US Patent 11880378 Data visualization analytical canvas with functionally independent visual containers

At a computer system a graphical user interface is displayed on a display. The graphical user interface includes (a) a schema region displaying data field icons, each data field icon representing a respective data field from a user-selected data source, and (b) a canvas region. In response to receiving user input selecting a data field icon from the schema region and placing it on the canvas region, a block card is displayed on the canvas region. The block card includes user interface affordances to designate (i) a layout type that specifies a row-based arrangement, a column-based arrangement, or an inline arrangement, (ii) a mark type that specifies a shape for visual data marks, and (iii) one or more visual encodings. A data visualization for the data source is generated and displayed according to the layout type, the mark type, and the visual encodings specified on the block card.