Simplified hierarchy definition for multidimensional data analysis

• US 10,204,150 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2014
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Jiang, Shan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mahmoudi, Tony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Michael
• Application Number:
  US14/222,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20150269254A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 707740
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification

Abstract

Techniques are described for allowing a user to define hierarchical relationships for a multidimensional data model without assistance from a data administrator. The hierarchical relationships can be stored as on the client device as part of report metadata so that they are customizable by the client. A graphical user interface is also described for generating reports using a reporting tool. Through move and select operations, a report along with its underlying hierarchical relationships can be customized by the client.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed, control the one or more computer processors of a client to be configured for;

providing a first window configured to present a library containing variables belonging to a multidimensional data model stored in a remote server;

providing a second window configured to present one or more variables from the library that are used in a report on the multidimensional data model, the report having report metadata stored on the client as a hierarchy table defining hierarchical relationships between the one or more variables, wherein the report metadata includes a field in the hierarchy table differentiating a hierarchical relationship as predefined in the multidimensional data model;

detecting a move operation to move a first variable from the first window to the second window;

updating the report metadata to include the first variable in response to detecting the move operation;

based upon the field, querying the remote server for the hierarchical relationship predefined in the multidimensional data model;

updating the first window to remove a different variable violating the hierarchical relationship in the report metadata;

updating the library in the first window to display only variables which establish the hierarchical relationship within the report metadata;

wherein the updating the report metadata, the updating the first window, and the updating the library comprises;

transmitting, by the one or more computer processors of the client, a query to the remote database server to request aggregated database data, the query including a query expression based upon the hierarchy table; and

receiving, by the one or more computer processors of the client, a data set from the remote database server in response to the query.

2. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein updating the report metadata comprises establishing a hierarchical relationship between the first variable and a second variable in the report metadata when the first variable is moved to a location in the second window that overlaps the second variable.

3. The computer implemented system of claim 2, wherein establishing the hierarchical relationship comprises:

determining that the multidimensional data model includes a relationship between the first variable and the second variable; and

setting the hierarchical relationship based on the relationship.

4. The computer implemented system of claim 1, the method further comprising:

providing a chart of the report that corresponds with the second variable in a third window;

detecting a selection of a chart element within the chart that corresponds to a value of the second variable;

identifying the first variable as a child to the second variable based on the report metadata; and

replacing the chart with another chart that corresponds with the first variable filtered according to the value of the second variable.

5. The computer implemented system of claim 1, the method further comprising:

detecting a selection of the second variable in the second window; and

providing a chart of the report that corresponds with the second variable in a third window.

6. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing, by a client processor, a first window configured to present a library containing variables belonging to a multidimensional data model stored in a remote server;

providing, by the processor, a second window configured to present one or more variables from the library that are used in a report on the multidimensional data model, the report having report metadata stored on a client as a hierarchy table defining hierarchical relationships between the one or more variables, wherein the report metadata includes a field in the hierarchy table differentiating a hierarchical relationship as predefined in the multidimensional data model;

detecting, by the client processor, a move operation to move a first variable from the first window to the second window;

updating, by the client processor, the report metadata to include the first variable in response to detecting the move operation;

based upon the field, querying the remote server for the hierarchical relationship predefined in the multidimensional data model;

updating, by the client processor, the first window to remove a different variable violating the hierarchical relationship in the report metadata;

updating, by the client processor, the library in the first window to display only variables which establish the hierarchical relationship within the report metadata;

wherein the updating the report metadata, the updating the first window, and the updating the library comprises;

transmitting, by the client processor, a query to the remote database server to request aggregated database data, the query including a query expression based upon the hierarchy table; and

receiving, by the client processor, a data set from the remote database server in response to the query.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein updating the report metadata comprises establishing, by the processor, a hierarchical relationship between the first variable and a second variable in the report metadata when the first variable is moved to a location in the second window that overlaps the second variable.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein establishing the hierarchical relationship comprises:

determining, by the processor, that the multidimensional data model includes a relationship between the first variable and the second variable; and

setting, by the processor, the hierarchical relationship based on the relationship.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, the method further comprising:

providing, by the processor, a chart of the report that corresponds with the second variable in a third window;

detecting, by the processor, a selection of a chart element within the chart that corresponds to a value of the second variable;

identifying, by the processor, the first variable as a child to the second variable based on the report metadata; and

replacing, by the processor, the chart with another chart that corresponds with the first variable filtered according to the value of the second variable.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, the method further comprising:

detecting, by the processor, a selection of the second variable in the second window; and

providing, by the processor, a chart of the report that corresponds with the second variable in a third window.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 6, wherein the first variable includes a predefined hierarchy with a third variable and wherein the report metadata tracks the predefined hierarchy.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions for a client processor, wherein the client processor executes the instructions to cause the client processor to perform a method comprising:

providing a first window configured to present a library containing variables belonging to a multidimensional data model stored in a remote server;

providing a second window configured to present one or more variables from the library that are used in a report on the multidimensional data model, the report having report metadata stored on a client as a hierarchy table defining hierarchical relationships between the one or more variables, wherein the report metadata includes a field in the hierarchy table differentiating a hierarchical relationship as predefined in the multidimensional data model;

detecting a move operation to move a first variable from the first window to the second window;

updating the report metadata to include the first variable in response to detecting the move operation;

based upon the field, querying the remote server for the hierarchical relationship predefined in the multidimensional data model;

updating the first window to remove a different variable violating the hierarchical relationship in the report metadata;

updating the library in the first window to display only variables which establish the hierarchical relationship within the report metadata;

wherein the updating the report metadata, the updating the first window, and the updating the library comprises;

transmitting, by the client processor, a query to the remote database server to request aggregated database data, the query including a query expression based upon the hierarchy table; and

receiving, by the client processor, a data set from the remote database server in response to the query.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein updating the report metadata comprises establishing a hierarchical relationship between the first variable and a second variable in the report metadata when the first variable is moved to a location in the second window that overlaps the second variable.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein establishing the hierarchical relationship comprises:

determining that the multidimensional data model includes a relationship between the first variable and the second variable; and

setting the hierarchical relationship based on the relationship.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, the method further comprising:

providing a chart of the report that corresponds with the second variable in a third window;

detecting a selection of a chart element within the chart that corresponds to a value of the second variable;

identifying the first variable as a child to the second variable based on the report metadata; and

replacing the chart with another chart that corresponds with the first variable filtered according to the value of the second variable.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, the method further comprising:

detecting a selection of the second variable in the second window; and

providing a chart of the report that corresponds with the second variable in a third window.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the first variable includes a predefined hierarchy with a third variable and wherein the report metadata tracks the predefined hierarchy.