Automated content generation through selective combination

• US 8,495,513 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: MacKintosh, Graham Douglas, Kowal, John Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bycer, Eric J
• Application Number:
  US12/464,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20090313568A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,533 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.29, 705/7.34, 705/7.36, 705/7.38, 707/602, 707/603, 707706-709, 707723-725, 707/731, 707737-739, 707/748, 715/716, 715/764, 715/765, 715/767, 715/769, 715/810, 715/962
• US Class Current: 715/765
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour

Abstract

Method and system for merging two objects in a business intelligence system. A first member is selected in the business intelligence system, the business intelligence system includes a user space, a content space, a data space, a master-data space and a metadata space. A relationship between the first member and a plurality of members selected from the group consisting of the user space, the content space, the data space, the master-data space, the metadata space is determined, which results in determined relationships for every member in the business intelligence system. Two members in the content space are then selected. Relationships between the two members in the plurality of determined relationships are traversed to determine the members in the traversed relationships. A preference is assigned to the members in the traversed relationships with close or exact relationships; and the members with the preference are merged.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for merging two objects in a business intelligence system including a user space, a content space, a data space, a master-data space and a metadata space, the method comprising:

determining relationships between members selected from at least one of the user space, the content space, the data space, the master-data space, and the metadata space, resulting in a plurality of determined relationships for the members in the business intelligence system, wherein the determined relationships link the members in the business intelligence system;

enabling selection of two members in the content space to be combined, wherein each of the two members includes a chart and the combination of the two members produces a new chart;

traversing relationships for each of the two members with other members in the business intelligence system in the plurality of determined relationships;

determining the members of the business intelligence system in the traversed relationships, wherein the deter mined members provide information pertaining to the charts;

assigning a preference for merging to the members of the business intelligence system in the traversed relationships with close or exact relationships; and

merging the selected two members from the content space to produce the new chart by merging into the new chart the determined members in the traversed relationships with the assigned preference.

2. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of optimizing a display of the merged members in the content space.

3. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one relationship is transitive.

4. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one relationship is within one space selected from the group consisting of the user space, the content space, the data space, the master-data space, and the metadata space.

5. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one relationship is based on a popularity.

6. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one relationship includes one member selected from the group consisting of:

citation, combination, subordination, peer, instance, subscription and external reference.

7. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the merging results from a drag-and-drop action in the user space.

8. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the merging is based on a preference in the user space.

9. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the merging is based on a locale in the user space.

10. The computer-implemented method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one member resides in an intersection of two of the data space, the master-data space and the metadata space.

11. A computer readable medium of a memory device storing instructions or statements for use in the execution in a computer of a method for merging two objects in a business intelligence system including a user space, a content space, a data space, a master-data space and a metadata space, the method comprising:

determining relationships between members selected from at least one of the user space, the content space, the data space, the master-data space, and the metadata space, resulting in a plurality of determined relationships for the members in the business intelligence system, wherein the determined relationships link the members in the business intelligence system;

enabling selection of two members in the content space to be combined, wherein each of the two members includes a chart and the combination of the two members produces a new chart;

traversing relationships for each of the two members with other members in the business intelligence system in the plurality of determined relationships;

determining the members of the business intelligence system in the traversed relationships, wherein the determined members provide information pertaining to the charts;

assigning a preference for merging to the members of the business intelligence system in the traversed relationships with close or exact relationships; and

merging the selected two members from the content space to produce the new chart by merging into the new chart the determined members in the traversed relationships with the assigned preference.

12. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 11, wherein at least one relationship is within one space selected from the group consisting of the user space, the content space, the data space, the master-data space, and the metadata space.

13. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 11, wherein the merging resulted from a drag-and-drop action in the user space.

14. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 11, wherein the merging is based on a preference in the user space.

15. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 11, wherein the merging is based on a locale in the user space.

16. A computer system for merging two objects in a business intelligence system including a user space, a content space, a data space, a master-data space and a metadata space, the computer system comprising:

at least one processor configured for;

determining relationships between members selected from at least one of the user space, the content space, the data space, the master-data space, and the metadata space, resulting in a plurality of determined relationships for the members in the business intelligence system, wherein the determined relationships link the members in the business intelligence system;

enabling selection of two members in the content space to be combined, wherein each of the two members includes a chart and the combination of the two members produces a new chart;

traversing relationships for each of the two members with other members in the business intelligence system in the plurality of determined relationships;

determining the members of the business intelligence system in the traversed relationships, wherein the determined members provide information pertaining to the charts;

assigning a preference for merging to the members of the business intelligence system in the traversed relationships with close or exact relationships; and

merging the selected two members from the content space to produce the new chart by merging into the new chart the determined members in the traversed relationships with the assigned preference.

17. The computer system as claimed in claim 16, wherein at least one relationship is within one space selected from the group consisting of the user space, the content space, the data space, the master-data space, and the metadata space.

18. The computer system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the merging resulted from a drag-and-drop action in the user space.

19. The computer system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the merging is based on a preference in the user space.

20. The computer system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the merging is based on a locale in the user space.