Continuously variable resolution of resource allocation

• US 10,387,815 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Apptio (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Elliott, Tavis Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): Rotaru, Octavian
• Application Number:
  US14/869,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20170091689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis

Abstract

Embodiments are directed towards allocating resources in a business system. A data model that includes a plurality data objects may be generated, such that each data object includes a plurality of data object line items. Allocation rules that allocate resources between the data objects may be generated. The allocation rules may be employed to identify key features of data objects, such that the key features are used by the allocation rules to allocate resources.

If key features are identified, grouped objects that separately correspond to the data objects that include key features may be generated. Also, grouped object line items may be generated for each of the grouped objects based on each distinct value of the key features, such that the data object line items are collapsed into grouped object line items based on the distinct values of the key features.

Claims

1. A method for allocating resources in a business system using a network computer that includes one or more processors that perform actions, comprising:

providing, by the one or more processors, a data model comprised of nodes and edges that includes a plurality of data objects that is stored in a non-transitory computer readable memory that is configured and arranged to store the data model of the network computer, wherein each data object includes a plurality of data object line items;

employing, by the one or more processors, geolocation information provided, by one or more global positioning systems (GPS) devices, to select features of the plurality of data objects and data object line items based on a physical location of a user'"'"'s client computer, wherein the selected features include one or more of time zones, languages, currencies, or calendar formatting, and wherein the features are used by one or more of user-interfaces, internal processes, or databases;

providing, by the one or more processors, a plurality of allocation rules that allocate the resources between the two or more of the plurality of data objects;

employing, by the one or more processors, the plurality of allocation rules to identify one or more key features of one or more data objects of the plurality of data objects, wherein the one or more key features are used by the allocation rules to allocate the resources;

when the actions of the one or more processors identify the one or more key features performing further actions, including;

retrieving, by the one or more processors, the stored data model from the non-transitory computer readable memory;

modifying, by the one or more processors, the data model by providing one or more grouped objects that separately correspond to one or more source data objects that allocate the resources to one or more target data objects based on an execution of the allocation rules that include one or more of the one or more key features;

generating, by the one or more processors, one or more grouped object line items for each of the one or more grouped objects based on each distinct value of the one or more key features, wherein one or more source data object line items that include the same one or more key features are grouped together to improve computational efficiency by collapsing rows to a minimum cardinality of rows based on one or more columns of the one or more source data objects that correspond to the one or more key features, which are also pertinent to generating report information regarding operation of the allocation rules, to provide the one or more grouped object line items, wherein a grouped object line item is provided for the each distinct value of the one or more key features, and wherein one or more other features of the one or more source data object line items are included in multi-valued columns of the one or more grouped object line items; and

modifying, by the one or more processors, the data model by providing one or more assignment ratio tables that include one or more assignment ratio rows based on the allocation rules, wherein the one or more assignment ratio rows in the one or more assignment ratio tables provide allocations using the grouped object line items;

wherein the modified data model and the one or more assignment ratio tables are stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory of the network computer, and wherein the one or more selected features improve the user'"'"'s understanding of the modified data model that is displayed to the user of the client computer when the client computer is located at a particular physical location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when a query is provided, performing further actions, including;

traversing, by the one or more processors, at least a portion of the plurality of data objects based on the query; and

when a grouped object is encountered during traversal, providing, by the one or more processors, at least a portion of results for the query using one or more of the grouped object'"'"'s grouped object line items.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, storing, by the one or more processors, one or more values from individual data object line items in a grouped object line item, wherein the one or more values enable a corresponding individual data object line item, from the individual data object lines items, to be resolved from the grouped object line item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the one or more assignment ratio tables, further includes, employing the one or more grouped object line items to generate one or more of the rows in the assignment ratio tables, wherein the one or more of the rows represent the allocation of resources for one or more data objects.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when a query references one or more features that are absent from a grouped object, accessing, by the one or more processors, the one or more features directly from a data object that is stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory that corresponds to the grouped object.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising, identifying, by the one or more processors, one or more of the plurality of data objects that are used to provide one or more of the one or more grouped objects.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, updating, by the one or more processors, the one or more grouped objects based on modifications that are made to one or more of the plurality of allocation rules, wherein the modifications include one or more of an increase in a number of the one or more key features, or a decrease in the number of the one or more key features.

8. A system for allocating resources in a business system, comprising:

a network computer, comprising;

a transceiver that communicates over the network;

a memory that stores at least instructions; and

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

providing, by the one or more processors, a data model comprised of nodes and edges that includes a plurality of data objects that is stored in a non-transitory computer readable memory that is configured and arranged to store the data model of the network computer, wherein each data object includes a plurality of data object line items;

employing, by the one or more processors, geolocation information provided, by one or more global positioning systems (GPS) devices, to select features of the plurality of data objects and data object line items based on a physical location of a user'"'"'s client computer, wherein the selected features include one or more of time zones, languages, currencies, or calendar formatting, and wherein the features are used by one or more of user-interfaces, internal processes, or databases;

providing, by the one or more processors, a plurality of allocation rules that allocate the resources between the two or more of the plurality of data objects;

