Abstract: A geospatial platform for building applications involving location and time is disclosed. The applications allow users to analyze and make sense of the location and time-based data generated by a wide variety of devices in real time, as it is generated. The platform in one example features a dashboard for associating code statements with a variety of data visualizations. The code statements access real-time and/or location based data and generate a result set that is optimized for displaying a selected data visualization in the dashboard. The code statements are ideally executed on a server so that large quantities of data can be manipulated as it is generated by various devices in real-time.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has: a controller having a data connector for inputting temporal data, and an item collection for providing timelines and overlays, and for providing linked visualizations of the temporal data in a timeline to other visualizations of the temporal data; and a display for displaying the timeline and overlays, and the linked visualizations. The method may have the steps of: obtaining temporal data; displaying the temporal data in at least one timeline in a web browser and in at least one other visualization in the web browser; and linking the displayed data in the at least one timeline with the displayed data in the at least one other visualization.

Abstract: An apparatus in one example has an analytical environment for mashup data having visual analysis metaphors, and linking and correlation functionality among the visual analysis metaphors. A system may have: at least one store having a predetermined floor plan layout; at least one predetermined location on the predetermined floor plan layout for displaying at least one product; analytical environment for mashup data having visual analysis metaphors, the mashup data formed from data indiciative of the predetermined floor plan layout, and data indicated of sales of the at least one product; and linking and correlation functionality among the visual analysis metaphors through a web browser. In one example, a plurality of products may be positioned on a plurality of shelves, and may be depicted in a geographical display. Sales of each product may be depicted in a in time line display that is linked to the geographical display.