Resource allocation forecasting

• US 10,726,367 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2015
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Apptio Inc (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Theriault, Eric Yves, McLachlan, Paul Damien
• Primary Examiner(s): Padot, Timothy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garcia-Guerra, Darlene
• Application Number:
  US14/981,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20170185929A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,674 Days
• Field of Search: 705 722, 705 30, 705348
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

Embodiments are directed towards for managing data models, including resource allocation forecasting. A main data model may be provided. A delta ratio value based on a difference between modified cloned resource values and their corresponding original resource values in the main data model may be provided. Line items from the cloned data model associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values may be provided. Each of the cloned line items may be modified based on the delta ratio value. The modified cloned line items may be stored in the cloned data model. Reports including report information based on the cloned data model may be provided. The report information may indicate changes that were made to one or more other cloned resource values based on the modifications to the one or more cloned resource values.

Claims

1. A method for managing data models using a network computer that employs one or more processors to execute instructions that perform actions, comprising:

instantiating a main data model that includes one or more resource values and one or more model objects, wherein a data structure for the main data model includes a plurality of assignment ratio tables, including a first assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from one or more general ledger objects to one or more data center objects, a second assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from the one or more data center objects to one or more servers objects, and a third assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from the one or more servers objects to one or more applications objects;

instantiating a cloned data model that is based on the main data model, wherein the cloned data model just includes copied or modified resource values from the one or more resource values included in the main data model that are required to generate an estimated forecast for a what-if scenario with a reduced accuracy based on a lower level of line item granularity than provided by the main data model, wherein employing the just included one or more resource values of the cloned data model to generate the estimated forecast for the what-if scenario provides for creation of the cloned data model with just a fraction of its data duplicated;

when a user modifies the one or more resource values in the cloned data model, performing further actions, including;

providing a delta ratio value based on a difference between the one or more modified cloned resource values and their corresponding original resource values in the main data model;

providing one or more line items from the cloned data model, wherein each of the provided cloned line items is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values;

modifying each of the one or more cloned line items based on the delta ratio value; and

storing the one or more modified cloned line items in the cloned data model; and

providing report information based on the cloned data model, wherein geolocation information based on electronic signals processed by a Global Positioning System (GPS) device is employed to modify a visual presentation in a display and one or more of a database, an internal process, or the report information based on a location of a client computer employed by the one or more users, wherein the modification includes one or more of time zone, currency, calendar format, or language, and wherein the report information indicates one or more changes to one or more other cloned resource values, and wherein the one or more changes are based on the modification of the one or more cloned resource values; and

providing what-if delta ratio values for use in accelerated generation of one or more updated allocations for one or more of the plurality of assignment ratio tables for the cloned data model, wherein the what-if delta ratio values are based on line item edits of the cloned data model by a user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, when data for the one or more modified cloned resource values is absent from the cloned data model, copying one or more line items from the main data model to the cloned data model, wherein the copied line items are associated with at least one model object that is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, providing one or more scenarios that include one or more constraints, including restricting the one or more other cloned resource values from being modified, restricting a range of modification values for the one or more cloned resource values, or restricting data types for the one or more cloned resource values.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying each of the one or more cloned line items based on the delta ratio value, further comprises, modifying at least one cloned resource value by multiplying it by the delta ratio value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the cloned data model, further comprises:

providing access to the one or model objects and the one or more resource values; and

when the cloned data model versions of the one or model objects and the one or more resources are modified by the user, copying data associated with the one or model objects and the one or more resources to the cloned data model.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing one or more lines from one or more cloned assignment ratio tables from the cloned data model, wherein each of the provided lines is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values; and

modifying each of the one or more lines based on the delta ratio value.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the one or more line items from the cloned data model, further comprises, traversing the cloned data model to identify the one or more cloned model objects that are allocated at least a portion of resources associated with the modified resource values.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

caching at least a portion of the one or more resource values in the main data model when network communication is unavailable; and

providing the cached at least portion of the one or more resource values to the cloned data model when network communication is available.

9. A system for managing data models, comprising:

a network computer, comprising;

a transceiver that communicates over the network;

a memory that stores at least instructions; and

a processor device that executes instructions that perform actions, including;

instantiating a main data model that includes one or more resource values and one or more model objects, wherein a data structure for the main data model includes a plurality of assignment ratio tables, including a first assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from one or more general ledger objects to one or more data center objects, a second assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from the one or more data center objects to one or more servers objects, and a third assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from the one or more servers objects to one or more applications objects;

instantiating a cloned data model that is based on the main data model, wherein the cloned data model just includes copied or modified resource values from the one or more resource values included in the main data model that are required to generate an estimated forecast for a what-if scenario with a reduced accuracy based on a lower level of line item granularity than provided by the main data model, wherein employing the just included one or more resource values of the cloned data model to generate the estimated forecast for the what-if scenario provides for creation of the cloned data model with just a fraction of its data duplicated;

