Systems and Methods for Ranking Data Visualizations

Abstract

A computer device receives user selection of a plurality of data fields from a data set. The computer device generates a plurality of data visualization options that use a majority of the plurality of data fields. The computer device computes, for each data visualization option of the plurality of data visualization options, a respective score for the respective data visualization option according to a set of ranking criteria. The set of ranking criteria includes a first ranking criterion that is based on values of one or more of the user-selected data fields in the data set. The computer device creates a ranked list of the data visualization options. The ranked list is ordered according to a plurality of computed scores corresponding to the plurality of data visualization options. The computer device presents the ranked list to the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of ranking data visualization options, comprising:
 at a computing device having one or more processors and memory, wherein the memory stores one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors:
 receiving user selection of a plurality of data fields from a data set; 
 generating a plurality of data visualization options that use a majority of the plurality of data fields; 
 computing, for each data visualization option of the plurality of data visualization options, a respective score for the respective data visualization option according to a set of ranking criteria, the set of ranking criteria including a first ranking criterion that is based on values of one or more of the user-selected data fields in the data set; 
 creating a ranked list of the data visualization options, wherein the ranked list is ordered according to a plurality of computed scores corresponding to the plurality of data visualization options; and 
 presenting the ranked list to the user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving user selection of a first data visualization option from the ranked list; and   in response to the user selection of the first data visualization option, displaying a data visualization corresponding to the first data visualization option.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computation of scores for one or more of the data visualization options uses historical data of data visualizations previously created for the data set. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computation of scores for one or more of the data visualization options uses historical data of data visualizations previously selected by the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the computation of scores for one or more of the data visualization options uses a set of user preferences for the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving user selection of a filter that applies to a first user-selected data field;   wherein the filter identifies a set of values for the first user-selected data field, and wherein the plurality of data visualization options are based on limiting values of the first user-selected data field to the set of values.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the set of values is one of:
 a finite set of discrete values; or   an interval of numeric values.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of ranking criteria includes a second ranking criterion that scores each data visualization option of the plurality of data visualization options according to visual structure of values of one or more of the user-selected data fields as rendered in the respective data visualization option. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein visual structure includes one or more of:
 clustering of data points;   presence of outliers; and   monotonicity of rendered data points.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of ranking criteria includes a second ranking criterion that scores each respective data visualization option of the plurality of data visualization options according to one or more aesthetic qualities of the respective data visualization option as rendered using a plurality of data values stored in one or more of the plurality of data fields. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more aesthetic qualities include at least one of:
 an aspect ratio of a rendered data visualization corresponding to the respective data visualization option; and   an extent to which a rendered data visualization corresponding to the respective data visualization option can be displayed in its entirety on a user screen at one time in a human readable format.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the data visualization options has a view type selected from the group consisting of text table, bar chart, scatter plot, line graph, and map. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the plurality of data visualization options further comprises:
 identifying a first set of one or more data visualization options previously presented to the user and not selected by the user; and   not including the first set of data visualization options in the generated data visualization options.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the plurality of data visualization options further comprises:
 identifying a first user-selected data field;   selecting a color palette for encoding values of the first user-selected data field based on an identified distribution of values of the first user-selected data field; and   limiting the generation to data visualization options that use the selected color palette for encoding the first user-selected data field.   
     
     
         15 . A computer system for ranking data visualization options, comprising:
 one or more processors;   memory; and   one or more programs stored in the memory for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 receiving user selection of a plurality of data fields from a data set; 
 generating a plurality of data visualization options that use a majority of the plurality of data fields; 
 computing, for each data visualization option of the plurality of data visualization options, a respective score for the respective data visualization option according to a set of ranking criteria, the set of ranking criteria including a first ranking criterion that is based on values of one or more of the user-selected data fields in the data set; 
 creating a ranked list of the data visualization options, wherein the ranked list is ordered according to a plurality of computed scores corresponding to the plurality of data visualization options; and 
 presenting the ranked list to the user. 
   
     
     
         16 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:
 receiving user selection of a first data visualization option from the ranked list; and   in response to the user selection of the first data visualization option, displaying a data visualization corresponding to the first data visualization option.   
     
     
         17 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:
 receiving user selection of a filter that applies to a first user-selected data field;   wherein the filter identifies a set of values for the first user-selected data field, and wherein the plurality of data visualization options are based on limiting values of the first user-selected data field to the set of values.   
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for generating the plurality of data visualization options further include instructions for:
 identifying a first set of one or more data visualization options previously presented to the user and not selected by the user; and   not including the first set of data visualization options in the generated data visualization options.   
     
     
         19 . The computer system of  claim 15 , wherein the instructions for generating the plurality of data visualization options further include instructions for:
 identifying a first user-selected data field;   selecting a color palette for encoding values of the first user-selected data field based on an identified distribution of values of the first user-selected data field; and   limiting the generation to data visualization options that use the selected color palette for encoding the first user-selected data field.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer system having one or more processors and memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
 receiving user selection of a plurality of data fields from a data set;   generating a plurality of data visualization options that use a majority of the plurality of data fields;   computing, for each data visualization option of the plurality of data visualization options, a respective score for the respective data visualization option according to a set of ranking criteria, the set of ranking criteria including a first ranking criterion that is based on values of one or more of the user-selected data fields in the data set;   creating a ranked list of the data visualization options, wherein the ranked list is ordered according to a plurality of computed scores corresponding to the plurality of data visualization options; and   presenting the ranked list to the user.