Business intelligence system with interface that provides for immediate user action

• US 8,165,993 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Broda, Tal, McGraw, Kimberly, Powers, Craig R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jalil, Neveen Abel
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCKINGHAM, KELLYE DEE
• Application Number:
  US11/299,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,325 Days
• Field of Search: 707/224
• US Class Current: 707/634
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application

Abstract

A business intelligence system includes a business activity monitor with a data cache to receive and store enterprise data integrated from a plurality of enterprise applications, the data cache being updated in real-time as the enterprise data changes. A computer coupled with the data cache runs a program that produces a graphical user interface on a display. The graphical user interface provides a user with a real-time report of the enterprise data and a page that allows the user to specify at least one action affecting operation of the enterprise. The page also including a button selection of which causes the computer to send a first message designating one or more selected actions to the BAM. In response, the BAM sends a second message to one or more of the enterprise applications to execute the one or more selected actions in real-time. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A business intelligence system for an enterprise, comprising:

a business activity monitor (BAM) comprising a data cache to receive and store enterprise data from an enterprise link, the enterprise link being configured to;

continually retrieve raw data from a plurality of enterprise applications, at least two of the plurality of enterprise applications exchanging information with each other;

integrate and transform the raw data into the enterprise data according to predefined data flow definitions, such that the data cache is updated in real-time as the enterprise data changes; and

import existing metadata from the plurality of enterprise applications;

the BAM further comprises a report engine that is configured to access the enterprise data in the data cache, format the enterprise data, and stream it to a computer for real-time display, the report engine being further configured to insert a data object into the data cache in response to a first message, the data object for generating an alert to trigger an action to be executed using one or more enterprise applications of the plurality of enterprise applications; and

the computer coupled with the data cache to receive real-time updates to the enterprise data from the data cache, the computer configured to run a program that produces a graphical user interface on a display, the graphical user interface configured to;

display a real-time unified report of the enterprise data from the plurality of enterprise applications to a user via the graphical user interface;

use the existing metadata imported from the plurality of enterprise applications by the enterprise link;

receive, from the user via the graphical user interface, a first action that affects operation of a first enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise applications and a second action that affects operation of a second enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise applications, wherein;

the first action includes the user, via the graphical user interface, causing a report to be sent to another user; and

cause the computer to send the first message designating one or more selected actions to the BAM, wherein the BAM is configured to send a second message, in response to receiving the first message, to one or more of the enterprise applications to execute the one or more selected actions,

such that the computer concurrently displays the enterprise data from the enterprise applications to the user and receives actions that trigger changes to operation of the enterprise applications from the user via a single graphical user interface.

2. The business intelligence system of claim 1 wherein the BAM further comprises:

an event engine that generates the second message in response to receipt of the alert from the data cache.

3. The business intelligence system of claim 2 wherein the report engine comprises a report server.

4. The business intelligence system of claim 1 wherein the page further includes a data field listing of the one or more actions after each has been completed.

5. The business intelligence system of claim 4 wherein the data field listing is displayed within a period of 10 seconds or less after selection of the second button by the user.

6. The business intelligence system of claim 2 wherein the second message comprises a web service call.

23. The business intelligence system for the enterprise of claim 1, wherein the actions that trigger changes to operation of the enterprise applications from the user via the single graphical user interface are processed in real-time.

24. The business intelligence system of claim 1 wherein changes to the data cache occur at a rate substantially matched with real-time data changes occurring in at least two of the enterprise applications.

7. A business intelligence system comprising:

a business activity monitor (BAM), comprising a data cache to receive and store enterprise data and a computer system, configured to;

integrate and deliver, in real-time, the enterprise data generated by a plurality of enterprise applications, the enterprise data being received from an enterprise link, the enterprise link being configured to

continually retrieve raw data,

integrate disparate raw data into the enterprise data, and

import existing metadata from the plurality of enterprise applications, and

update the enterprise data in real-time responsive to a business event that produces a change in the enterprise data, at least two of the plurality of enterprise applications exchanging information with each other,

the BAM further comprising a report engine that is configured to access the enterprise data in the data cache, format the enterprise data, and stream the enterprise data for real-time display, the report engine configured to inserting a data object into the data cache in response to a first message, the data object for generating an alert to trigger an action to be performed using one or more enterprise applications of the plurality of enterprise applications; and

a dashboard to display the enterprise data delivered by the BAM in real-time, the dashboard including a user interface that allows a user to select one or more actions based on the enterprise data being displayed, wherein;

a first action of the one or more actions affects operation of a first enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise applications,

a second action of the one or more actions affects operation of a second enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise applications,

the user interface sends the first message to the BAM in response to a command to perform at least one action selected by the user,

the first message causes the BAM to send a second message to one or more of the enterprise applications for executing the one or more actions,

such that the dashboard concurrently displays the enterprise data from the enterprise applications to the user and receives actions that trigger changes to operation of the enterprise applications from the user via a single graphical user interface, and

use the existing metadata imported from the plurality of enterprise applications by the enterprise link.

8. The business intelligence system of claim 7 wherein the first message comprises an Extensible Mark-up Language message.

9. The business intelligence system of claim 7 wherein the one or more actions constitute a new business event that changes the enterprise data, the changed enterprise data being displayed on the dashboard within a period of 10 seconds or less after input of the command by the user.