when a user modifies the one or more resource values in the cloned data model, performing further actions, including;

providing a delta ratio value based on a difference between the one or more modified cloned resource values and their corresponding original resource values in the main data model;

providing one or more line items from the cloned data model, wherein each of the provided cloned line items is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values;

modifying each of the one or more cloned line items based on the delta ratio value; and

storing the one or more modified cloned line items in the cloned data model; and

providing report information based on the cloned data model, wherein geolocation information based on electronic signals processed by a Global Positioning System (GPS) device is employed to modify a visual presentation in a display and one or more of a database, an internal process, or the report information based on a location of a client computer employed by the one or more users, wherein the modification includes one or more of time zone, currency, calendar format, or language, and wherein the report information indicates one or more changes to one or more other cloned resource values, and wherein the one or more changes are based on the modification of the one or more cloned resource values; and

providing what-if delta ratio values for use in accelerated generation of one or more updated allocations for one or more of the plurality of assignment ratio tables for the cloned data model, wherein the what-if delta ratio values are based on line item edits of the cloned data model by a user; and

the client computer, comprising;

a transceiver that communicates over the network;

a memory that stores at least instructions; and

a processor device that executes instructions that perform actions, including;

providing the user-interface to a user; and

providing one or more modifications to the one or more cloned resource values.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the network computer processor device executes instructions that perform actions, further comprising, when data for the one or more modified cloned resource values is absent from the cloned data model, copying one or more line items from the main data model to the cloned data model, wherein the copied line items are associated with at least one model object that is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the network computer processor device executes instructions that perform actions, further comprising, providing one or more scenarios that include one or more constraints, including restricting the one or more other cloned resource values from being modified, restricting a range of modification values for the one or more cloned resource values, or restricting data types for the one or more cloned resource values.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein modifying each of the one or more cloned line items based on the delta ratio value, further comprises, modifying at least one cloned resource value by multiplying it by the delta ratio value.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein providing the cloned data model, further comprises:

providing access to the one or model objects and the one or more resource values; and

when the cloned data model versions of the one or model objects and the one or more resources are modified by the user, copying data associated with the one or model objects and the one or more resources to the cloned data model.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the network computer processor device executes instructions that perform actions, further comprising:

providing one or more lines from one or more cloned assignment ratio tables from the cloned data model, wherein each of the provided lines is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values; and

modifying each of the one or more lines based on the delta ratio value.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein providing the one or more line items from the cloned data model, further comprises, traversing the cloned data model to identify the one or more cloned model objects that are allocated at least a portion of resources associated with the modified resource values.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the network computer processor device executes instructions that perform actions, further comprising:

caching at least a portion of the one or more resource values in the main data model when network communication is unavailable; and

providing the cached at least portion of the one or more resource values to the cloned data model when network communication is available.

17. A processor readable non-transitory storage media that includes instructions for managing data models, wherein execution of the instructions by a hardware processor performs actions, comprising:

instantiating a main data model that includes one or more resource values and one or more model objects, wherein a data structure for the main data model includes a plurality of assignment ratio tables, including a first assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from one or more general ledger objects to one or more data center objects, a second assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from the one or more data center objects to one or more servers objects, and a third assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from the one or more servers objects to one or more applications objects;

instantiating a cloned data model that is based on the main data model, wherein the cloned data model just includes copied or modified resource values from the one or more resource values included in the main data model that are required to generate an estimated forecast for a what-if scenario with a reduced accuracy based on a lower level of line item granularity than provided by the main data model, wherein employing the just included one or more resource values of the cloned data model to generate the estimated forecast for the what-if scenario provides for creation of the cloned data model with just a fraction of its data duplicated;

when a user modifies the one or more resource values in the cloned data model, performing further actions, including;

providing a delta ratio value based on a difference between the one or more modified cloned resource values and their corresponding original resource values in the main data model;

providing one or more line items from the cloned data model, wherein each of the provided cloned line items is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values;

modifying each of the one or more cloned line items based on the delta ratio value; and

storing the one or more modified cloned line items in the cloned data model; and

providing report information based on the cloned data model, wherein geolocation information based on electronic signals processed by a Global Positioning System (GPS) device is employed to modify a visual presentation in a display and one or more of a database, an internal process, or the report information based on a location of a client computer employed by the one or more users, wherein the modification includes one or more of time zone, currency, calendar format, or language, and wherein the report information indicates one or more changes to one or more other cloned resource values, and wherein the one or more changes are based on the modification of the one or more cloned resource values; and

providing what-if delta ratio values for use in accelerated generation of one or more updated allocations for one or more of the plurality of assignment ratio tables for the cloned data model, wherein the what-if delta ratio values are based on line item edits of the cloned data model by a user.

