System and method for generating user interface elements

Abstract

A system for generating user interface elements comprises a data analysis module, an element generation module and a positioning module. The data analysis module is arranged to identify a plurality of classes in input data, wherein each class is associated with at least one characteristic value. The element generation module is arranged to generate a plurality of user interface elements each associated with a class by calculating, for each user interface element, at least one value indicative of a two-dimensional area based on the characteristic value associated with the class of the element. The positioning module is arranged to generate a position layout by determining positions for the user interface elements, wherein each position is determined independently of an axis associated with a class or a variable relating to a class.

1 . A system for generating user interface elements, comprising:
 an element generation module arranged to generate a plurality of user interface elements each associated with a class;   a clustering module arranged to group the plurality of elements into a plurality of clusters, wherein each cluster comprises user interface elements of a respective particular category of data; and   a display module arranged to display the plurality of clusters.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claims 1 , further comprising a filtering module arranged to group the plurality of elements into a plurality of clusters in response to a filtering operation. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the each cluster comprises an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each user interface element comprises an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each cluster is able to respond to a user interaction so that the user can select a particular cluster of interest. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein in response to a user selection of a cluster, the user interface elements of the selected cluster are enlarged and the remaining unselected clusters are hidden. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the user interface elements of the selected cluster are generated by calculating, for each user interface element of the selected cluster, at least one value which defines for the user interface element a two-dimensional area based on a characteristic value associated with the class of the user interface element. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising a positioning module arranged to generate a position layout by determining positions for the user interface elements of the selected cluster, wherein each position within the selected cluster is determined independently of an axis associated with a class or a variable relating to a class. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the position of each user interface element is not indicative of a class or a variable associated with a class. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface elements are generated by calculating, for each user interface element, at least one value which defines for the user interface element a two-dimensional area based on a characteristic value associated with the class of the user interface element. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a positioning module arranged to generate a position layout by determining positions for the user interface elements within each cluster, wherein each position within the each cluster is determined independently of an axis associated with a class or a variable relating to a class. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the position of each user interface element is not indicative of a class or a variable associated with a class. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the clusters are generated by calculating, for each cluster, at least one value which defines for the cluster a two-dimensional area based on characteristic values of the user interface elements within the cluster, wherein each characteristic value is associated with the class of a respective user interface element. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the user interface elements are generated by calculating, for each user interface element, at least one value which defines for the user interface element a two-dimensional area based on the characteristic value associated with the class of the user interface element. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a positioning module arranged to generate a position layout by determining positions for the user interface elements within each cluster, wherein each position within the each cluster is determined independently of an axis associated with a class or a variable relating to a class. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the position of each user interface element is not indicative of a class or a variable associated with a class. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-implemented method of generating user interface elements comprising:
 generating a plurality of user interface elements each associated with a class;   grouping the plurality of elements into a plurality of clusters, wherein each cluster comprises user interface elements of a respective particular category of data; and   displaying the plurality of clusters.   
     
     
         18 . A computer program comprising code portions which when run a computer cause the computer to carry out the method of  claim 17 .