Effective arrangement of data elements

摘要

A plurality of data elements are analyzed, in one or more computers, to optimize an arrangement of slices in a pie chart, wherein a value for each of the data elements represents an area of a corresponding one of the slices in the pie chart, and the data elements are ordered by their values, so that labels and lines on placed on the pie chart without overlap.

主权项

1. A computer implemented apparatus for processing a plurality of data elements for display in a pie chart, comprising:
one or more computers; and one or more processes performed by the one or more computers, the processes configured for analyzing a plurality of data elements to optimize an arrangement of slices in a pie chart, wherein a value for each of the data elements represents an area of a corresponding one of the slices in the pie chart, and the data elements are ordered by their values, so that labels and lines are placed on the pie chart without overlap; wherein the processes configured for analyzing comprise processes configured for: dividing the plurality of data elements, based on a threshold value, into groups A and B; dividing the data elements in group A into sub-groups A1 and A2, in such a way that both of the sub-groups A1 and A2 contain about equal numbers of the data elements and the slices for the data elements in the sub-groups A1 and A2 cover about a same amount of area in the pie chart; dividing the data elements in group B into sub-groups B1 and B2, in such a way that the slices for the data elements in the sub-groups B1 and B2 cover about a same amount of area in the pie chart; arranging the data elements in each of the sub-groups A1 and A2 by pairing a remaining smallest data element with a remaining largest data element in the sub-group A1 or A2, until all, except no more than one, of the data elements is so paired; generating the pie chart with the slices for the data elements of the sub-group A1 placed in a vertical half of the pie chart, such that a horizontal center line axis of the pie chart bisects the slices for the data elements of the sub-group A1; placing the slices for the data elements from the sub-groups B1, A2, B2 clockwise or counter-clockwise about the pie chart adjacent the slices for the data elements from the sub-group A1; and outputting the pie chart containing the slices for the data elements of sub-groups A1, B1, A2, B2.