Pattern Analysis for a Multi-Dimensional Analytical System

• US 20110072392A1
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Shih, Jenngang
• Granted Patent: US 9,747,358 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/811
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP

Abstract

A pattern analysis system enables a user to obtain specific analysis from multi-dimensional storage structures. The patterns analysis system guides the user interaction through the selection of specific available patterns. This enables the user to gain access to analytics data available in the multi-dimensional storage structure without specific knowledge of a command system syntax or semantics. Also, the user does not need knowledge of the contents or organization of the multi-dimensional storage structure.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving input from a user through a guided user interface that restricts input to a set of available patterns that are identified with a user intent description and without requiring specific user knowledge of the set of available patterns;

identifying a pattern and at least one parameter from the user input; and

executing by a computer system the pattern on a multi-dimensional data source to obtain a report with deterministic values.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

restricting user input specifying the at least one parameter to one of a plurality of available parameters.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of available patterns include a trend analysis pattern, a volume analysis pattern, a count analysis pattern, a benchmark analysis pattern, and a comparison analysis pattern.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving user input defining a pattern through a pattern design component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the guided user interface is menu driven or text-based.

6. The method claim 4, wherein defining a pattern further comprises:

receiving user input defining allowable parameters, a user intent identifier and an analysis report for a pattern through an input editor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein defining an analysis report further comprises:

receiving user input defining a report sequence, analysis result and output format through a report creator.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein defining the output format further comprises:

receiving user input defining an output template.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pattern design module comprises:

an output formatting module to define an output template.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a pattern services module to receive a user input and provide a guided user interface that restricts the user input to one of a plurality of defined patterns that are displayed with a user intent description; and

a pattern engine module coupled to the pattern services module, the pattern engine module to execute a pattern selected by the user on a multi-dimensional data source to generate a report with deterministic values.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the pattern services module restricts parameters input to at least one of a plurality of parameters specific to the pattern.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a pattern design module to provide an interface for defining a pattern.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pattern design module comprises:

an input editor module to provide a user interface to define allowable parameters, a user intent identifier and an analysis report for the pattern.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the pattern design module comprises:

a report creator module to define a report sequence, analysis result and output format.

15. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed, cause a computer to perform a set of operations comprising:

generating a guided user interface to restrict user requests to a plurality of defined patterns identified by a user intent descriptor;

executing by a computer system a user selected pattern to generate a report using a multi-dimensional data source to be output to a user, the output being deterministic.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the guided user interface is one of a menu-based or text-based interface.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, having further instructions stored therein, which when executed cause the computer to perform a further set of operations comprising:

generating a pattern design interface to enable a user to define a pattern.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, having further instructions stored therein, which when executed cause the computer to perform a further set of operations comprising:

restricting parameter selection for a pattern through the guided user interface based on a plurality of defined parameters for the pattern.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, having further instructions stored therein, which when executed cause the computer to perform a further set of operations comprising:

receiving user input defining allowable parameters, a user intent identifier and an analysis report for a pattern through an input editor.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, having further instructions stored therein, which when executed cause the computer to perform a further set of operations comprising:

receiving user input defining a report sequence, analysis result and output format through a report creator.