employing, by the one or more processors, the plurality of allocation rules to identify one or more key features of one or more data objects of the plurality of data objects, wherein the one or more key features are used by the allocation rules to allocate the resources;

when the actions of the one or more processors identify the one or more key features performing further actions, including;

retrieving, by the one or more processors, the stored data model from the non-transitory computer readable memory;

modifying, by the one or more processors, the data model by providing one or more grouped objects that separately correspond to one or more source data objects that allocate the resources to one or more target data objects based on an execution of the allocation rules that include one or more of the one or more key features;

generating, by the one or more processors, one or more grouped object line items for each of the one or more grouped objects based on each distinct value of the one or more key features, wherein one or more source data object line items that include the same one or more key features are grouped together to improve computational efficiency by collapsing rows to a minimum cardinality of rows based on one or more columns of the one or more source data objects that correspond to the one or more key features, which are also pertinent to generating report information regarding operation of the allocation rules, to provide the one or more grouped object line items, wherein a grouped object line item is provided for the each distinct value of the one or more key features, and wherein one or more other features of the one or more source data object line items are included in multi-valued columns of the one or more grouped object line items; and

modifying, by the one or more processors, the data model by providing one or more assignment ratio tables that include one or more assignment ratio rows based on the allocation rules, wherein the one or more assignment ratio rows in the one or more assignment ratio tables provide allocations using the grouped object line items;

wherein the modified data model and the one or more assignment ratio tables are stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory of the network computer; and

a client computer, comprising;

a client computer transceiver that communicates over the network;

a client computer memory that stores at least instructions; and

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

displaying the modified data model, and wherein the one or more selected features improve the user'"'"'s understanding of the modified data model that is displayed to the user of the client computer when the client computer is located at a particular physical location.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more network computer processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising:

when a query is provided, performing further actions, including;

traversing at least a portion of the plurality of data objects based on the query; and

when a grouped object is encountered during traversal, providing at least a portion of results for the query using one or more of the grouped object'"'"'s grouped object line items.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more network computer processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising, storing one or more values from individual data object line items in a grouped object line item, wherein the one or more values enable a corresponding individual data object line item, from the individual data object lines items, to be resolved from the grouped object line item.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein generating the one or more assignment ratio tables, further includes, employing the one or more grouped object line items to generate one or more of the rows in the assignment ratio tables, wherein the one or more of the rows represent the allocation of resources for one or more data objects.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more network computer processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising, when a query references one or more features that are absent from a grouped object, accessing the one or more features directly from a data object that is stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory that corresponds to the grouped object.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more network computer processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising, identifying one or more of the plurality of data objects that are used to provide one or more of the one or more grouped objects.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more network computer processor devices execute instructions that perform actions, further comprising, updating the one or more grouped objects based on modifications that are made to one or more of the plurality of allocation rules, wherein the modifications include one or more of an increase in a number of the one or more key features, or a decrease in the number of the one or more key features.

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

providing, by the one or more processors, a data model comprised of nodes and edges that includes a plurality of data objects that is stored in a non-transitory computer readable memory that is configured and arranged to store the data model of the network computer, wherein each data object includes a plurality of data object line items;

employing, by the one or more processors, geolocation information provided, by one or more global positioning systems (GPS) devices, to select features of the plurality of data objects and data object line items based on a physical location of a user'"'"'s client computer, wherein the selected features include one or more of time zones, languages, currencies, or calendar formatting, and wherein the features are used by one or more of user-interfaces, internal processes, or databases;

providing, by the one or more processors, a plurality of allocation rules that allocate the resources between the two or more of the plurality of data objects;

employing, by the one or more processors, the plurality of allocation rules to identify one or more key features of one or more data objects of the plurality of data objects, wherein the one or more key features are used by the allocation rules to allocate the resources;

when the actions of the one or more processors identify the one or more key features performing further actions, including;

retrieving, by the one or more processors, the stored data model from the non-transitory computer readable memory;

modifying, by the one or more processors, the data model by providing one or more grouped objects that separately correspond to one or more source data objects that allocate the resources to one or more target data objects based on an execution of the allocation rules that include one or more of the one or more key features;

generating, by the one or more processors, one or more grouped object line items for each of the one or more grouped objects based on each distinct value of the one or more key features, wherein one or more source data object line items that include the same one or more key features are grouped together to improve computational efficiency by collapsing rows to a minimum cardinality of rows based on one or more columns of the one or more source data objects that correspond to the one or more key features, which are also pertinent to generating report information regarding operation of the allocation rules, to provide the one or more grouped object line items, wherein a grouped object line item is provided for the each distinct value of the one or more key features, and wherein one or more other features of the one or more source data object line items are included in multi-valued columns of the one or more grouped object line items; and

modifying, by the one or more processors, the data model by providing one or more assignment ratio tables that include one or more assignment ratio rows based on the allocation rules, wherein the one or more assignment ratio rows in the one or more assignment ratio tables provide allocations using the grouped object line items;

wherein the modified data model and the one or more assignment ratio tables are stored in the non-transitory storage memory, and wherein the one or more selected features improve the user'"'"'s understanding of the modified data model that is displayed to the user of the client computer when the client computer is located at a particular physical location.

