US Patent 12013873 Interactive visual analysis of datasets using a specialized virtual machine

A method of interactive visual analysis is performed at a computer. The computer generates a data visualization by executing a data visualization data flow graph comprising a directed graph having a plurality of nodes. Each of the nodes specifies either a data retrieval operation or a data transformation operation and the data visualization comprises visual marks having a first set of characteristics, including a first mark type and one or more first visual mark encodings. A user specifies a second mark type and/or one or more second visual mark encodings. In response, the computer updates a portion, less than all, of the data flow graph according to the second mark type and/or the one or more second visual mark encodings, and generates an updated data visualization by executing updated nodes of the data flow graph without executing nodes not updated according to the user input.