APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEARCHING REPORTS

• US 20080082495A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Business Objects SA (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Cacheux, Gregoire Jean Antoine, POLO-MALOUVIER, Ricardo, Vergnory-Mion, Gilles
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2264 Multidimensional index structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method of searching at least one report includes extracting at least one of report element instance content, report element instance metadata, report element instance data, and at least one of associated report element instance context content, report element instance context metadata and report element instance context data to define indexed fields. A search query is received. The search query is applied against at least one indexed field. Search query results are compiled to produce a list of relevant report element instances.

Claims

1. A computer readable medium storing executable instructions to search at least one report, comprising executable instructions to:

extract at least one of report element instance content, report element instance metadata and report element instance data, and at least one of associated report element instance context content, report element instance context metadata and report element instance context data to define indexed fields;

receive a search query;

apply the search query against at least one indexed field; and

compile search query results to produce a list of relevant report element instances.

2. The computer readable medium according to claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to store a reference to a report containing each report element instance.

3. The computer readable medium according to claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to store a reference to a report and a section of a report containing each report element instance.

4. The computer readable medium according to claim 1 wherein further comprising executable instructions to store a reference to at least one data source for each report element instance.

5. The computer readable medium according to claim 1 wherein the query results further comprise a list of references to a report and section of a report containing each relevant report element instance.

6. The computer readable medium according to claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to store indexed fields in a database.

7. The computer readable medium according to claim 1 wherein the search query is received from a user.

8. The computer readable medium according to claim 1 wherein the search query is automatically generated.

9. The computer readable medium according to claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to return compiled search query results to a user.

10. The computer readable medium according to claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to return compiled search query results to a processing module.

11. The computer readable medium according to claim 1 further comprising executable instructions to rank reports based on the relevancy of the report element instances they contain and to return a ranked list of reports.

12. A method of searching at least one report, comprising:

extracting at least one of report element instance content, report element instance metadata, report element instance data, and at least one of associated report element instance context content, report element instance context metadata and report element instance context data to define indexed fields;

receiving a search query;

applying the search query against at least one indexed field; and

compiling search query results to produce a list of relevant report element instances.

13. The method according to claim 12 further comprising storing a reference to a report containing each report element instance.

14. The method according to claim 12 further comprising storing a reference to a report and to a section of a report containing each report element instance.

15. The method according to claim 12 further comprising storing a reference to at least one data source for each report element instance.

16. The method according to claim 12 wherein the query results further comprise a list of references to a report and section of a report containing each relevant report element instance,

17. The method according to claim 12 further comprising storing indexed fields in a database.

18. The method according to claim 12 wherein the search query is received from a user.

19. The method according to claim 12 wherein the search query is automatically generated.

20. The method according to claim 12 further comprising presenting compiled search query results to a user.