Interactive interface for visualizing and manipulating multi-dimensional data

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a display coupled to the processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including computer instructions and computer data, the computer instructions when executed on the processor causing the processor to perform the functions of
• storing the multidimensional data set using an abstract data model partitioned into dimensions;
• converting portions of the data set stored in the abstract data model into a visual model having dimensions of the abstract data model organized as at least one hierarchical tree;
• and
• displaying the visual model to a user as a table in which a first portion of the data in the table is displayed in a first level of detail and a second portion of the data in the table is displayed in a second level of detail, the first level of detail using more screen space per data value than the second level of detail,
• wherein the at least one hierarchical tree is displayed with the visual model and includes a first dimension hierarchy associated with either a horizontal axis or a vertical axis.

A method of invoking an operation on a data set having three or more dimensions comprising the steps of:

• displaying a two-dimensional visual model on a physical medium representing portions of the data set, the visual model having dimensions of the data set represented as at least one hierarchical tree;
• detecting a user's interaction with the data represented in the visual model;
• and
• initiating an operation on the data set based on the detected user interaction with the data, the operation converting portions of the data set into the two-dimensional visual model,
• wherein the at least one hierarchical tree is displayed with the visual model and includes a first dimension hierarchy associated with either a horizontal axis or a vertical axis.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a display coupled to the processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory including computer instructions and a data set having three or more dimensions, the computer instructions when executed on the processor causing the processor to perform the functions of
• displaying a two-dimensional visual model on a physical medium representing portions of the data set, the visual model having dimensions of the data set represented as at least one hierarchical tree;
• detecting a user's interaction with the data represented in the visual model;
• and
• initiating an operation on the data set based on the detected user interaction with the data, the operation converting portions of the data set into the two-dimensional visual model
• wherein the at least one hierarchical tree is displayed with the visual model and includes a first dimension hierarchy associated with either a horizontal axis or a vertical axis.

A method of visualizing a multidimensional data set comprising the steps of:

• storing the multidimensional data set using an abstract data model partitioned into dimensions;
• converting portions of the data set stored in the abstract data model into a visual model having dimensions of the abstract data model organized as at least one hierarchical tree;
• and
• displaying the visual model to a user as a tabular representation on a computer display screen, wherein the data of the data set is displayed graphically,
• wherein the at least one hierarchical tree is displayed with the visual model and includes a first dimension hierarchy associated with either a horizontal axis or a vertical axis.