Multidimensional scorecard header definition

• US 20070265863A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hulen, Corey, Lim, Chen-I, Tien, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 7,716,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/825
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce

Abstract

An object model and a user interface (UI) enable users of a scorecard application to define an order and categorization of elements including header and row components to break out the scorecard data for effective presentation of multidimensional scorecard views combined with data from non-multidimensional sources. Users are provided options to select individual or sets of members, or to provide queries that select sets of metrics for the scorecard view. Header components are defined at predetermined depth of layers enabling the user to view categorized metrics. Additional columns providing attribute information associated with the metrics can also be inserted in selected places within the scorecard matrix using the editing

Claims

1. A method to be executed at least in part in a computing device for organizing a scorecard matrix, comprising:

determining a selection of elements to be included in the scorecard matrix;

determining a categorization for the selected elements;

determining a set of header components for the categorized elements; and

generating the scorecard matrix based on the categorized elements using the set of header components to designate the categories.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a set of row components for the categorized elements; and

generating the scorecard matrix based on the categorized elements using the set of row components to designate the categories, wherein the row components and the header components are interchangeable.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the row components and the header components categorize the elements by at least one from a set of:

a geography, a product, a time, and an organizational structure.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enabling a user to select the row components using one of a checkbox selection, a name set selection, a query definition, and an individual component identification.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the header components are organized in layers of a predetermined depth based on a number of categories for the elements.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

validating the selection of elements.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting a preview of the scorecard matrix as each selection is made; and

enabling a user to change a hierarchy of row components and header components.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a selection of at least one flat column, wherein the flat column includes attribute information associated with one or more of the elements; and

inserting the selected flat column based on one of a user selection and metrics column categorization into the scorecard.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the attribute information is retrieved from metadata associated with the selected scorecard elements.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

detecting similar attribute information that is designated differently from the metadata; and

combining the similar attribute information in a single flat column.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a localization parameter from at least one of;

a user identity, a metrics data attribute, and a scorecard attribute; and

adjusting a scorecard presentation and a data presentation based on the localization parameter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the localization parameter includes at least one from a set of:

a language, a time, a currency, a set of local terms, and numeric value format.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

preserving information associated with at least one from a set of;

selection of elements, categorization of selected elements, selected flat columns, and the localization parameter for subsequent use in another scorecard.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of header components are used in a plurality of scorecard matrices.

15. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for organizing a scorecard matrix in a scorecard system, the instructions comprising:

determining a selection of elements to be included in the scorecard matrix;

determining a categorization for the selected elements;

determining a set of header components and row components for the categorized elements; and

generating the scorecard matrix based on the categorized elements using the set of header components and the set of row components to designate the categories, wherein the categories include at least one from a set of;

a geography, a product, a time, and an organizational structure.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise validating a combination of the set of header components and the set of row components to prevent a conflict in data retrieval and presentation.

17. A system for editing a scorecard matrix using header components in a scorecard system, comprising:

a scorecard application configured to compute scorecard metrics and provide a scorecard presentation based on the computed scorecard metrics; and

an editing user interface (UI) configured to;

determine a group of categories for a selected group of scorecard elements;

determine a set of layered header components and a set of row components based on the group of categories, wherein a depth of header component layers is determined by a user selection from a default set of layers;

determine at least one flat column associated with an attribute of one or more scorecard metrics; and

generate a scorecard matrix based on the group of categories and the at least one flat column for the scorecard presentation.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the editing UI is further configured to dynamically combine similar attributes that are designated differently in their respective data sources into a single flat column.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the editing UI is further configured to present scorecard elements associated with a header component in the scorecard presentation when the header component is selected and to hide the scorecard elements associated with the header component in the scorecard presentation when the header component is deselected.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the editing UI is configured to detect a localization parameter from one of a browser configuration, a user identity, a data attribute, and adjust at least one from a set of:

a UI language, a data format, a time format, a currency, and a set of local terms based on the detected localization parameter.