Generating business analysis results in advance of a request for the results

• US 20040138932A1
• Filed: 04/18/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Johnson, Christopher D., Kalish, Peter A.
• Application Number:
  US10/418,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20040138932A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0637 Strategic management or analysis, e.g. setting a goal or target of an organisation; Planning actions based on goals; Analysis or evaluation of effectiveness of goals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method is described for generating output results for presentation in a business information and decisioning control system. The method includes: (a) generating a set of output results using a business model, where the generating of the set of output results is performed prior to a request by a user for the output results; (b) storing the set of output results; (c) receiving a user'"'"'s request for an output result via the business information and decisioning control system; (d) determining whether the requested output result has been generated in advance of the user'"'"'s request; and (e) if the requested output result has been generated in advance, retrieving the requested output result from storage and presenting the output result to the user.

Claims

1. A method for generating output results for presentation in a business information and decisioning control system, comprising:

generating a set of output results using a business model provided by the business information and decisioning control system, wherein the generating of the set of output results is performed prior to a request by a user for the output results;

storing the set of output results in a storage;

receiving a user'"'"'s request for an output result via the business information and decisioning control system;

determining whether the requested output result has been generated in advance of the user'"'"'s request; and

if the requested output result has been generated in advance, retrieving the requested output result from storage and presenting the output result to the requesting user.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the generating of the set of output results comprises determining which output results to generate within a larger collection of potential output results.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the determining of which output results to generate is based on a rate of change of an output response function of the business model.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the output response function includes at least one portion that has a greater rate of change than another portion, and wherein the set of output results includes more samples taken from the portion having the greater rate of change compared to the other portion, wherein the rate of change is representative of the variability in a dependent variable associated with the output response function relative to changes in an independent variable associated with the output response function.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the rate of change is determined by taking one or more derivatives of the output response function.

6. A method according to claim 3, wherein the determining of which output results to generate includes:

probing the output response function by investigating the rate of change for samples within the output response function;

determining a distribution of output results to include in the generated set of output results based on the assessed rate of change of the samples.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the probing comprises selecting random samples in the output response function for investigation.

8. A method according to claim 2, wherein the determining of which output results to generate is based on a predictive forecast of which output results a user is likely to request during use of the business information and decisioning control system.

9. A method according to claim 2, wherein the determining of which output results to generate is based on analysis which defines a set of what-if cases within a larger body of what-if cases.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the generating of the set of output results comprises generating the output results in response to users'"'"' prior requests to generate the output results.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the generating of the set of output results comprises determining plural transfer functions that collectively describe the behavior of the business model, wherein the plural transfer functions can be used to generate the set of output results.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the storing comprises storing the set of output results in a database within the business information and decisioning control system.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the storing also includes storing input conditions that governed the generation of the output results.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the requested output result has been generated includes comparing a user'"'"'s request with input conditions that governed the generation of the output results to determine if there is a match between the user'"'"'s request and the input conditions.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the determining of whether there is a match between the user'"'"'s request and the input conditions comprises determining whether a variance between the user'"'"'s request and the input conditions is within a defined tolerance level to constitute a match.

16. A method according to claim 1, further including generating an output result using the business model in response to the user'"'"'s request if it is determined that an output result corresponding to the user'"'"'s request has not been previously generated.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the business information and decisioning control system includes a control module coupled to a business system user interface.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the business system user interface includes a graphical input mechanism configured to receive the user'"'"'s request.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein the business pertains to a services-related business or a manufacturing business.

20. A computer-readable medium including instructions for carrying out the method of claim 1.

21. A method for using a business information and decisioning control system in a business, comprising:

activating the business information and decisioning control system, the business information and decisioning control system including a control module that stores a set of pre-generated output results, and the business information and decisioning control system also including a business system user interface for interacting with the control module;

receiving a user'"'"'s request for an output result via the business system user interface;

receiving the requested output result from the business information and decisioning control system substantially in real time if the user'"'"'s request is associated with one of the output results that has been pre-generated; and

receiving the requested output result from the business information and decisioning control system after the control module has calculated the requested output result if the user'"'"'s request is not associated with one of the output results that has been pre-generated,

wherein the requested output result provides guidance on the control of the business.

22. A business information and decisioning control system, comprising:

a control module configured to receive information provided by multiple interrelated business processes, and to provide commands to the interrelated business processes;

a business system user interface, coupled to the control module, configured to allow a user to interact with the control module;

wherein the control module includes;

logic configured to generate a set of output results using a business model, wherein the generating of the set of output results is performed prior to a request by a user for the output results;

logic configured to store the set of output results;

a storage for storing the output results;

logic configured to receive a user'"'"'s request for an output result;

logic configured to determine whether the requested output result has been generated in advance of the user'"'"'s request;

logic configured to retrieve the stored output result, if the output result has been generating in advance; and

logic configured to present the output result to the requesting user.

23. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 22, wherein the control module is implemented in a server, and the business system user interface is implemented in a client, wherein the server is coupled to the client via a data-bearing communication path.

24. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 22, wherein the logic for generating the set of output results further comprises logic configured to determine which output results to generate within a larger collection of potential output results.

25. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 24, wherein the logic for determining which output results to generate is configured to make the determination of which output results to generate based on a rate of change of an output response function of the business model.

26. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 25, wherein the output response function includes at least one portion that has a greater rate of change than another portion, and wherein the set of output results includes more samples taken from the portion having the greater rate of change compared to the other portion, wherein the rate of change is representative of the variability in a dependent variable associated with the output response function relative to changes in an independent variable associated with the output response function.

27. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 25, wherein the logic for determining which output results to generate is configured to determine the rate of change by taking one or more derivatives of the output response function.

28. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 25, wherein the logic for determining which output results to generate further includes logic configured to probe the output response function by investigating the rate of change for samples within the output response function, and to determine a distribution of output results to include in the generated set of output results based on the assessed rate of change of the samples.

29. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 28, wherein the probing is configured to select random samples in the output response function for investigation.

30. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 24, wherein the logic for determining which output results to generate is configured to determine which output results to generate based on a prediction of which output results a user is likely to request during use of the business information and decisioning control system.

31. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 24, wherein the logic for determining which output results to generate is configured to determine which output results to generate based on analysis which defines a set of what-if cases within a larger body of what-if cases.

32. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 22, wherein the logic for generating the set of output results is configured to generate the output results in response to users'"'"' prior requests to generate the output results.

33. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 22, wherein the logic for generating the set of output results is configured to determine plural transfer functions that collectively describe the behavior of the business model, wherein the plural transfer functions can be used to generate the set of output results.

34. A business information and decisioning control system, according to claim 22, wherein the logic for storing is further configured to store input conditions that governed the generation of the output results.

35. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 22, wherein the logic for determining whether the output result has been generated is configured to compare a user'"'"'s request with input conditions that governed the generation of the output results to determine if there is a match between the user'"'"'s request and the input conditions.

36. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 35, wherein the determining of whether there is a match between the user'"'"'s request and the input conditions comprises determining whether a variance between the user'"'"'s request and the input conditions is within a defined tolerance level to constitute a match.

37. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 22, further comprising logic configured to generate an output result using the business model in response to the user'"'"'s request if it is determined that an output result corresponding to the user'"'"'s request has not been previously generated.

38. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 22, wherein the business system interface includes a graphical input mechanism configured to receive the user'"'"'s request.

39. A business information and decisioning control system according to claim 22, wherein the business pertains to a services-related business or a manufacturing business.

40. A computer-readable medium including instructions for carrying out the control module logic of claim 22.

41. A business system user interface of a business information and decisioning control system, wherein the business information and decisioning control system includes a control module that is configured to receive information provided by multiple interrelated business processes in a business, and to provide commands to the interrelated business processes, comprising:

a first display field that presents a graphical input mechanism; and

a second display field that provides an output result generated by a business model, the output result providing guidance on the control of the business;

wherein the first display field is configured to receive a user'"'"'s request for an output result via the business system user interface;

wherein the second display field is configured to;

provide an output response from the business information and decisioning control system substantially in real time if the user'"'"'s request is associated with an output result that has been pre-generated; and

provide an output response from the business information and decisioning control system after the control module has calculated the output result if the user'"'"'s request is not associated with an output result that has been pre-generated, wherein the output result provides guidance on the control of the business.

42. A business system, comprising:

multiple interrelated business processes for accomplishing a business objective, wherein the interrelated business processes each includes a plurality of resources that collectively perform a business task;

a business information and decisioning control system, including;

a control module configured to receive information provided by the interrelated business processes, and to provide commands to the interrelated business processes;

a business system user interface, coupled to the control module, configured to allow a user to interact with the control module, the business system user interface including plural input mechanisms for receiving instructions from the user;

wherein the control module includes;

logic configured to generate a set of output results using a business model, wherein the generating of the set of output results is performed prior to a request by a user for the output results;

logic configured to store the set of output results;

a storage for storing the output results;

logic configured to receive a user'"'"'s request for an output result;

logic configured to determine whether the requested output result has been generated in advance of the user'"'"'s request;

logic configured to retrieve the stored output result, if the output result has been generating in advance;

logic configured to present the output result to the requesting user; and

logic configured to receive an input command from the requesting user,

wherein the interrelated business processes are configured to receive instructions corresponding to the input command and to make a change in at least one resource of the interrelated business processes in response to the instructions.