Data visualization extensibility architecture

A system for improving the functionality of a computer providing a data visualization according to an existing architecture, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storage including instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the computing device to be operable to provide:
• a data visualization platform, including:
• a series layout module, operable to create geometry to graphically represent data series in a visualization;
• and
• a core engine, operable to:
• receive the data series and surface description of the visualization;
• transmit the data series and the surface description to the series layout module to create the geometry based on the surface description;
• and
• assemble the visualization based on the geometry and the surface description;
• and
• an extension module, operable to insert transforms into the data visualization platform to customize the visualization, wherein the transforms modify information used by the data visualization platform to provide a customized visualization.

A computing device operable for improving the functionality of a computer providing a data visualization according to an existing architecture, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storage including instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the computing device to be operable to:
• manage a unidirectional pipelined flow of information, wherein the information is used to graphically representing data via a visualization, by inserting a transform into the pipelined flow to customize the visualization, wherein the unidirectional pipelined flow includes a data transform stage, a layout transform stage, and a geometry transform stage;
• receive the data and a surface description of the visualization, wherein the data includes data series, and wherein receiving the data and the surface description corresponds to the data transform stage;
• provide the data series of the data and the surface description to a series layout to create geometry to graphically represent each data series within the visualization, wherein creating geometry corresponds to the layout transform stage;
• transmit the geometry to a client operable to render the visualization, wherein transmitting corresponds to the geometry transform stage;
• and
• wherein the transform is inserted at one of the stages to customize one or more of the geometry.