Systems and methods for accessing a business intelligence system through a business productivity client
First Claim
1. A network-based system for accessing and updating information from an on-line business intelligence system through a productivity client comprising:
- a multi-level interface client providing access to report files in the business intelligence system to at least one productivity client, the multi-level interface client comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) layer, an application program interface (API) layer, a productivity client adapter layer and a kernel layer, wherein each time a report is executed by the business intelligence system for the at least one productivity client, persistence information is stored by the multi-level interface client in a file of the productivity client containing the report.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-level interface client for business productivity clients such as spreadsheet, word processor, presentation, database and email clients. The multi-level interface client provides backend functionality permitting a business intelligence server, such as an OLAP system to be accessed directly from the productivity client. Reports displayed in the documents native to the productivity client can be updated directly in the client by executing operations on the business intelligence server through the interface client. Layout and formatting information specific to the client is stored as persistence information by interface client in the productivity client document file and is used to refresh the displayed report in the file without a loss of formatting or layout properties.
65 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A network-based system for accessing and updating information from an on-line business intelligence system through a productivity client comprising:
a multi-level interface client providing access to report files in the business intelligence system to at least one productivity client, the multi-level interface client comprising a graphical user interface (GUI) layer, an application program interface (API) layer, a productivity client adapter layer and a kernel layer, wherein each time a report is executed by the business intelligence system for the at least one productivity client, persistence information is stored by the multi-level interface client in a file of the productivity client containing the report. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A multi-level business intelligence system interface client for use with at least one productivity client comprising:
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a GUI layer; an API layer; a productivity client adapter layer; and a kernel layer, wherein each time a report is executed by the business intelligence system for the at least one productivity client, persistence information is stored by the multi-level interface client in a file of the productivity client containing the report. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for rendering a productivity client operable to access business intelligence information from an on-line business intelligence server comprising:
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registering a COM add-in for the productivity client; invoking the productivity client; selecting, from a tool bar associated with the COM add-in, a tool bar button operable to invoke a GUI of a multi-layer interface client; using the GUI, defining an operation relating to a business intelligence report generated by a business intelligence server, wherein when invoked, the operation calls an API layer of the multi-layer interface client which in turn causes a kernel layer of the multi-layer interface client to access the on-line business intelligence server over a communication network and perform the operation. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for rendering a productivity client operable to access business intelligence information from an on-line business intelligence server comprising:
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registering a COM add-in for the productivity client; invoking the productivity client; selecting, from a tool bar associated with the COM add-in, a tool bar button operable to invoke a GUI of a multi-layer interface client; using the GUI, defining an operation relating to a business intelligence report generated by a business intelligence server, wherein when invoked, the operation calls an API layer of the multi-layer interface client which in turn causes a kernel layer of the multi-layer interface client to access the on-line business intelligence server over a communication network and perform the operation; and after a report has been executed by the business intelligence server, storing persistence information related to the report including information about the report itself, connection information describing the connection used to execute the report, display properties of the report and layout information including properties relating to the specific productivity client in which the report is displayed such that the persistence information will be preserved during subsequent executions of the report.
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41. A method for updating information in a productivity client file from a network-based business intelligence system directly in the productivity client comprising:
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opening a productivity client file in the productivity client, the productivity client file containing data from an business intelligence reporting system; detecting with the productivity client, a Smart Tag action in the productivity client file; executing the Smart Tag action by selecting a command in a pop-up dialog box associated with the Smart Tag; invoking an API layer of a multi-layer interface client upon execution of the Smart Tag action; using a kernel layer of the multi-layer interface client, sending a business intelligence report execute and update request to the network-based business intelligence system; executing the report at the business intelligence system; receiving the executed report results at the kernel layer of the multi-layer interface client; formatting the layout of the results based on stored persistence attributes; and displaying the re-run report in the productivity client based on the stored persistence attributes.
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Specification