Operating plan data aggregation system with real-time updates

• US 20060074741A1
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ignite Enterprise Software Solutions, Inc. (Infonow Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Right90, Inc. (ESW Capital, LLC)
• Inventors: Skelton, Dean, Petiot, David, Orumchian, Kim, Stabenow, Art
• Granted Patent: US 7,558,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2228 Indexing structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/254 Extract, transform and load [ETL] procedures, e.g. ETL data flows in data warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90335 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2216/03 Data mining
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0202 Market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/06 Asset management; Financial planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99956 File allocation

Abstract

A method and apparatus for forecasting data with real-time updates is described. In one embodiment, the invention is a system. The system includes an analysis server including an OLAP cube. The system also includes an information database coupled to the analysis server to support the OLAP cube. In an alternate embodiment, the invention is a system. The system includes a first client. The system also includes an analysis server coupled to the first client. The system further includes a first customer database of information coupled to the analysis server. In another alternate embodiment, the invention is a method of maintaining information. The method includes receiving a set of forecast data. The method also includes incorporating the forecast data into a database of the information through an OLAP cube. The method further includes extracting a baseline forecast from the database. Additionally, the method includes receiving updates to the database. Moreover, the method includes propagating updates almost immediately throughout the information through the OLAP cube.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

A first client;

An analysis server coupled to the first client; and

A first customer database of information coupled to the analysis server, the first customer database is to embody forecast data and to receive essentially real-time updates to the forecast data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

The analysis server incorporates an OLAP cube therein, the OLAP cube to analyze and update the information of the first customer database.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

The first customer database is dedicated to use by a first set of selected users of the system; and

further comprising;

An identification server coupled to the first client and coupled to the first customer database.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

The first client is a smart client, and the first client includes an OLAP cube.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

A second client coupled to the identification server and the analysis server; and

A second customer database of information coupled to the identification server and the analysis server, the second customer database dedicated to use by a second set of users of the system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

The information is financial information.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein:

The first customer database includes watches of data.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

The first customer database includes sales forecast data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

The first customer database includes sales forecast data with changes from non-sales personnel.

10. A system comprising:

An analysis server including an OLAP cube; and

A information database coupled to the analysis server to support the OLAP cube, the information database to embody forecast data and to receive essentially real-time updates to the forecast data.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

An identification server coupled to the information database.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

A client coupled to the analysis server and to the identification server.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein:

The information database stores financial information.

14. A method of maintaining information, comprising:

Receiving a set of forecast data;

Incorporating the forecast data into a database of the information through an OLAP cube;

Extracting a baseline forecast from the database;

Receiving updates to the database; and

Propagating updates almost immediately throughout the information through the OLAP cube.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

Watching a set of watched data points of the information; and

Notifying a user of changes in the set of watched data points responsive to the propagating and receiving updates.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

Providing information to a user;

Receiving expected changes of the information from the user; and

Propagating the expected changes as updates almost immediately throughout the information through the OLAP cube.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

Reviewing updates received and propagated through the information; and

Providing user-readable updates of information responsive to the reviewing.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein:

The forecast data is financial information.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein:

The method is executed by a processor in response to instructions, the instructions embodied in a machine-readable medium.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

Receiving actual data corresponding to the information;

Comparing the actual data to the information; and

Providing user-readable comparisons of information and the actual data.