Database track history

• US 20060106843A1
• Filed: 11/17/2004
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TARGIT A/S
• Original Assignee: TARGIT A/S
• Inventors: Middelfart, Morten, Jensen, Tommy
• Granted Patent: US 7,774,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of providing a track history before a database, comprising the steps of: providing in a storage memory, a track history of choice selectable records that each comprises metadata items applicable to identify a data set from a data superset stored in the database; providing a bank of transformers with different choice selectable transformers; wherein a choice selected transformer takes a selected record and transforms the metadata items of the record to application specific metadata according to a syntax determined by the transformer; and activating an application, which accepts the determined syntax, comprising posting the application specific metadata.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing a track history before a database, comprising the steps of:

providing in a storage memory, a track history of choice selectable records that each comprises metadata items applicable to identify a data set from a data superset stored in the database;

providing a bank of transformers with different choice selectable transformers;

wherein a choice selected transformer takes a selected record and transforms the metadata items of the record to application specific metadata according to a syntax determined by the transformer;

providing activation of an application, which accepts the determined syntax, comprising making the application specific metadata available for the application.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a first of the transformers is configured to provide the application specific metadata, using a first syntax which is determined by a transformation embedding the metadata items of the record in an information body text;

and wherein a first application, which accepts the specified syntax, provides a presentation that combines the information body text and the application specific metadata.

3. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the information body text is provided in a natural language.

4. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1, wherein the information text is supplemented by a user'"'"'s description.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the records further comprise presentation properties which define properties of a presentation of a data set by means of a graphical object specified by the properties.

6. A method according to claim 1,

wherein the records further comprise presentation properties which define properties of a presentation of a data set by means of a graphical object specified by the properties;

the method comprising the step of;

providing a presentation of the data set by means of the specified object in accordance with the presentation properties.

7. A method according to claim 1,

wherein the records further comprise presentation properties which define properties of a presentation,

the method comprising the step of:

merging metadata and presentation properties from a record representing a current view and a choice selected record representing a former view.

8. A method according to claim 6,

wherein a second of the transformers is configured to provide the application specific metadata from the metadata items and the presentation properties of a selected record,

wherein a second application provides a presentation of the data set, identified by the metadata items of the selected record, by means of a graphical object in accordance with the presentation properties of the record.

9. A method according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

retrieving metadata items of a choice selected record;

retrieving presentation properties of a record that represents a current view, providing a presentation of the data set identified by the retrieved metadata items according to presentation properties retrieved from the record that represents the current view.

10. A method according to claim 9,

wherein the metadata items of a choice selected record are items of a type setting criteria in identifying the data subset.

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

retrieving metadata items of a dimensions type and a measures type from a record representing a current view; and

wherein the data set identified by the metadata items of the choice selected record is further identified by the metadata items of the dimensions type and the measures type from the record representing a current view.

12. A method according to claim 10,

wherein a record comprises criteria;

and

wherein a current presentation comprises a view structure of multiple graphical presentation objects each providing a presentation of a data subset which is partially identified by an individual criterion;

comprising the steps of;

applying criteria of the record to each of the data subsets to change the identification of the data subsets; and

updating the current presentation to provide a presentation of the data subsets as identified by the changed identification.

13. A method according to claim 10,

wherein a choice selected record comprises subsets of metadata items with respective criteria;

and

wherein a current presentation comprises a view structure of multiple graphical objects each providing a presentation of a data subset which is partially identified by an individual criterion;

the method comprising the steps of

changing individual ones of the identifications of the data subsets of the presentation by application of a respective subset of metadata items of the criteria type in the choice selected record;

updating the presentation of the current presentation to provide a presentation of the data subsets as identified by the changed identifications.

14. A method according to claim 9,

wherein a third of the transformers is configured to provide the application specific metadata from a choice selected record and a representation of current presentation properties which are provided by a current presentation;

and

wherein a third application provides a presentation of the data set identified by the choice selected record in accordance with the representation of current presentation properties.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein a fourth of the transformers is configured to provide the application specific metadata, and wherein a fourth application provides changed values of the data set according to a specification of the changes provided in the application specific metadata.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein a fifth of the transformers is configured to provide the application specific metadata, and wherein a fifth application provides search results in response to search criteria provided in the application specific metadata.

17. A method according to claim 1,

wherein a current presentation comprises a view structure of multiple graphical objects each providing a presentation of a respective data subset

wherein a graphical object comprises multiple graphical elements, which are associated with metadata items that define criteria for those data, of the data subset, represented by means of the elements;

and where the method comprises the steps of;

in response to a user'"'"'s directed action to a graphical element of a graphical object, determining those metadata that applies to the graphical element, and retrieving further data defined by the determined metadata;

making a presentation of the further data by means of a graphical object of the view structure.

18. A method according to claim 17, where, in response to a user'"'"'s directed action to the graphical element of the graphical object, the graphical element is enhanced visually relative to other elements of the graphical object to reflect that the element represents a criterion for the data presented by means of the further graphical object.

19. A computer system with a memory loaded with a program that is configured to perform the computer-implemented method according to claim 1 when run by the computer system.

20. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program that is configured to perform the computer-implemented method according to claim 1 when run by a computer.