Graphically manipulating a database

• US 7,496,852 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Qianjie, Zhong, Harris, Jon M., Joyner, Wilbert R. Jr., Eichorn, Lisa S., Peter, Jessica J., Walters, Tyler A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mofiz; Apu M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Jessica N
• Application Number:
  US11/435,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20070271285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707101-102, 717/156, 715/212, 715/215, 715/219, 715227-228, 715/273, 715/514, 705/9
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/26 Visual data mining; Browsing structured data
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A method and system for managing a database through a graphical representation is presented. The method the method includes dynamically adjusting data in a database by graphically manipulating a graph that represents the database. In one embodiment, a predictive cone is overlaid onto the graph. The predictive cone is created from a heuristic algorithm that uses past historical data to predict where future real data will track on the graph.

Claims

1. A computer-implementable method comprising:

generating a graph on a Graphical User interface (GUI), wherein the graph includes a first line and a second line that are both straight lines, wherein the first line depicts expected production levels for an enterprise, wherein the first line and the second line define a green zone above the first line, a yellow zone between the first line and the second line, and a red zone below the second line, wherein the green zone defines a graphical zone for depicting an enterprise'"'"'s database'"'"'s data points that represent production figures that exceed the expected production levels, wherein the yellow zone defines a graphical zone for depicting the enterprise'"'"'s database'"'"'s data points that represent production figures that fall short of the expected production levels by a first pre-defined level, and wherein the red zone defines a graphical zone for depicting the enterprise'"'"'s database'"'"'s data points that represent production figures that fall short of the expected production levels by a second pre-defined level;

in response to detecting a hover of a cursor over a first particular point on the first line, magnifying the first particular point and presenting first underlying data from an enterprise'"'"'s database at the first particular point on the first line, wherein the first underlying data is represented by the first particular point on the first line;

in response to detecting that the first particular point has been dragged by the cursor to a first new position on the GUI to create a new first particular point, automatically modifying a linear shape of the first line to create a modified first line, wherein the linear shape of the first line is modified to create the modified first line by adjusting a slope of the modified first line such that the modified first line leaves and then returns to an original slope of the first line;

in response to the linear shape of the first line being modified to create the modified first line, automatically adjusting modified first line datapoints, which are represented by the modified first line, in the enterprise'"'"'s database such that the modified first line datapoints in the enterprise'"'"'s database have values that are represented by the modified first line;

displaying, at the new first particular point on the modified first line, a first new value from the enterprise'"'"'s database that is represented by the new first particular point;

in response to detecting a hover of the cursor over a second particular point on the second line, magnifying the second particular point and presenting second underlying data from the enterprise'"'"'s database, wherein the second underlying data is represented by the second particular point on the second line;

in response to detecting that the second particular point has been dragged by the cursor to a second new position on the GUI to create a new second particular point, automatically modifying a linear shape of the second line to create a modified second line, wherein a shape of the modified second line is an arc;

in response to the shape of the second line being modified to create the modified second line, automatically adjusting second line datapoints, which are represented by the modified second line, in the enterprise'"'"'s database such that adjusted second line datapoints in the enterprise'"'"'s database have values that are represented by the modified second line;

displaying, at the new second particular point on the modified second line, a second new value from the enterprise'"'"'s database that is represented by the new second particular point;

overlaying a real data track onto the graph, wherein the real data track is a line that represents actual production data, from the enterprise'"'"'s database, for a current time period;

in response to detecting a hover of the cursor over a real production data point on the real data track, magnifying the real production data point and presenting, on the real data track, underlying data from the enterprise'"'"'s database that is represented by the real production data point on the real data track;

in response to detecting that the real production data point has been dragged by the cursor to another position on the GUI to create a new real production data point, automatically modifying a shape of the real data track to create a modified real data track;

in response to the shape of the real data track being modified to create the modified real data track, automatically adjusting datapoints, which are represented by the modified real data track, in the enterprise'"'"'s database;

displaying, at the new real production data point on the modified real data track, a new real data value represented by the new real production data point; and

in response to new production data and new business conditions being detected, generating and displaying a predictive cone on the graph, wherein the predictive cone is generated using historical production trends, market intelligence, business intelligence, current real-time production performance, new contract data, new customer data, new store opening data, and new legal requirements and regulations that are all related to enterprise production operations, wherein the predictive cone represents a likely position of the real data track at a future time, wherein the real data track and the predictive cone enable a prediction as to whether future production levels will meet a target production level that is defined by the expected production levels for the enterprise.

