Computer-implemented systems and methods for reducing cost flow models
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for analyzing costs associated with cost flow models having components of relationships and entities, the method comprising:
- receiving, using one or more computer processors, data associated with a first cost flow model that identifies the costs associated with relationships among the entities, including resources, activities, and cost objects, wherein the first cost flow model is a multi-dimensional directed graph for depicting how money flows in an enterprise, wherein nodes of the graph represent accounts associated with the resources, activities, or cost objects, wherein an account exists at the intersection of a plurality of dimension members within a multi-dimensional database (MDDB) having dimensions, each dimension containing one or more dimension members, and wherein an edge of the multi-dimensional directed graph is associated with a percentage defining how much money flows from a source account to a destination account;
receiving reduction criteria, and using the reduction criteria to reduce the number of components in the first cost flow model;
using the reduction criteria to generate a reduced cost flow model, wherein the reduced cost flow model has fewer components than the number of components that are in the received first cost flow model, and wherein the reduced cost flow model is used to analyze costs associated with the entities in the reduced cost flow model; and
processing and storing the reduced cost flow model, wherein computation processing and storage requirements associated with processing and storing the reduced cost flow model is less than computation processing and storage requirements associated with processing and storing the first cost flow model, wherein the storing of the reduced cost flow model includes storing the reduced cost flow model in a relational database management system (RDBMS) or an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) database, and wherein each cost flow path in the reduced cost flow model is stored in a data record row in a table in the RDBMS or the OLAP database.
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Abstract
Computer-implemented methods and systems for use in analyzing costs associated with cost flow models having components of relationships and entities. Reduction criteria is received for use in reducing number of components that are in a first cost flow model. The reduction criteria is used to generate a reduced cost flow model. The reduced cost flow model has less components than the number of components that are in the received first cost flow model.
110 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for analyzing costs associated with cost flow models having components of relationships and entities, the method comprising:
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receiving, using one or more computer processors, data associated with a first cost flow model that identifies the costs associated with relationships among the entities, including resources, activities, and cost objects, wherein the first cost flow model is a multi-dimensional directed graph for depicting how money flows in an enterprise, wherein nodes of the graph represent accounts associated with the resources, activities, or cost objects, wherein an account exists at the intersection of a plurality of dimension members within a multi-dimensional database (MDDB) having dimensions, each dimension containing one or more dimension members, and wherein an edge of the multi-dimensional directed graph is associated with a percentage defining how much money flows from a source account to a destination account; receiving reduction criteria, and using the reduction criteria to reduce the number of components in the first cost flow model; using the reduction criteria to generate a reduced cost flow model, wherein the reduced cost flow model has fewer components than the number of components that are in the received first cost flow model, and wherein the reduced cost flow model is used to analyze costs associated with the entities in the reduced cost flow model; and processing and storing the reduced cost flow model, wherein computation processing and storage requirements associated with processing and storing the reduced cost flow model is less than computation processing and storage requirements associated with processing and storing the first cost flow model, wherein the storing of the reduced cost flow model includes storing the reduced cost flow model in a relational database management system (RDBMS) or an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) database, and wherein each cost flow path in the reduced cost flow model is stored in a data record row in a table in the RDBMS or the OLAP database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. Computer software stored on one or more computer readable mediums, the computer software comprising program code, when executed by a computer for carrying out a method for analyzing costs associated with cost flow models having components of relationships and entities, the method comprising:
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receiving, using one or more computer processors, data associated with a first cost flow model that identifies the costs associated with relationships among the entities, including resources, activities, and cost objects, wherein the first cost flow model is a multi-dimensional directed graph for depicting how money flows in an enterprise, wherein nodes of the graph represent accounts associated with the resources, activities, or cost objects, wherein an account exists at the intersection of a plurality of dimension members within a multi-dimensional database (MDDB) having dimensions, each dimension containing one or more dimension members, and wherein an edge of the multi-dimensional directed graph is associated with a percentage defining how much money flows from a source account to a destination account; receiving reduction criteria, and using the reduction criteria to reduce the number of components in the first cost flow model; using the reduction criteria to generate a reduced cost flow model, wherein the reduced cost flow model has fewer components than the number of components that are in the received first cost flow model, and wherein the reduced cost flow model is used to analyze costs associated with the entities in the reduced cost flow model; and processing and storing the reduced cost flow model, wherein computation processing and storage requirements associated with processing and storing the reduced cost flow model is less than computation processing and storage requirements associated with processing and storing the first cost flow model, wherein the storing of the reduced cost flow model includes storing the reduced cost flow model in a relational database management system (RDBMS) or an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) database, and wherein each cost flow path in the reduced cost flow model is stored in a data record row in a table in the RDBMS or the OLAP database.
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23. A system for analyzing costs associated with cost flow models having components of relationships and entities, comprising:
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one or more processors; a computer-readable storage medium containing software instructions executable on the one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to perform operations including; receiving data associated with a first cost flow model that identifies the costs associated with relationships among the entities, including resources, activities, and cost objects, wherein the first cost flow model is a multi-dimensional directed graph for depicting how money flows in an enterprise, wherein nodes of the graph represent accounts associated with the resources, activities, or cost objects, wherein an account exists at the intersection of a plurality of dimension members within a multi-dimensional database (MDDB) having dimensions, each dimension containing one or more dimension members, and wherein an edge of the multi-dimensional directed graph is associated with a percentage defining how much money flows from a source account to a destination account; receiving reduction criteria, and using the reduction criteria to reduce the number of components in the first cost flow model; using the reduction criteria to generate a reduced cost flow model, wherein the reduced cost flow model has fewer components than the number of components that are in the received first cost flow model, and wherein the reduced cost flow model is used to analyze costs associated with the entities in the reduced cost flow model; and processing and storing the reduced cost flow model, wherein computation processing and storage requirements associated with processing and storing the reduced cost flow model is less than computation processing and storage requirements associated with processing and storing the first cost flow model, wherein the storing of the reduced cost flow model includes storing the reduced cost flow model in a relational database management system (RDBMS) or an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) database, and wherein each cost flow path in the reduced cost flow model is stored in a data record row in a table in the RDBMS or the OLAP database.
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24. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that when executed, cause a computer to perform a method for analyzing costs associated with cost flow models having components of relationships and entities, the method comprising:
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receiving data associated with a first cost flow model that identifies the costs associated with relationships among the entities, including resources, activities, and cost objects, wherein the first cost flow model is a multi-dimensional directed graph for depicting how money flows in an enterprise, wherein nodes of the graph represent accounts associated with the resources, activities, or cost objects, wherein an account exists at the intersection of a plurality of dimension members within a multi-dimensional database (MDDB) having dimensions, each dimension containing one or more dimension members, and wherein an edge of the multi-dimensional directed graph is associated with a percentage defining how much money flows from a source account to a destination account; receiving reduction criteria, and using the reduction criteria to reduce the number of components in the first cost flow model; using the reduction criteria to generate a reduced cost flow model, wherein the reduced cost flow model has fewer components than the number of components that are in the received first cost flow model, and wherein the reduced cost flow model is used to analyze costs associated with the entities in the reduced cost flow model; and processing and storing the reduced cost flow model, wherein computation processing and storage requirements associated with processing and storing the reduced cost flow model is less than computation processing and storage requirements associated with processing and storing the first cost flow model, wherein the storing of the reduced cost flow model includes storing the reduced cost flow model in a relational database management system (RDBMS) or an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) database, and wherein each cost flow path in the reduced cost flow model is stored in a data record row in a table in the RDBMS or the OLAP database.
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Specification