Abstract: A distributed dashboard system including related server side and communication related functionality is provided. The key is loosely defined metadata for input data coupled with the fact that metadata can be defined after the data is loaded to system. Only the part of metadata relevant to use of dashboard needs to be mapped. In current invention data can be loaded before “import file specification” is defined, and then meaning given in “point and click” fashion. Users can subscribe to different type of gauges (that make up the dashboard) to construct their own dashboard, mostly in a web based user interface, but also from the dashboard itself. In addition to gauges displaying information also input controls called levers are supported allowing users to input commands to the system that are processed by local device or server side system.

Abstract: This invention is about a distributed dashboard system including related server side and communication related functionality. The key idea is loosely defined metadata for the input data coupled with the fact that metadata can be defined after the data is loaded to the system. Usually metadata gives some kind of meaning to all of the data that it covers, in the current invention only the part that is relevant for the use of the dashboard needs to be mapped. In known data import and processing applications the “import file specification” is defined before the data is introduced, but in current invention the data can be loaded before, and then the meaning given in “point and click” fashion after the data is loaded. Users can then subscribe to different kind of gauges (that make up the dashboard) in order to construct their own dashboard, this subscribing happens mostly in a web based user interface, but might also be allowed from the dashboard itself.