2. A system comprising:

a processor;

a data bus coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the data bus; and

a computer-usable storage medium embodying computer program code, the computer program code comprising instructions executable by the processor and configured for;

generating a graph on a Graphical User Interface (GUI), wherein the graph includes a first line and a second line that are both straight lines, wherein the first line depicts expected production levels for an enterprise, wherein the first line and the second line define a green zone above the first line, a yellow zone between the first line and the second line, and a red zone below the second line, wherein the green zone defines a graphical zone for depicting an enterprise'"'"'s database'"'"'s data points that represent production figures that exceed the expected production levels, wherein the yellow zone defines a graphical zone for depicting the enterprise'"'"'s database'"'"'s data points that represent production figures that fall short of the expected production levels by a first pre-defined level, and wherein the red zone defines a graphical zone for depicting the enterprise'"'"'s database'"'"'s data points that represent production figures that fall short of the expected production levels by a second pre-defined level;

in response to detecting a hover of a cursor over a first particular point on the first line, magnifying the first particular point and presenting first underlying data from an enterprise'"'"'s database at the first particular point on the first line, wherein the first underlying data is represented by the first particular point on the first line;

in response to detecting that the first particular point has been dragged by the cursor to a first new position on the GUI to create a new first particular point, automatically modifying a linear shape of the first line to create a modified first line, wherein the linear shape of the first line is modified to create the modified first line by adjusting a slope of the modified first line such that the modified first line leaves and then returns to an original slope of the first line;

in response to the linear shape of the first line being modified to create the modified first line, automatically adjusting modified first line datapoints, which are represented by the modified first line, in the enterprise'"'"'s database such that the modified first line datapoints in the enterprise'"'"'s database have values that are represented by the modified first line;

displaying, at the new first particular point on the modified first line, a first new value from the enterprise'"'"'s database that is represented by the new first particular point;

in response to detecting a hover of the cursor over a second particular point on the second line, magnifying the second particular point and presenting second underlying data from the enterprise'"'"'s database, wherein the second underlying data is represented by the second particular point on the second line;

in response to detecting that the second particular point has been dragged by the cursor to a second new position on the GUI to create a new second particular point, automatically modifying a linear shape of the second line to create a modified second line, wherein a shape of the modified second line is an arc;

in response to the shape of the second line being modified to create the modified second line, automatically adjusting second line datapoints, which are represented by the modified second line, in the enterprise'"'"'s database such that adjusted second line datapoints in the enterprise'"'"'s database have values that are represented by the modified second line;

displaying, at the new second particular point on the modified second line, a second new value from the enterprise'"'"'s database that is represented by the new second particular point;

overlaying a real data track onto the graph, wherein the real data track is a line that represents actual production data, from the enterprise'"'"'s database, for a current time period;

in response to detecting a hover of the cursor over a real production data point on the real data track, magnifying the real production data point and presenting, on the real data track, underlying data from the enterprise'"'"'s database that is represented by the real production data point on the real data track;

in response to detecting that the real production data point has been dragged by the cursor to another position on the GUI to create a new real production data point, automatically modifying a shape of the real data track to create a modified real data track;

in response to the shape of the real data track being modified to create the modified real data track, automatically adjusting datapoints, which are represented by the modified real data track, in the enterprise'"'"'s database;

displaying, at the new real production data point on the modified real data track, a new real data value represented by the new real production data point; and

in response to new production data and new business conditions being detected, generating and displaying a predictive cone on the graph, wherein the predictive cone is generated using historical production trends, market intelligence, business intelligence, current real-time production performance, new contract data, new customer data, new store opening data, and new legal requirements and regulations that are all related to enterprise production operations, wherein the predictive cone represents a likely position of the real data track at a future time, wherein the real data track and the predictive cone enable a prediction as to whether future production levels will meet a target production level that is defined by the expected production levels for the enterprise.