16. The memory of claim 15, further comprising:

when a query is provided, performing further actions, including;

traversing at least a portion of the plurality of data objects based on the query; and

when a grouped object is encountered during traversal, providing at least a portion of results for the query using one or more of the grouped object'"'"'s grouped object line items.

17. The memory of claim 15, further comprising, storing one or more values from individual data object line items in a grouped object line item, wherein the one or more values enable a corresponding individual data object line item, from the individual data object lines items, to be resolved from the grouped object line item.

18. The memory of claim 15, wherein generating the one or more assignment ratio tables, further includes, employing the one or more grouped object line items to generate one or more of the rows in the assignment ratio tables, wherein the one or more of the rows represent the allocation of resources for one or more data objects.

19. The memory of claim 15, further comprising:

when a query references one or more features that are absent from a grouped object, accessing the one or more features directly from a data object that is stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory that corresponds to the grouped object.

20. The memory of claim 15, further comprising, identifying one or more of the plurality of data objects that are used to provide one or more of the one or more grouped objects.

21. The memory of claim 15, further comprising, updating the one or more grouped objects based on modifications that are made to one or more of the plurality of allocation rules, wherein the modifications include one or more of an increase in a number of the one or more key features, or a decrease in the number of the one or more key features.

22. A network computer for allocating resources in a business system, comprising:

a transceiver that communicates over the network;

a memory that stores at least instructions; and

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

providing, by the one or more processors, a data model comprised of nodes and edges that includes a plurality of data objects that is stored in a non-transitory computer readable memory that is configured and arranged to store the data model of the network computer, wherein each data object includes a plurality of data object line items;

employing, by the one or more processors, geolocation information provided, by one or more global positioning systems (GPS) devices, to select features of the plurality of data objects and data object line items based on a physical location of a user'"'"'s client computer, wherein the selected features include one or more of time zones, languages, currencies, or calendar formatting, and wherein the features are used by one or more of user-interfaces, internal processes, or databases;

providing, by the one or more processors, a plurality of allocation rules that allocate the resources between the two or more of the plurality of data objects;

employing, by the one or more processors, the plurality of allocation rules to identify one or more key features of one or more data objects of the plurality of data objects, wherein the one or more key features are used by the allocation rules to allocate the resources;

when the actions of the one or more processors identify the one or more key features performing further actions, including;

retrieving, by the one or more processors, the stored data model from the non-transitory computer readable memory;

modifying, by the one or more processors, the data model by providing one or more grouped objects that separately correspond to one or more source data objects that allocate the resources to one or more target data objects based on an execution of the allocation rules that include one or more of the one or more key features;

generating, by the one or more processors, one or more grouped object line items for each of the one or more grouped objects based on each distinct value of the one or more key features, wherein one or more source data object line items that include the same one or more key features are grouped together to improve computational efficiency by collapsing rows to a minimum cardinality of rows based on one or more columns of the one or more source data objects that correspond to the one or more key features, which are also pertinent to generating report information regarding operation of the allocation rules, to provide the one or more grouped object line items, wherein a grouped object line item is provided for the each distinct value of the one or more key features, and wherein one or more other features of the one or more source data object line items are included in multi-valued columns of the one or more grouped object line items; and

modifying, by the one or more processors, the data model by providing one or more assignment ratio tables that include one or more assignment ratio rows based on the allocation rules, wherein the one or more assignment ratio rows in the one or more assignment ratio tables provide allocations using the grouped object line items;

wherein the modified data model and the one or more assignment ratio tables are stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory of the network computer, and wherein the one or more selected features improve the user'"'"'s understanding of the modified data model that is displayed to the user of the client computer when the client computer is located at a particular physical location.

23. The network computer of claim 22, further comprising:

when a query is provided, performing further actions, including;

traversing at least a portion of the plurality of data objects based on the query; and

when a grouped object is encountered during traversal, providing at least a portion of results for the query using one or more of the grouped object'"'"'s line items.

24. The network computer of claim 22, further comprising, storing one or more values from individual data object line items in a grouped object line item, wherein the one or more values enable a corresponding individual data object line item, from the individual data object lines items, to be resolved from the grouped object line item.

25. The network computer of claim 22, wherein generating the one or more assignment ratio tables, further includes, employing the one or more grouped object line items to generate one or more of the rows in the assignment ratio tables, wherein the one or more of the rows represent the allocation of resources for one or more data objects.

26. The network computer of claim 22, further comprising, when a query references one or more features that are absent from a grouped object, accessing the one or more features directly from a data object that is stored in the non-transitory computer readable memory that corresponds to the grouped object.

27. The network computer of claim 22, further comprising, identifying one or more of the plurality of data objects that are used to provide one or more of the one or more grouped objects.

28. The network computer of claim 22, further comprising, updating the one or more grouped objects based on modifications that are made to one or more of the plurality of allocation rules, wherein the modifications include one or more of an increase in a number of the one or more key features, or a decrease in the number of the one or more key features.