Method and apparatus for mapping dimension-based accounting entries to allow segment-based reporting

• US 7,707,078 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2004
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bickel, Steven D., Evans, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Jagdish N
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHANDLER, SARA M
• Application Number:
  US10/810,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216378A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,223 Days
• Field of Search: 705/30
• US Class Current: 705/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for mapping dimension-based financial data to allow segment-based reporting. The method includes selecting a set of dimensions from the dimension-based accounting data and defining an order for the selected dimensions to define a segment-based account code structure. The segment-based account code structure and the dimension-based data are then used to construct segment-based account codes that can be used in segment-based reporting.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

accessing a dimension-based accounting database that defines multiple dimensions;

selecting a plurality of dimensions from the dimension-based accounting database for a segment-based account code structure;

defining an order for the plurality of selected dimensions;

defining the segment-based account code structure based on the order; and

a processor constructing a plurality of account codes based on the segment-based account code structure and the dimension-based accounting database by;

searching a table in the dimension-based accounting database comprising a separate dimension column for each dimension in the plurality of selected dimensions and at least one balance column for rows in the table that have a value in the at least one balance column;

for each row that has a value in the at least one balance column, retrieving a dimension value from a respective dimension column in the table for each dimension in the plurality of selected dimensions;

for each row that has a value in the at least one balance column, placing the values from the dimension columns in the order defined by the segment-based account code structure to construct an account code, and

storing the account codes.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting a plurality of dimensions comprises validating values associated with the dimensions using rules associated with segment-based reporting.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein validating a value comprises determining whether the value includes a character other than a number that is not valid in an account code.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein validating a value comprises determining whether the length of the value exceeds a length set for the value.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein validating a value comprises determining whether the value is null.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining that a value violates a rule associated with segment-based reporting and providing an error message.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein validating values associated with dimensions comprises:

selecting a company;

searching a database table having a column containing identifiers for a plurality of companies and locating rows that contain an identifier for the selected company;

for each located row, retrieving a value for a dimension; and

validating the retrieved values.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein validating the retrieved values comprises:

searching a data dimension length table for a row containing the identifier for the selected company and the dimension for the retrieved value;

retrieving a maximum length from the row containing the identifier for the selected company and the dimension for the retrieved value;

determining whether the number of characters in the retrieved value exceeds the retrieved maximum length.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein defining the account code structure comprises generating table entries that link segments of the account code structure to dimension headings in tables in the dimension-based accounting database.

10. A computer storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

constructing account codes based on a segment-based account code structure and a dimension-based database by;

searching a table in the dimension-based database comprising a column for each dimension in a plurality of dimensions and at least one balance column for rows in the table that have a value in the at least one balance column;

for each row that has a value in the at least one balance column, retrieving a dimension value from a dimension column in the table for each dimension in the plurality of dimensions;

placing the values from the dimension columns in an order defined by the segment-based account code structure to construct an account code, and

storing the account codes.