3. A computer-usable storage medium on which is stored computer program code, the computer program code comprising computer executable instructions configured for:

generating a graph on a Graphical User Interface (GUI), wherein the graph includes a first line and a second line that are both straight lines, wherein the first line depicts expected production levels for an enterprise, wherein the first line and the second line define a green zone above the first line, a yellow zone between the first line and the second line, and a red zone below the second line, wherein the green zone defines a graphical zone for depicting an enterprise'"'"'s database'"'"'s data points that represent production figures that exceed the expected production levels, wherein the yellow zone defines a graphical zone for depicting the enterprise'"'"'s database'"'"'s data points that represent production figures that fall short of the expected production levels by a first pre-defined level, and wherein the red zone defines a graphical zone for depicting the enterprise'"'"'s database'"'"'s data points that represent production figures that fall short of the expected production levels by a second pre-defined level;

in response to detecting a hover of a cursor over a first particular point on the first line, magnifying the first particular point and presenting first underlying data from an enterprise'"'"'s database at the first particular point on the first line, wherein the first underlying data is represented by the first particular point on the first line;

in response to detecting that the first particular point has been dragged by the cursor to a first new position on the GUI to create a new first particular point, automatically modifying a linear shape of the first line to create a modified first line, wherein the linear shape of the first line is modified to create the modified first line by adjusting a slope of the modified first line such that the modified first line leaves and then returns to an original slope of the first line;

in response to the linear shape of the first line being modified to create the modified first line, automatically adjusting modified first line datapoints, which are represented by the modified first line, in the enterprise'"'"'s database such that the modified first line datapoints in the enterprise'"'"'s database have values that are represented by the modified first line;

displaying, at the new first particular point on the modified first line, a first new value from the enterprise'"'"'s database that is represented by the new first particular point;

in response to detecting a hover of the cursor over a second particular point on the second line, magnifying the second particular point and presenting second underlying data from the enterprise'"'"'s database, wherein the second underlying data is represented by the second particular point on the second line;

in response to detecting that the second particular point has been dragged by the cursor to a second new position on the GUI to create a new second particular point, automatically modifying a linear shape of the second line to create a modified second line, wherein a shape of the modified second line is an arc;

in response to the shape of the second line being modified to create the modified second line, automatically adjusting second line datapoints, which are represented by the modified second line, in the enterprise'"'"'s database such that adjusted second line datapoints in the enterprise'"'"'s database have values that are represented by the modified second line;

displaying, at the new second particular point on the modified second line, a second new value from the enterprise'"'"'s database that is represented by the new second particular point;

overlaying a real data track onto the graph, wherein the real data track is a line that represents actual production data, from the enterprise'"'"'s database, for a current time period;

in response to detecting a hover of the cursor over a real production data point on the real data track, magnifying the real production data point and presenting, on the real data track, underlying data from the enterprise'"'"'s database that is represented by the real production data point on the real data track;

in response to detecting that the real production data point has been dragged by the cursor to another position on the GUI to create a new real production data point, automatically modifying a shape of the real data track to create a modified real data track;

in response to the shape of the real data track being modified to create the modified real data track, automatically adjusting datapoints, which are represented by the modified real data track, in the enterprise'"'"'s database;

displaying, at the new real production data point on the modified real data track, a new real data value represented by the new real production data point; and

in response to new production data and new business conditions being detected, generating and displaying a predictive cone on the graph, wherein the predictive cone is generated using historical production trends, market intelligence, business intelligence, current real-time production performance, new contract data, new customer data, new store opening data, and new legal requirements and regulations that are all related to enterprise production operations, wherein the predictive cone represents a likely position of the real data track at a future time, wherein the real data track and the predictive cone enable a prediction as to whether future production levels will meet a target production level that is defined by the expected production levels for the enterprise.