Computer-Implemented System And Method For Visualizing OLAP And Multidimensional Data In A Calendar Format

• US 20080195608A1
• Filed: 04/15/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lina Clover
• Original Assignee: Lina Clover
• Inventors: Clover, Lina
• Granted Patent: US 7,966,322 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/951 Calendar or scheduling

Abstract

Computer-implemented systems and methods for displaying multidimensional data as graphical time-based objects. A system and method could include associating actual calendar units with time dimension members. The association can be based on the time periods and the corresponding time-level information in the cube'"'"'s time dimension hierarchies. Query results involving time periods and time period analysis are displayed as graph chart objects within the time period'"'"'s visual presentation.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for displaying time-based data retrieved from a multidimensional database, comprising:

receiving a query for retrieving data from a multidimensional database;

wherein the multidimensional database contains data that is categorized into one or more numerical measures;

wherein the multidimensional database contains a time dimension which characterizes the one or more numerical measures;

wherein the time dimension is hierarchically arranged;

wherein the query contains hierarchical information in order to specify which data is to be retrieved with respect to the hierarchically arranged time dimension;

associating calendar time units with members of the time dimension;

wherein the calendar time units are for depiction in a display of a calendar-based graphical display;

wherein the associating between calendar time units and members of the time dimension is based on time periods of the calendar units and time-level information in the time dimension hierarchy;

generating display information based upon results obtained through the query upon the multidimensional database;

wherein the generated display information is for use in providing the calendar-based graphical display that shows the query results as the time periods of the calendar units.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated display information is used in displaying a common date and time calendar for visualizing one or more levels of the time dimension hierarchy of the multidimensional data;

wherein the associating results in members of the time dimension hierarchy levels being mapped to actual time periods in the common date and time calendar;

wherein tuple cell values of time dimension members are represented graphically on the calendar by chart objects;

wherein the chart objects associated with the calendar are configured such that a user can interactively drill down on time periods by drilling down on a chart object or by drilling down by a time dimension member by using a chart object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the calendar-formatted display is connected to one or more levels of the multidimensional database'"'"'s hierarchy in order to allow the user to interactively drill down.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the query results involving the time periods are displayed as graphical date chart objects within the time period'"'"'s visual presentation in a calendar-based graphical format;

wherein the time units include actual calendar dates or calendar time periods.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the graphical date chart objects associated with the calendar are configured such that a user can interactively drill up on time periods by drilling up on a graphical date chart object or by drilling up by a time dimension member by using a graphical date chart object.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated display information is used in displaying a time dimension calendar for visualizing one or more portions of the time dimension hierarchy of the multidimensional data;

wherein the associating results in members of the time dimension hierarchy levels being mapped to actual time periods in a common date and time calendar;

wherein tuple cell values of time dimension members are represented graphically on the calendars by chart objects;

wherein the associating is used to drill down or drill up with respect to the generated calendar display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated display information is used in displaying a calendar for visualizing one or more levels of the time dimension hierarchy of the multidimensional data;

wherein the associating results in members of the time dimension hierarchy levels being mapped to actual time periods in a common date and time calendar;

wherein tuple cell values of time dimension members are represented graphically on the calendars by chart objects.

wherein the chart objects associated with the calendar are configured such that a user can interactively drill down on time periods by drilling down on a date chart object, or by drilling down by a time dimension member by using a chart object;

wherein the calendar-formatted display is connected to one or more levels of the multidimensional database'"'"'s hierarchy in order to allow the user to interactively drill down;

wherein calendar processing functionality provides the connection between the calendar-formatted display and the multidimensional database'"'"'s hierarchy;

wherein the chart objects associated with the calendar are configured such that a user can interactively drill up on time periods by drilling up on a chart object or by drilling up by a time dimension member by using a chart object;

wherein when a user manipulates a chart object on the displayed calendar in order to drill down, the calendar processing functionality receives information related to the user interaction and based upon the multidimensional hierarchy generates a new calendar-based display such that the new calendar-based display includes information that is at a lower level within the time dimension hierarchy than the previous calendar display;

wherein when a user manipulates a chart object on the displayed calendar in order to drill up, the calendar processing functionality receives information related to the user interaction and based upon the multidimensional hierarchy generates a new calendar-based display such that the new calendar-based display includes information that is at a higher level within the time dimension hierarchy than the previous calendar display.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the time dimension hierarchy includes two or more members selected from the group that is in the following descending order of time levels:

year, quarter, month, week, day, hour, minute, second;

wherein members belonging to the time dimension hierarchy are related in parent-child relationships;

wherein the time dimension hierarchy includes one or more levels.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated display information is used in displaying a time dimension calendar for visualizing one or more levels of the time dimension hierarchy of the multidimensional data;