10. A business intelligence system for an enterprise, comprising:

a computing environment that includes a plurality of enterprise applications that produce enterprise data;

a data integration engine that integrates, in real-time, the enterprise data;

a business activity monitor (BAM) that includes;

a data cache to receive and store the enterprise data integrated from the enterprise applications, the data cache being updated in real-time as the enterprise data changes, at least two of the plurality of enterprise applications exchanging information with each other; and

a report engine that accesses enterprise data in the data cache, formats the enterprise data, and then outputs the enterprise data as a data stream that changes in real-time as the enterprise data in the data cache changes, the report engine inserting a data object into the data cache in response to a first message in response to a first action, the data object for generating an alert to trigger an action to be performed using one or more enterprise applications of the plurality of enterprise applications;

a computer that runs a program to produce a graphical user interface on a display, the graphical user interface;

including a presentation of the enterprise data provided in the data stream,

providing a page for inputting user-specified actions, wherein;

the first action of the user-specified actions affects a change in a process of a first enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise applications, wherein the first action causes a report to be sent to another user, and

a second action of the user-specified actions affects a change in a process of a second enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise applications,

generating the first message output to the BAM in response to a command to perform at least one action selected by the user, the first message causing the BAM to send a second message to one or more of the enterprise applications for executing the at least one action,

such that the computer concurrently displays the enterprise data from the enterprise applications to the user and receive actions that trigger changes to operation of the enterprise applications from the user via a single graphical user interface.

11. The business intelligence system of claim 10 wherein the first message comprises an Extensible Mark-up Language message.

12. The business intelligence system of claim 10 wherein the at least one action constitutes a new business event that changes the enterprise data, the changed enterprise data being displayed by the computer within a period of 10 seconds or less after input of the command.

13. The business intelligence system of claim 10 wherein the BAM further comprises:

an event engine that generates the second message in response to receipt of the alert from the data cache.

14. The business intelligence system of claim 10 wherein the report engine comprises a report server.

15. The business intelligence system of claim 10 wherein the page further includes a data field listing of the one or more actions after each has been completed.

16. A computer-implemented method for operational management of business processes, comprising:

(a) integrating enterprise data in real-time, the enterprise data being obtained from a plurality of enterprise applications, at least two of the plurality of enterprise applications exchanging information with each other, the enterprise data being received from an enterprise link, the enterprise link being configured to continually retrieve raw data, integrate disparate raw data into the enterprise data, and import existing metadata from the plurality of enterprise applications;

(b) storing the integrated enterprise data in a data cache;

(c) extracting portions of the enterprise data from the data cache;

(d) delivering the portions of the enterprise data in real-time to a graphical user interface (GUI) for viewing by a user;

(e) providing, on the GUI, a page that allows the user to specify one or more operations that are capable of triggering a change in the enterprise data of more than one enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise application,

such that the GUI concurrently delivers the portions of the enterprise data for viewing by the user and receive the one or more specified operations that trigger the changes in the enterprise data of the more than one enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise applications via a single graphical user interface, and

use the existing metadata imported from the plurality of enterprise applications by the enterprise link;

(f) inserting a data object into the data cache in response to a first message, the data object for generating an alert, wherein the first message was received in response to a command to perform at least one action selected by a user.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 further comprising:

(f) repeating (a)-(e) in response to the change in the enterprise data.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 wherein the changed enterprise data is displayed on the GUI within a period of 10 seconds or less after input of the one or more operations by the user.

19. A computer-implemented method for operational management of business processes, comprising:

displaying of enterprise data on a dashboard screen, the enterprise data being obtained from a plurality of enterprise applications, at least two of the plurality of enterprise applications exchanges information with each other, the enterprise data being received from an enterprise link, the enterprise link being configured to continually retrieve raw data, integrate disparate raw data into the enterprise data, and import existing metadata from the plurality of enterprise applications;

updating the display in real-time responsive to a business event that results in a change to the enterprise data;

retrieving a real-time snapshot of enterprise data based upon a user request;

providing a user interface on the dashboard screen with a field that allows the user to specify one or more operations, wherein;

the graphical user interface uses the existing metadata imported from the plurality of enterprise applications by the enterprise link,

a first operation of the one or more operations changes the enterprise data of a first enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise applications, and

a second operation of the one or more operations changes the enterprise data of a second enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise applications; and

receiving a command from a user via the user interface to implement the one or more operations concurrently with the displaying of the enterprise data on the dashboard screen.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19 wherein the changed enterprise data is displayed on the GUI within a period of 10 seconds or less after input of the one or more operations by the user.

21. A non-transitory computer program product stored on a computer-readable medium configured to store instructions operational by a processor of a computer system for operational management of business processes, the computer program product comprising:

code for displaying enterprise data on a dashboard screen, the enterprise data being obtained from a plurality of enterprise applications, at least two of the plurality of enterprise applications exchanges information with each other, the enterprise data being received from an enterprise link, the enterprise link being configured to;

continually retrieve raw data,

integrate disparate raw data into the enterprise data, and

import existing metadata from the plurality of enterprise applications;

code for updating the display on the dashboard screen in real-time responsive to a business event that results in a change to the enterprise data;

code for retrieving a real-time snapshot of enterprise data based upon a user request;

code for providing a user interface on the dashboard screen with a field that allows the user to specify one or more operations, wherein;

the user interface uses the existing metadata imported from the plurality of enterprise applications by the enterprise link,

a first operation of the one or more operations changes the enterprise data of a first enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise applications, and

a second operation of the one or more operations changes the enterprise data of a second enterprise application of the plurality of enterprise applications; and

code for receiving a command via the user interface to implement the one or more operations concurrently with the displaying of the enterprise data on the dashboard screen.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein the one or more operations affect the enterprise data produced by the enterprise applications, and further comprising:

code for displaying changed enterprise data on the dashboard screen within 10 seconds or less after input of the command, the changed enterprise data reflecting execution of the one or more operations.