System and method for time dimension management for a data analyzing system

• US 20060253475A1
• Filed: 05/09/2005
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cognos Incorporated (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Stewart, Ian, Kelly, Floyd, Breedvelt-Schouten, Ilse
• Granted Patent: US 8,434,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A time dimension management system is provided for managing time dimension of a data analyzing system for analyzing data stored in a data store based on a time data structure. The time dimension management system comprises a date selector controller and a calendar coordinator. The date selector controller is provided for controlling a date selector that presents to a user a standard calendar and a business calendar. The date selector controller has a standard calendar manager for managing presentation of the standard calendar for allowing the user to select a date on the standard calendar, and a business calendar manager for managing presentation of the business calendar to represent the time data structure that the data analyzing system uses, and allowing the user to select a date on the business calendar. The calendar coordinator is provided for coordinating the standard calendar manager and the business calendar manager to indicate a selected date on the standard calendar and the business calendar.

Claims

1. A time dimension management system for managing time dimension of a data analyzing system for analyzing data stored in a data store based on a time data structure, the time dimension management system comprising:

a date selector controller for controlling a date selector that presents to a user a standard calendar and a business calendar, the date selector controller having;

a standard calendar manager for managing presentation of the standard calendar for allowing the user to select a date on the standard calendar;

a business calendar manager for managing presentation of the business calendar to represent the time data structure that the data analyzing system uses, and allowing the user to select a date on the business calendar; and

a calendar coordinator for coordinating the standard calendar manager and the business calendar manager to indicate a selected date on the standard calendar and the business calendar.

2. The time dimension management system as recited in claim 1, wherein the business calendar manager has a time cell handler for presenting the business calendar with multiple cells to represent the time data structure, and allowing the user to select cells.

3. The time dimension management system as recited in claim 2, wherein the time cell handler presents the cells in a multi-level hierarchy.

4. The time dimension management system as recited in claim 2, wherein the calendar coordinator provides links between the cells on the business calendar and corresponding dates on the standard calendar.

5. The time dimension management system as recited in claim 2, wherein the calendar coordinator changes the appearance of the cells to indicate a selected date.

6. The time dimension management system as recited in claim 1, wherein the business calendar manager has a time dimensional selection handler for presenting the business calendar as a time dimensional selector having multiple time levels, each having one or more time items to represent the time data structure, and allowing the user to select time items.

7. The time dimension management system as recited in claim 6, wherein the time dimensional selection handler presents the time items as selection options in respective time levels.

8. The time dimension management system as recited in claim 7, wherein the calendar coordinator provides links between the time items on the time dimensional selector and corresponding dates on the standard calendar.

9. The time dimension management system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a time period selection controller for controlling presentation of a time period selector to allow the user to select a time period in relation with the selected date.

10. The time dimension management system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a validity time indication controller for controlling presentation of a validity time indicator.

16. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the step of providing a business calendar comprises the step of presenting a time dimensional selector as the business calendar, the time dimensional selector having multiple time levels, each having one or more time items to represent the time data structure, for allowing the user to select time items.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the step of presenting a time dimensional selector presents the time items as selection options in respective time levels.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the coordinating step links the selected date between the time items on the time dimensional selector and corresponding dates on the standard calendar.

11. A method of managing time dimension of a data analyzing system for analyzing data stored in a data store based on a time data structure, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting a standard calendar for allowing the user to select a date on the standard calendar;

presenting a business calendar that represents the time data structure that the data analyzing system uses for allowing the user to select a date on the business calendar;

receiving a date selection by a user on the standard calendar or the business calendar; and

coordinating presentation of the standard calendar and the business calendar to indicate a same date on the standard calendar and the business calendar in response to the date selection by the user.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the step of presenting a business calendar comprises the step of presenting the business calendar with multiple cells to represent the time data structure for allowing the user to select cells.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of presenting the business calendar with multiple cells presents the cells in a multi-level hierarchy.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the coordinating step links between the cells on the business calendar and corresponding dates on the standard calendar.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the coordinator step changes the appearance of the cells to indicate a selected date.

19. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of controlling presentation of a time period selector to allow the user to select a time period in relation with the selected date.

20. A memory containing computer executable instructions that can be read and executed by a computer for managing time dimension of a data analyzing system for analyzing data stored in a data store based on a time data structure, the memory comprising instructions to execute a method comprising the steps of:

presenting a standard calendar for allowing the user to select a date on the standard calendar;

presenting a business calendar that represents the time data structure that the data analyzing system uses for allowing the user to select a date on the business calendar;

receiving a date selection by a user on the standard calendar or the business calendar; and

coordinating presentation of the standard calendar and the business calendar to indicate a same date on the standard calendar and the business calendar in response to the date selection by the user.

21. A propagated signal containing computer executable instructions that can be read and executed by a computer, the computer executable instructions being used to execute a method of managing time dimension of a data analyzing system for analyzing data stored in a data store based on a time data structure, the method comprising the steps of:

presenting a standard calendar for allowing the user to select a date on the standard calendar;

presenting a business calendar that represents the time data structure that the data analyzing system uses for allowing the user to select a date on the business calendar;

receiving a date selection by a user on the standard calendar or the business calendar; and

coordinating presentation of the standard calendar and the business calendar to indicate a same date on the standard calendar and the business calendar in response to the date selection by the user.