Custom report generation

• US 7,680,823 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2005
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twitter Inc (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bandaru, Kalyan C., Garfinkle, Steven M., Parimi, Sudheendra, Chivukula, Balakrishna
• Primary Examiner(s): Jalil; Neveen Abel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chbouki; Tarek
• Application Number:
  US10/908,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20060265641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,764 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1
• US Class Current: 715/255
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes

Abstract

An improved solution for generating a custom report is provided. A tagged file is obtained, which comprises data and graphic information for the custom report. Image data for the custom report is generated based on the tagged file. The custom report is generated based on the image data, the tagged file, and a report definition for the custom report. In one embodiment, a computer infrastructure is provided for generating a custom report in multiple report formats based on content received from one or more diverse data sources.

Claims

1. A method of generating a custom report in a portal environment, the method comprising:

obtaining a tagged file that comprises content to be included in the custom report, the obtaining of the tagged file including;

detecting a file including new data for the custom report;

extracting the content from the detected file;

selecting at least one of a plurality of report templates based on at least one of;

an attribute of the content or a data item in the content;

obtaining at least one graphic instruction for the custom report from the selected at least one report template; and

generating the tagged file based on the data and the at least one graphic instruction;

obtaining graphic information to generate the custom report, the graphic information defining a set of attributes to display the content;

generating and storing image data, in a graphical format, to be included in the custom report based on a first portion of the content and the graphic information of the tagged file in response to the presence of a new tagged file;

obtaining a report definition for the custom report separate from the tagged file, the report definition including at least one detail for generating the custom report, the at least one detail including information for rendering the custom report and static content for the custom report;

generating and storing the custom report in response to a request for the custom report and subsequent to the generating and storing image data, the generating the custom report being based on the image data, the tagged file, and the report definition, wherein the custom report includes a second portion of the content in the tagged file and the image data arranged according to the report definition; and

logging the custom report generation in a process log.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the custom report in a distribution database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising relocating the tagged file to a processed file location.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating a set of custom report generation statistics based on the generated custom report.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining enhancement data for the custom report, wherein the generating the custom report step is further based on the enhancement data.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the presence of the new tagged file, the determining including one of;

receiving notification of the new tagged file or periodically checking for the new tagged file; and

updating at least one of;

the image data or the custom report based on the new tagged file.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating and storing a second custom report, the second custom report being distinct in format from the custom report.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the custom report is in a proprietary report format, and the second custom report is in a web report format.

6. A system for generating a custom report in a portal environment, the system comprising a processor and a memory and being configured to perform the following:

obtain a tagged file that comprises content to be included in the custom report, the obtaining of the tagged file including;

detecting a file including new data for the custom report;

extracting the content from the detected file;

selecting at least one of a plurality of report templates based on at least one of;

an attribute of the content or a data item in the content;

obtaining at least one graphic instruction for the custom report from the selected at least one report template; and

generating the tagged file based on the data and the at least one graphic instruction;

obtain graphic information to generate the custom report, the graphic information defining a set of attributes to display the content;

generate and store image data, in a graphical format, to be included in the custom report based on a first portion of the content and the graphic information of the tagged file in response to the presence of a new tagged file;

obtain a report definition for the custom report separate from the tagged file, the report definition including at least one detail for generating the custom report, the at least one detail including information for rendering the custom report and static content for the custom report;

generate and store the custom report in response to a request for the custom report and subsequent to the generating and storing image data, the generating of the custom report being based on the image data, the tagged file, and the report definition, wherein the custom report includes a second portion of the content in the tagged file and the image data arranged according to the report definition; and

log the custom report generation in a process log.

7. The system of claim 6, being further configured to store the custom report in a distribution database.

8. The system of claim 6, being further configured to relocate the tagged file to a processed file location.

9. The system of claim 6, being further configured to update a set of custom report generation statistics based on the generated custom report.

10. The system of claim 6, being further operable to obtain enhancement data for the custom report, wherein the custom report is further based on the enhancement data.

11. A computer infrastructure for generating a custom report in a portal environment, the computer infrastructure comprising a processor and a memory and being configured to:

receive content for the custom report;

obtain graphic information to generate the custom report, the graphic information defining a set of attributes to display the content;

generate a tagged file based on the content and the graphic instructions, the generating of the tagged file including;

detecting a file including new data for the custom report;

extracting the content from the detected file;

selecting at least one of a plurality of report templates based on at least one of;

an attribute of the content or a data item in the content;

obtaining at least one graphic instruction for the custom report from the selected at least one report template; and

generating the tagged file based on the data and the at least one graphic instruction;

generate and store image data, in a graphical format, to be included in the custom report based on a first portion of the content and the graphic information of the tagged file in response to the presence of a new tagged file;

obtain a report definition for the custom report separate from the tagged file, the report definition including at least one detail for generating the custom report, the at least one detail including information for rendering the custom report and static content for the custom report;

generate and store the custom report in response to a first request for the custom report and subsequent to the image data being stored in a first format, the generating of the custom report being based on the image data, the tagged file, and the report definition, wherein the custom report includes the content to be included in the custom report and the image data arranged according to the report definition; and

generate and store the custom report in response to a second request for the custom report and subsequent to the image data being stored in a second format, the generating of the custom report being based on the image data, the tagged file, and the report definition, wherein the custom report includes a second portion of the content in the tagged file and the image data arranged according to the report definition.

12. The computer infrastructure of claim 11, being further configured to obtain enhancement data for the custom report, wherein the custom report is further based on the enhancement data.

13. The computer infrastructure of claim 11, being further configured to store the custom report in a distribution database.