18. The media of claim 17, further comprising, when data for the one or more modified cloned resource values is absent from the cloned data model, copying one or more line items from the main data model to the cloned data model, wherein the copied line items are associated with at least one model object that is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values.

19. The media of claim 17, further comprising, providing one or more scenarios that include one or more constraints, including restricting the one or more other cloned resource values from being modified, restricting a range of modification values for the one or more cloned resource values, or restricting data types for the one or more cloned resource values.

20. The media of claim 17, wherein modifying each of the one or more cloned line items based on the delta ratio value, further comprises, modifying at least one cloned resource value by multiplying it by the delta ratio value.

21. The media of claim 17, wherein providing the cloned data model, further comprises:

providing access to the one or model objects and the one or more resource values; and

when the cloned data model versions of the one or model objects and the one or more resources are modified by the user, copying data associated with the one or model objects and the one or more resources to the cloned data model.

22. The media of claim 17, further comprising:

providing one or more lines from one or more cloned assignment ratio tables from the cloned data model, wherein each of the provided lines is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values; and

modifying each of the one or more lines based on the delta ratio value.

23. The media of claim 17, wherein providing the one or more line items from the cloned data model, further comprises, traversing the cloned data model to identify the one or more cloned model objects that are allocated at least a portion of resources associated with the modified resource values.

24. A network computer for managing data models, comprising:

a transceiver that communicates over the network;

a memory that stores at least instructions; and

a processor device that executes instructions that perform actions, including;

instantiating a main data model that includes one or more resource values and one or more model objects, wherein a data structure for the main data model includes a plurality of assignment ratio tables, including a first assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from one or more general ledger objects to one or more data center objects, a second assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from the one or more data center objects to one or more servers objects, and a third assignment ratio table that allocates the one or more resource values from the one or more servers objects to one or more applications objects;

instantiating a cloned data model that is based on the main data model, wherein the cloned data model just includes copied or modified resource values from the one or more resource values included in the main data model that are required to generate an estimated forecast for a what-if scenario with a reduced accuracy based on a lower level of line item granularity than provided by the main data model, wherein employing the just included one or more resource values of the cloned data model to generate the estimated forecast for the what-if scenario provides for creation of the cloned data model with just a fraction of its data duplicated;

when a user modifies the one or more resource values in the cloned data model, performing further actions, including;

providing a delta ratio value based on a difference between the one or more modified cloned resource values and their corresponding original resource values in the main data model;

providing one or more line items from the cloned data model, wherein each of the provided cloned line items is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values;

modifying each of the one or more cloned line items based on the delta ratio value; and

storing the one or more modified cloned line items in the cloned data model; and

providing report information based on the cloned data model, wherein geolocation information based on electronic signals processed by a Global Positioning System (GPS) device is employed to modify a visual presentation in a display and one or more of a database, an internal process, or the report information based on a location of a client computer employed by the one or more users, wherein the modification includes one or more of time zone, currency, calendar format, or language, and wherein the report information indicates one or more changes to one or more other cloned resource values, and wherein the one or more changes are based on the modification of the one or more cloned resource values; and

providing what-if delta ratio values for use in accelerated generation of one or more updated allocations for one or more of the plurality of assignment ratio tables for the cloned data model, wherein the what-if delta ratio values are based on line item edits of the cloned data model by a user.

25. The network computer of claim 24, further comprising, when data for the one or more modified cloned resource values is absent from the cloned data model, copying one or more line items from the main data model to the cloned data model, wherein the copied line items are associated with at least one model object that is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values.

26. The network computer of claim 24, further comprising, providing one or more scenarios that include one or more constraints, including restricting the one or more other cloned resource values from being modified, restricting a range of modification values for the one or more cloned resource values, or restricting data types for the one or more cloned resource values.

27. The network computer of claim 24, wherein modifying each of the one or more cloned line items based on the delta ratio value, further comprises, modifying at least one cloned resource value by multiplying it by the delta ratio value.

28. The network computer of claim 24, wherein providing the cloned data model, further comprises:

providing access to the one or model objects and the one or more resource values; and

when the cloned data model versions of the one or model objects and the one or more resources are modified by the user, copying data associated with the one or model objects and the one or more resources to the cloned data model.

29. The network computer of claim 24, further comprising:

providing one or more lines from one or more cloned assignment ratio tables from the cloned data model, wherein each of the provided lines is associated with the one or more modified cloned resource values; and

modifying each of the one or more lines based on the delta ratio value.

30. The network computer of claim 24, wherein providing the one or more line items from the cloned data model, further comprises, traversing the cloned data model to identify the one or more cloned model objects that are allocated at least a portion of resources associated with the modified resource values.