System and method for instant consolidation, enrichment, delegation and reporting in a multidimensional database

• US 6,581,068 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cartesis SA (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Cartesis SA (SAP SE)
• Inventors: De Jaegere, Antoine, Bensoussan, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/497,007
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/1, 707/3, 707/4, 707/100, 707/104.1, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24539 using cached or materialised query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A method, system and article of manufacture are provided which enhance the ability to aggregate, analyze and report data from a multidimensional database in a memory. The database consists of a hierarchy of data items, each item representing an account. Each account may hold either numerical data (figures) or multimedia content. The invention is particularly useful in assisting financial controllers of a multinational company or other organization in gathering data and generating reports. The invention complies with existing on-line analytical processing (OLAP) standards, and improves upon conventional OLAP methods, software and systems. The present invention includes some innovative new features, such as: incubescent data structure, joint dimensions, delegation using “datareqs,” cycle preservation, enrichment and instant consolidation. Navigation and communication tools are also included.

Claims

1. A method of executing commands in a computer to perform database operations on a multidimensional database in a memory, the method comprising the steps of:

creating a multidimensional computer database;

structuring data in said database as a series of accounts, each account configured to store either financial data or multimedia data;

arranging said accounts into a hierarchy;

facilitating communications using said database through subscriptions filed in said database by authorized users and through delegation of responsibility through data requests received from said users;

joining dimensions of said database to facilitate navigation through said database; and

aggregating data within a hierarchy of accounts to produce a report;

wherein, a value of said data may be instantly retrieved in a real-time operation by a method comprising the steps of;

(a) accepting a request for a value, uniquely identified by a combination of elements of the dimensions defined when creating the multi-dimensional database;

(b) determining if said value is in a cache memory and, if so, jump to step (n), otherwise proceed;

(c) determining if said value must be computed by a formula and, if so, jump to step (g), otherwise proceed;

(d) determining if any of the elements of dimensions identifying said value is an aggregation node in a hierarchy and, if so, jump to step (j), otherwise proceed;

(e) retrieving said value from the database;

(f) jumping to step (m);

(g) retrieving the value of all terms comprising said formula by applying the method currently described to each one;

(h) computing said formula to produce said value;

(i) jumping to step (m);

(j) retrieving all the values associated with the dimension elements that compose said aggregation node(s), by applying the method currently described to each one;

(k) computing an aggregated value;

(l) jumping to step (o);

(m) storing said value in the cache memory, and jumping to step (o);

(n) retrieving said value from the cache memory; and

(o) responding to said request for a value with said value.