlays a substrate in the graphical user interface.   
     
     
         2 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the first data is generated by at least one coordination pool in communication with at least one input device. 
     
     
         3 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one input device is used to control at least one of: instantiation, deletion, relative position, or size of one or more data lenses. 
     
     
         4 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one input device is used to control at least one of: instantiation, deletion, relative position, or size of the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . A method as in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one input device is used to specify display elements to be included within one more data lenses. 
     
     
         6 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the second data comprises visualizations generated by the data daemons. 
     
     
         7 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one data lens is partially transparent so that features on the substrate can be viewed. 
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein there are two or more data lens that each partially overlap with another data lens. 
     
     
         9 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein there are two or more computing systems that provide a unified and non-duplicative visualization. 
     
     
         10 . A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 causing at least one code to be displayed on or adjacent to the substrate, the code being used by the at least one first computing system to connect with the at least one second computing system via a data pool.   
     
     
         11 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first computing system is the same as the at least one second computing system. 
     
     
         12 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first computing system at least partially differs from the at least one second computing system. 
     
     
         13 . A method as in  claim 1 , wherein the second data comprises tags identifying a corresponding data lens in which a visualization is to be displayed. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 at least one data processor forming part of at least one computing system; and   memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one data processor, result in operations comprising:
 receiving first data derived from user-generated input on at least one first computing system that identifies events that have occurred at the corresponding first computing system; 
 generating messages based on the identified events that specify data to be extracted from each of a plurality of data sources; 
 transmitting data comprising the generated messages to at least one of a plurality of data daemons, each data daemon being connected to a different data source among a plurality of data sources; 
 receiving second data extracted and processed by the data daemons in response to the transmitted data; and 
 transmitting at least a portion of the received second data to at least one second computing system to enable the second computing system to render, in a graphical user interface, visualizations that are based on the received data and which are displayed within at least one data lens that overlays a substrate in the graphical user interface. 
   
     
     
         15 . A system as in  claim 14 , wherein the first data is generated by at least one coordination pool in communication with at least one input device. 
     
     
         16 . A system as in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one input device is used to control at least one of: instantiation, deletion, relative position, or size of one or more data lenses; and wherein the at least one input device is used to control at least one of: instantiation, deletion, relative position, or size of the substrate. 
     
     
         17 . A system as in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one input device is used to specify display elements to be included within one more data lenses. 
     
     
         18 . A system as in  claim 14 , wherein the second data comprises visualizations generated by the data daemons. 
     
     
         19 . A system as in  claim 14 , wherein:
 at least one data lens is partially transparent so that features on the substrate can be viewed;   there are two or more data lens that each partially overlap with another data lens;   there are two or more computing systems that provide a unified and non-duplicative visualization;   a code is displayed on or adjacent to the substrate, the code being used by the at least one first computing system to connect with the at least one second computing system via a data pool.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions which, when executed by at least one data processor forming part of at least one computing system, result in operations comprising:
 at least one data processor forming part of at least one computing system; and   memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one data processor, result in operations comprising:
 receiving first data derived from user-generated input on at least one first computing system that identifies events that have occurred at the corresponding first computing system; 
 generating messages based on the identified events that specify data to be extracted from each of a plurality of data sources; 
 transmitting data comprising the generated messages to at least one of a plurality of data daemons, each data daemon being connected to a different data source among a plurality of data sources; 
 receiving second data extracted and processed by the data daemons in response to the transmitted data; and 
 transmitting at least a portion of the received second data to at least one second computing system to enable the second computing system to render, in a graphical user interface, visualizations that are based on the received data and which are displayed within at least one data lens that overlays a substrate in the graphical user interface.