wherein the associating results in members of the time dimension hierarchy levels being mapped to actual time periods in a common date and time calendar;

wherein tuple cell values of time dimension members are represented graphically on the calendars by chart objects;

wherein comparative and summary statistics relating to the time dimension are presented in the calendar.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the comparative statistics include at least one statistic selected from the group comprising:

parallel period comparison statistics;

consecutive period comparison statistics;

relative contribution analysis statistics;

wherein the summary statistics include statistical analysis of time series data;

wherein the summary statistics include a statistic selected from the group comprising;

year-to-date total and year-to-date average for current members displayed in a chart;

quarter-to-date total and quarter-to-date average for current members displayed in a chart;

month-to-date total and month-to-date average for current members displayed in a chart;

week-to-date total and week-to-date average for current members displayed in a chart;

an opening period statistic that represents value of current members at beginning of a time period;

a closing period statistic that represents values of current members at end of a time period.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the multidimensional database contains data that is categorized into a textual dimension which characterizes a numerical measure;

wherein the textual dimension has a hierarchy;

wherein the time and textual dimensional hierarchies are used in a data warehousing application or an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) application.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the time dimension is hierarchically arranged such that higher time levels in the hierarchy decompose into lower time levels in the hierarchy.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated display information is used in displaying a time dimension calendar for visualizing one or more levels of the time dimension hierarchy of the multidimensional data;

wherein the associating results in members of the time dimension hierarchy levels being mapped to actual time periods in a common date and time calendar;

wherein tuple cell values of time dimension members are represented graphically on the calendars by chart objects;

wherein the calendar is formatted according to a format selected from the group containing;

a year period calendar presentation format;

a half-year period calendar presentation format;

a quarter period calendar presentation format;

a quarter calendar presentation format;

a single quarter presentation format;

a month summary calendar presentation format;

a day of the month calendar presentation format;

a day calendar presentation format;

an hour of the day calendar presentation format;

a horizontal bar graph presentation format;

a line graph presentation format;

an area plot presentation format;

a pie chart presentation format;

a French month of the year calendar presentation format.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein an end user or a host application provides the query for retrieving data from the multidimensional database.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein a database engine processes the query, by parsing and translating, optimizing, and evaluating the query in order to formulate a logical expression from the query;

wherein the logical expression is used in searching the hierarchically arranged time dimension for retrieving data from the multidimensional database in response to the query.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated display information is used in displaying a time dimension calendar for visualizing one or more levels of the time dimension hierarchy of the multidimensional data;

wherein the associating results in members of the time dimension hierarchy levels being mapped to actual time periods in a common date and time calendar;

wherein tuple cell values of time dimension members are represented graphically on the calendar by chart objects;

wherein the time dimension calendar is customizable based on user preferences and locales.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the user preferences include customization of the calendar-based graphical display to include holidays and events specific to a locale;

wherein customization based on locales includes customizing the calendar-based graphical display to use language of a locale.

18. Computer-readable medium capable of causing a computing device to perform the method of claim 1.

19. A computer-implemented system for displaying time-based data retrieved from a multidimensional database, comprising:

a database engine configured to receive a query for retrieving data from a multidimensional database;

wherein the multidimensional database contains data that is categorized into one or more numerical measures;

wherein the multidimensional database contains a time dimension which characterizes the one or more numerical measures;

wherein the time dimension is hierarchically arranged;

wherein the query contains hierarchical information in order to specify which data is to be retrieved with respect to the hierarchically arranged time dimension;

software instructions configured to associate calendar units with members of the time dimension;

wherein the associating between calendar units and members of the time dimension is based on time periods of the calendar units and time-level information in the time dimension hierarchy;

software instructions configured to generate display information based upon results obtained through the query upon the multidimensional database;

wherein the generated display information is for use in providing a calendar-based graphical display that shows the query results as the time periods of the calendar units.

20. A data signal that is transmitted using a network and which is for displaying time-based data retrieved from a multidimensional database, wherein the data signal includes display that is generated by performing steps comprising:

receiving a query for retrieving data from a multidimensional database;

wherein the multidimensional database contains data that is categorized into one or more numerical measures;

wherein the multidimensional database contains a time dimension which characterizes the one or more numerical measures;

wherein the time dimension is hierarchically arranged;

wherein the query contains hierarchical information in order to specify which data is to be retrieved with respect to the hierarchically arranged time dimension;

associating calendar units with members of the time dimension;

wherein the associating between calendar units and members of the time dimension is based on time periods of the calendar units and time-level information in the time dimension hierarchy;

generating display information based upon results obtained through the query upon the multidimensional database;

wherein the generated display information is for use in providing a calendar-based graphical display that shows the query results as the time periods of the calendar units;

wherein the data signal comprises packetized data that is transmitted through the network;

wherein the generated display is for display within a browser on a client computer.