Intermediate resource allocation tracking in data models

• US 10,268,979 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2015
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Apptio (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Ko, Supin, McLachlan, Paul Damien, Friedl, Justin Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Alan S
• Application Number:
  US14/867,552
• Publication Number:
  US 20170091678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 705 711- 742
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Embodiments are directed towards intermediate resource allocation tracking in data models. A data model that includes data objects traversed on a path through the data model that follows allocation rules that are included in the data model. If an aspect object is encountered during the traversal, resources from line items of a source data object are associated with line items of the aspect object based on the traversal path. The resources associated with the line items of the aspect object are also available for allocation to other data objects. If a data object, rather than an aspect object, may be encountered during the traversal, resources from line items of a source data object may be allocated to line items of the data object based on another of the allocation rules, the resources allocated to the line items of the data object are unavailable for further allocation.

Claims

1. A method for allocating resources for data objects in a business system using a network computer, wherein one or more processors in the network computer are performing actions, comprising:

traversing, by the one or more processors, a data model comprised of nodes and edges that includes the data objects, wherein a traversal path follows one or more allocation rules that are included in the data model, and wherein a data structure for the data model is based on a table data structure for a general ledger dataset that includes a column for general ledger actuals ID and another column for cost for each line item in the table data structure;

employing, by the one or more processors, geolocation information to localize a visual presentation of a user interface that includes one or more of a database or internal processes associated with the data objects in the data model based on a physical location, wherein the localization includes one or more of time zones, languages, currencies, or calendar formatting;

in response to an aspect object encountered during the traversal, the one or more processors retrieve the data model and execute one of the one or more allocation rules to modify the data model by filtering and associating one or more portions of resources from one or more line items of a source data object with one or more line items of the aspect object based on the traversal path that follows the one or more allocation rules, wherein the one or more portions of the resources that are associated with the line items of the aspect object remain available for allocation at the same time to one or more other data objects in the data model; and

in response to a data object encountered during the traversal, the one or more processors retrieve the data model and execute another one of the one or more allocation rules to modify the data model by allocating the one or more portions of the resources from the one or more line items of the source data object with one or more line items of the data object based on the other one of the one or more allocation rules, wherein the one or more portions of the resources allocated to the one or more line items of the data object are unavailable for allocation to the one or more other data objects in the data model.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, generating one or more assignment ratio tables based on the association of the one or more portions of resources from the one or more line items of the source data object with the one or more line items of the aspect object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more line items of the aspect object are provided by one or more datasets that are associated with a business system that is modeled by the data model.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the traversal path through the data model is generated based on a report query, wherein at least a source data object and a target data object are provided by the report query.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to a query that includes a reference to one or more aspect objects, performing actions including:

modifying the traversal path to require each of the one or more aspect objects to be included in the traversal path; and

generating report information based on at least the source data object, and the one or more aspect objects.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data model is a financial allocation model that further comprises, two or more data objects and one or more aspect objects, wherein the two or more data objects represent categories of cost line items in the financial allocation model.

7. A system for allocation resource for data objects in a business system, comprising:

a network computer, comprising;

a non-transitory computer readable memory that stores at least instructions; and

one or more processor devices that execute instructions that perform actions, including;

traversing, by the one or more processors, a data model comprised of nodes and edges that includes the data objects, wherein a traversal path follows one or more allocation rules that are included in the data model, and wherein a data structure for the data model is based on a table data structure for a general ledger dataset that includes a column for general ledger actuals ID and another column for cost for each line item in the table data structure;

employing, by the one or more processors, geolocation information to localize a visual presentation of a user interface that includes one or more of a database or internal processes associated with the data objects in the data model based on a physical location, wherein the localization includes one or more of time zones, languages, currencies, or calendar formatting;

in response to an aspect object encountered during the traversal, the one or more processors retrieve the data model and execute one of the one or more allocation rules to modify the data model by filtering and associating one or more portions of resources from one or more line items of a source data object with one or more line items of the aspect object based on the traversal path that follows the one or more allocation rules, wherein the one or more portions of the resources that are associated with the line items of the aspect object remain available for allocation at the same time to one or more other data objects in the data model; and

in response to a data object encountered during the traversal, the one or more processors retrieve the data model and execute another one of the one or more allocation rules to modify the data model by allocating the one or more portions of the resources from the one or more line items of the source data object with one or more line items of the data object based on the other one of the one or more allocation rules, wherein the one or more portions of the resources allocated to the one or more line items of the data object are unavailable for allocation to the one or more other data objects in the data model; and

a client computer, comprising;

a memory that stores at least instructions; and

one or more processor devices that execute instructions that perform actions, including;

displaying the data model in the user interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more network computer processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising, generating one or more assignment ratio tables based on the association of the one or more portions of resources from the one or more line items of the source data object with the one or more line items of the aspect object.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more line items of the aspect object are provided by one or more datasets that are associated with a business system that is modeled by the data model.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the traversal path through the data model is generated based on a report query, wherein at least a source data object and a target data object are provided by the report query.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more network computer processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising, in response to a query that includes a reference to one or more aspect objects, performing actions including:

modifying the traversal path to require each of the one or more aspect objects to be included in the traversal path; and

generating report information based on at least the source data object, and the one or more aspect objects.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the data model is a financial allocation model that further comprises, two or more data objects and one or more aspect objects, wherein the two or more data objects represent categories of cost line items in the financial allocation model.

