SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING SIMULATION MODELS

• US 20080126030A1
• Filed: 11/29/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Original Assignee: American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc. (American Express Company)
• Inventors: Thomas, Deep, Sacheti, Sandeep K., Oralevich, Michael Shamai, Jain, Manisha, McGimpsey, Donald Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,662 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/95 Financial
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A system and method for viewing models and model variables within a sophisticated modeling environment is disclosed. The system provides varying levels of insight into a modeling infrastructure to help the user understand model and model variable dependencies, usage, distribution, and/or the like. The method includes storing model and model variable data within a relational database system, receiving a request from a user interfacing with the system via a web interface, extracting search criteria and presentation preferences from the request, formulating and executing one or more queries on the database to retrieve the required data, formatting the data in accordance with the request, and retuning the data to the requesting user in the form of a web page.

Claims

1. A method for performing an analysis of dependencies of a plurality of simulation models, said method including:

reading dependency data from a simulation model; and

,

creating a visualization showing dependencies of said simulation model based upon said dependency data, wherein said dependencies are based upon how said simulation model utilizes other of said plurality of simulation models.

2. The method of claim 1, further including assessing an impact of data anomalies among said plurality of simulation models.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of creating a visualization includes creating a visualization to encourage consistent use of said plurality of simulation models.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of reading dependency data includes:

reading first metadata related to a first simulation model from a database to determine when a model identifier exists; and

,

reading second model metadata associated with said model identifier.

5. The method of claim 1, further including adjusting a variable associated with said simulation model to determine the affects on said plurality of simulation models which utilize said simulation model.

6. The method of claim 1, further including expediting an analysis of said simulation model by analyzing the affect of said dependencies on said simulation model.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said visualization includes a tree structure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said visualization includes visualization elements which are color-coded according to at least one of:

status, modeler, model owner, business unit, model type, variable type, decommissioning status, decommissioning date, and deployment date.

9. The method of claim 1, further including reading a request to decommission said simulation model, wherein said request includes at least one of:

decommission date, authorization request, said dependency data, variable dependency data, and model owner identifier.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said simulation model may be decommissioned only when dependencies are resolved.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said dependency data is received from a plurality of modeling environments.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said visualization is distributed by at least one of:

hypertext markup language file, email, facsimile, wireless device, and postal mail.

13. The method of claim 1, further including creating a visualization showing dependencies of a plurality of variables, wherein values corresponding to each of said plurality of variables are displayed in response to a processor event.

14. The method of claim 1, further including reading said dependency data when said simulation model includes a reference to a variable name.

15. The method of claim 1, further including:

reading a plurality of variables corresponding to said simulation model;

classifying said plurality of variables according to usage data to create variable types, wherein said usage data includes usage data for said plurality of variables; and

,

determining usage statistics for each of said variable types.

16. The method of claim 1, further including:

reading performance data corresponding to said simulation model;

determining averages for said performance data based on defined time intervals, wherein said performance data includes model scoring data, model execution data, and dataset generation data for said plurality of simulation models.

17. The method of claim 1, further including:

categorizing said plurality of simulation models according to identifiers for a plurality of model developers; and

,

determining an allocation of human resources based upon said allocation type identifier.

18. The method of claim 1, further including categorizing each of said plurality of simulation models according to a last usage date and a variable usage type.

19. The method of claim 1, further including categorizing said plurality of simulation models according to a simulation type indicator.

20. The method of claim 1, further including categorizing said plurality of simulation models according to a first simulation type indicator and a second simulation type indicator, wherein said categorization includes a first simulation type count indicator and a second simulation type count indicator corresponding to each of said first simulation type indicator and said second simulation type indicator.