Integrated change management in a business intelligence environment

• US 7,945,589 B1
• Filed: 07/22/2010
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avt Technology Solutions LLC. (TD SYNNEX Corp.)
• Original Assignee: BSP Software LLC (Avnet Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rachmiel, Andrew G., Weiss, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mahmoudi; Tony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hu; Jensen
• Application Number:
  US12/841,975
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• Field of Search: 707/795, 715/762, 715/738, 715/760
• US Class Current: 707/795
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/71 Version control security arrangements therefor G06F21/57; Configuration management

Abstract

A business intelligence system includes a business intelligence server configured to support generation of a report user interface for presentation of enterprise data to end users of the business intelligence system and an authoring user interface for development of a report definition of the report user interface. The business intelligence system further includes a metadata repository in which metadata indicative of the report definition is stored, a client having a browser for communication with the business intelligence server and for rendering of the authoring user interface, and a change management server configured for communication with the business intelligence server to manage the development of the report definition via the authoring user interface. The business intelligence server is configured with first textual instructions to direct the browser in the rendering of the authoring user interface, and the browser is further directed by second textual instructions referenced by the first textual instructions and configured to modify the authoring user interface to allow the change management server to manage storage of the metadata indicative of the report definition.

Claims

1. A business intelligence system comprising:

a business intelligence server configured to support generation of a report user interface for presentation of enterprise data to end users of the business intelligence system and an authoring user interface for development of a report definition of the report user interface;

a metadata repository in which metadata indicative of the report definition is stored;

a client having a browser for communication with the business intelligence server and for rendering of the authoring user interface; and

a change management server configured for communication with the business intelligence server to manage the development of the report definition via the authoring user interface;

wherein the business intelligence server is configured with first browser textual instructions to direct the browser in the rendering of the authoring user interface,

wherein the browser is further directed by second browser textual instructions referenced by the first browser textual instructions and configured to modify the authoring user interface by integrating change management functionality into the authoring user interface to allow the change management server to manage storage of the metadata indicative of the report definition, and

wherein the first browser textual instructions include a reference to the second browser textual instructions, the reference being positioned such that an instruction provided via the second browser textual instructions overrides an instruction provided via the first browser textual instructions.

2. The business intelligence system of claim 1, wherein the second browser textual instructions are configured to modify the authoring user interface such that user selection of a save operation causes the metadata indicative of the report definition to be stored in a version control repository as a version of the report definition.

3. The business intelligence system of claim 1, wherein the change management server is configured to lock the report definition to prevent an update to the metadata indicative of the report definition stored in the metadata repository.

4. The business intelligence system of claim 1, wherein the second browser textual instructions are configured to integrate a change management operation into the authoring user interface dependent upon a context of the development of the report definition.

5. The business intelligence system of claim 1, wherein the change management server is configured to direct the browser to display a notification in the authoring user interface that the report definition has been locked by another user, the notification providing an option to view the report definition.

6. The business intelligence system of claim 1, wherein the change management server is configured to create a revision history of modifications of the report definition, and wherein the second browser textual instructions are further configured to incorporate a view revision history operation into the authoring user interface.

7. The business intelligence system of claim 1, wherein execution of the second browser textual instructions overrides previously executed instructions defining the authoring user interface to (i) store an authoring function defined via the first browser textual instructions under a new name, and (ii) assign an original name of the authoring function to an instruction set to be called when the authoring function is selected by a user for implementation via the authoring user interface.

8. The business intelligence system of claim 7, wherein the instruction set includes a reference to the new name so that the authoring function is executed as part of the implementation.

9. The business intelligence system of claim 7, wherein the authoring function is called via user selection of an open operation for opening the report definition in the authoring user interface, and wherein the instruction set is configured to enable the change management server to determine whether updates to the report definition should be prevented because the report definition has been locked by another user.

10. The business intelligence system of claim 1, wherein the reference is positioned such that the second browser textual instructions are implemented last at run-time as the authoring user interface is rendered.

11. A method of configuring a business intelligence system comprising a business intelligence server, a change management server, and a metadata repository in which metadata indicative of a report definition of a report user interface is stored, the report user interface presenting enterprise data to end users of the business intelligence system, the report definition being developed via an authoring user interface rendered via a browser of a client directed by the business intelligence server, the method comprising:

modifying first browser textual instructions on the business intelligence server, the first browser textual instructions being configured to support generation of the authoring user interface via the browser, the modifying step comprising the step of incorporating a function call into the first browser textual instructions;

incorporating second browser textual instructions into the business intelligence system, the second browser textual instructions being referenced in the function call and configured to modify the authoring user interface by integrating change management functionality into the authoring user interface to allow the change management server to manage storage of the metadata indicative of the report definition; and

wherein the first browser textual instructions include a reference to the second browser textual instructions, the reference being positioned such that an instruction provided via the second browser textual instructions overrides an instruction provided via the first browser textual instructions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second browser textual instructions are configured to modify the authoring user interface such that user selection of a save operation causes the metadata indicative of the report definition to be stored in a version control repository as a version of the report definition.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the change management server is configured to lock the report definition to prevent an update to the metadata indicative of the report definition stored in the metadata repository.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the second browser textual instructions are configured to integrate a change management operation into the authoring user interface dependent upon a context of the development of the report definition.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the change management server is configured to direct the browser to display a notification in the authoring user interface that the report definition has been locked by another user, the notification providing an option to view the report definition.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the change management server is configured to create a revision history of modifications of the report definition, and wherein the second browser textual instructions are further configured to incorporate a view revision history operation into the authoring user interface.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein execution of the second browser textual instructions overrides previously executed instructions defining the authoring user interface to (i) store an authoring function defined via the first browser textual instructions under a new name, and (ii) assign an original name of the authoring function to an instruction set to be called when the authoring function is selected by a user for implementation via the authoring user interface.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the instruction set includes a reference to the new name so that the authoring function is executed as part of the implementation.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the authoring function is called via user selection of an open operation for opening the report definition in the authoring user interface, and wherein the instruction set is configured to enable the change management server to determine whether updates to the report definition should be prevented because the report definition has been locked by another user.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the reference is positioned such that the second browser textual instructions are implemented last at run-time as the authoring user interface is rendered.