13. A processor readable non-transitory storage media that includes instructions for allocating resources for data objects in a business system, wherein execution of the instructions by one or more hardware processors perform actions, comprising:

traversing, by the one or more processors, a data model comprised of nodes and edges that includes the data objects, wherein a traversal path follows one or more allocation rules that are included in the data model, and wherein a data structure for the data model is based on a table data structure for a general ledger dataset that includes a column for general ledger actuals ID and another column for cost for each line item in the table data structure;

employing, by the one or more processors, geolocation information to localize a visual presentation of a user interface that includes one or more of a database or internal processes associated with the data objects in the data model based on a physical location, wherein the localization includes one or more of time zones, languages, currencies, or calendar formatting;

in response to an aspect object encountered during the traversal, the one or more processors retrieve the data model and execute one of the one or more allocation rules to modify the data model by filtering and associating one or more portions of resources from one or more line items of a source data object with one or more line items of the aspect object based on the traversal path that follows the one or more allocation rules, wherein the one or more portions of the resources that are associated with the line items of the aspect object remain available for allocation at the same time to one or more other data objects in the data model; and

in response to a data object encountered during the traversal, the one or more processors retrieve the data model and execute another one of the one or more allocation rules to modify the data model by allocating the one or more portions of the resources from the one or more line items of the source data object with one or more line items of the data object based on the other one of the one or more allocation rules, wherein the one or more portions of the resources allocated to the one or more line items of the data object are unavailable for allocation to the one or more other data objects in the data model.

14. The media of claim 13, further comprising, generating one or more assignment ratio tables based on the association of the one or more portions of resources from the one or more line items of the source data object with the one or more line items of the aspect object.

15. The media of claim 13, wherein the one or more line items of the aspect object are provided by one or more datasets that are associated with a business system that is modeled by the data model.

16. The media of claim 13, wherein the traversal path through the data model is generated based on a report query, wherein at least a source data object and a target data object are provided by the report query.

17. The media of claim 13, further comprising, in response to a query that includes a reference to one or more aspect objects, performing actions including:

modifying the traversal path to require each of the one or more aspect objects to be included in the traversal path; and

generating report information based on at least the source data object, and the one or more aspect objects.

18. The media of claim 13, wherein the data model is a financial allocation model that further comprises, two or more data objects and one or more aspect objects, wherein the two or more data objects represent categories of cost line items in the financial allocation model.

19. A network computer for allocating resources for data objects in a business system, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable memory that stores at least instructions; and

one or more processor devices that execute instructions that perform actions, including;

traversing, by the one or more processors, a data model comprised of nodes and edges that includes the data objects, wherein a traversal path follows one or more allocation rules that are included in the data model, and wherein a data structure for the data model is based on a table data structure for a general ledger dataset that includes a column for general ledger actuals ID and another column for cost for each line item in the table data structure;

employing, by the one or more processors, geolocation information to localize a visual presentation of a user interface that includes one or more of a database or internal processes associated with the data objects in the data model based on a physical location, wherein the localization includes one or more of time zones, languages, currencies, or calendar formatting;

in response to an aspect object encountered during the traversal, the one or more processors retrieve the data model and execute one of the one or more allocation rules to modify the data model by filtering and associating one or more portions of resources from one or more line items of a source data object with one or more line items of the aspect object based on the traversal path that follows the one or more allocation rules, wherein the one or more portions of the resources that are associated with the line items of the aspect object remain available for allocation at the same time to one or more other data objects in the data model; and

in response to a data object encountered during the traversal, the one or more processors retrieve the data model and execute another one of the one or more allocation rules to modify the data model by allocating the one or more portions of the resources from the one or more line items of the source data object with one or more line items of the data object based on the other one of the one or more allocation rules, wherein the one or more portions of the resources allocated to the one or more line items of the data object are unavailable for allocation to the one or more other data objects in the data model.

20. The network computer of claim 19, wherein the one or more processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising, generating one or more assignment ratio tables based on the association of the one or more portions of resources from the one or more line items of the source data object with the one or more line items of the aspect object.

21. The network computer of claim 19, wherein the one or more line items of the aspect object are provided by one or more datasets that are associated with a business system that is modeled by the data model.

22. The network computer of claim 19, wherein the traversal path through the data model is generated based on a report query, wherein at least a source data object and a target data object are provided by the report query.

23. The network computer of claim 19, wherein the one or more processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising, in response to a query that includes a reference to one or more aspect objects, performing actions including:

modifying the traversal path to require each of the one or more aspect objects to be included in the traversal path; and

generating report information based on at least the source data object, and the one or more aspect objects.

24. The network computer of claim 19, wherein the data model is a financial allocation model that further comprises, two or more data objects and one or more aspect objects, wherein the two or more data objects represent categories of cost line items in the financial allocation model.