System And Method For Graphically Distinguishing Levels Of A Multidimensional Database

• US 20110119227A1
• Filed: 01/18/2011
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Douglas R. Dotson, Huifang Wang, Lina Clover, Walden B. Crabtree
• Original Assignee: Douglas R. Dotson, Huifang Wang, Lina Clover, Walden B. Crabtree
• Inventors: Dotson, Douglas R., Crabtree, Walden B., Wang, Huifang, Clover, Lina
• Granted Patent: US 7,996,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/602
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for graphically distinguishing levels from a multidimensional database. Levels from a multidimensional database are distinguished, such as by associating two or more of database'"'"'s levels with a plurality of different visual indicators.

Claims

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

receiving a query for retrieving data from the multidimensional database, the multidimensional database including a first dimension that is hierarchically arranged to categorize data in a first plurality of levels and a second dimension that is hierarchically arranged to categorize data in a second plurality of levels;

associating the first dimension with a first color and associating each of the first plurality of levels with different shades of the first color;

associating the second dimension with a second color and associating each of the second plurality of levels with different shades of the second color; and

generating display information based upon the results obtained through the query upon the multidimensional database, wherein the generated display information is for use in providing a graphical display that shows the query results categorized in at least the first and second dimensions, and wherein the different shades of the first color are displayed to graphically distinguish the first plurality of levels in the first dimension and the different shades of the second color are displayed to graphically distinguish the second plurality of levels in the second dimension.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of levels in the first dimension are distinguished using progressively darker shades of the first color.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of levels in the second dimension are distinguished using progressively darker shades of the second color.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of levels in the first dimension are distinguished using progressively lighter shades of the first color.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second plurality of levels in the second dimension are distinguished using progressively lighter shades of the second color.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the progressively darker shades of the first color are used to display levels in the first plurality of levels through a pre-selected level, and wherein a darkest of the progressively darker shades is used to display levels in the first plurality of levels deeper than the pre-selected level.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the progressively darker shades of the second color are used to display levels in the second plurality of levels through a pre-selected level, and wherein a darkest of the progressively darker shades is used to display levels in the second plurality of levels deeper than the pre-selected level.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the progressively lighter shades of the first color are used to display levels in the first plurality of levels through a pre-selected level, and wherein a lightest of the progressively lighter shades is used to display levels in the first plurality of levels deeper than the pre-selected level.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the progressively lighter shades of the second color are used to display levels in the second plurality of levels through a pre-selected level, and wherein a lightest of the progressively lighter shades is used to display levels in the second plurality of levels deeper than the pre-selected level.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical display includes an online analytical processing (OLAP) table.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical display includes an online analytical processing (OLAP) chart.

12. A system for displaying data retrieved from a multidimensional database, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device that stores software instructions executable by the processor, the software instructions when executed by the processor being configured to;

receive a query for retrieving data from the multidimensional database, the multidimensional database including a first dimension that is hierarchically arranged to categorize data in a first plurality of levels and a second dimension that is hierarchically arranged to categorize data in a second plurality of levels;

associate the first dimension with a first color and associating each of the first plurality of levels with different shades of the first color;

associate the second dimension with a second color and associating each of the second plurality of levels with different shades of the second color; and

generate display information based upon the results obtained through the query upon the multidimensional database, wherein the generated display information is for use in providing a graphical display that shows the query results categorized in at least the first and second dimensions, and wherein the different shades of the first color are displayed to graphically distinguish the first plurality of levels in the first dimension and the different shades of the second color are displayed to graphically distinguish the second plurality of levels in the second dimension.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of levels in the first dimension are distinguished using progressively darker shades of the first color.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the second plurality of levels in the second dimension are distinguished using progressively darker shades of the second color.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first plurality of levels in the first dimension are distinguished using progressively lighter shades of the first color.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the second plurality of levels in the second dimension are distinguished using progressively lighter shades of the second color.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the progressively darker shades of the first color are used to display levels in the first plurality of levels through a pre-selected level, and wherein a darkest of the progressively darker shades is used to display levels in the first plurality of levels deeper than the pre-selected level.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the progressively darker shades of the second color are used to display levels in the second plurality of levels through a pre-selected level, and wherein a darkest of the progressively darker shades is used to display levels in the second plurality of levels deeper than the pre-selected level.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the progressively lighter shades of the first color are used to display levels in the first plurality of levels through a pre-selected level, and wherein a lightest of the progressively lighter shades is used to display levels in the first plurality of levels deeper than the pre-selected level.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the progressively lighter shades of the second color are used to display levels in the second plurality of levels through a pre-selected level, and wherein a lightest of the progressively lighter shades is used to display levels in the second plurality of levels deeper than the pre-selected level.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphical display includes an online analytical processing (OLAP) table.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the graphical display includes an online analytical processing (OLAP) chart.