Abstract: To provide visualization data to a client device, a server generates a plurality of display objects for selectively displaying at the client device to a user. Each display object includes at least one of a data portion and a graphics portion. The plurality of display objects is assigned to a plurality of vertices organized as a logical display tree. A mask specifying visual characteristics of the plurality of vertices is created. The visual characteristics of a given vertex simultaneously controls display attributes of all display objects assigned to the given vertex. The server transmits a description of the plurality of display objects, the logical display tree and the mask in a payload format.

Abstract: A user interface includes a first display area which includes a first control widget representative of a first attribute group and a second control widget representative of the second attribute group, and a second display area in which a first measure of a first portion of a plurality of data items can be displayed in response to a user activating the first control widget. A first classification attribute from a first attribute group and a second classification attribute from a second attribute group are associated with each data item of the plurality of data items. A multi-description is generated for each data item, the multi-description including a list of pairs of the first classification attribute and the second classification attribute.