Additional query date term granularity

• US 8,560,522 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Finneran, Paul, Weiser, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Anh
• Application Number:
  US13/434,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20130262440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 707/718, 707/779, 707/765, 707/766, 707/E17.044, 707/E17.078, 707/E17.108, 707/999.003, 707/999.004, 707/999.101, 707/999.102, 715/762, 715/227
• US Class Current: 707/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24565 Triggers; Constraints

Abstract

Additional date term granularity may be added to query results and query interfaces used to append query results. Initially, a partial execution of a query may be triggered to identify fields and field types. Fields may be classified as date fields based on their field type. The query may be appended to compute one or more time periods for each classified date field. Each time period may identify a broader time period than the data included in a corresponding classified date field. A query result, which may include the computed time period(s) and time period field(s), may be generated from the execution of the appended query.

Claims

1. A method for providing additional time periods in a query interface comprising:

identifying a query;

triggering a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classifying, using a processing device, the identified fields having a date field type as date fields;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to compute a year, quarter, month, and week of a date in each classified date field and create new respective time period fields in the query result storing the computed year, month, quarter, and week for each classified date field;

triggering an execution of the appended query;

generating, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed year, quarter, month, and week field data and fields for with each classified date field;

adding each of the classified date fields and the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a filter menu in the query interface;

designating each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

adding a selectable count function for each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receiving a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

displaying the query interface;

displaying in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

displaying in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

identifying a range of values associated with each of the fields added to the filter menu;

providing an option in the filter menu to select at least one value in the range of values associated with at least one field added to the filter menu; and

filtering the query result based on a selection of the at least one value in the range of values associated with at least one field added to the filter menu.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the created year, quarter, month, and week fields are associated in the query result with their respective classified data field.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving a selection of at least one field in the filter menu and a subset of data in the at least one field in the filter menu;

and

appending the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu to the received subset of data in the received at least one field in the filter menu.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a user selectable date range in the filter menu for each of the added year, quarter, month, and week fields, wherein the user selectable date range is bound by an earliest time period included in the query result for each respective field and a latest time period included in the query result for each respective field.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user selection from the filter menu that includes a date range for each of the year, quarter, month, and week fields, wherein the query result is filtered to include only results having each of the year, quarter, month, and week field data within each respective user selected date range.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first dimension is parallel to a horizontal axis of a graph and the second dimension is parallel to a vertical axis of the graph.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first dimension is parallel to a vertical axis of a graph and the second dimension is parallel to a horizontal axis of the graph.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a graph, grid, chart, or other visual representation from the query result.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a format menu in the query interface that includes an option to select at least one of a plurality of formats for the query result;

receiving a selection of the at least one format; and

reformatting the query result into a visual representation in the at least one selected format.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the visual representation is a grid, chart, or graph and the plurality of formats include a .NET format and a HTML5 format.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the visual representation is switchable between a grid format and a chart format.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising exporting the visual representation in the selected format.

13. A method for providing additional time periods in a query interface comprising:

identifying a query;

triggering a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classifying, using a processing device, the identified fields having a date field type as date fields;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to compute a year, quarter, month, and week of a date in each classified date field and create new respective time period fields in the query result storing the computed year, month, quarter, and week for each classified date field;

triggering an execution of the appended query;

generating, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed year, quarter, month, and week field data and fields for with each classified date field;

adding each of the classified date fields and the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a filter menu in the query interface;

designating each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

adding a selectable count function for each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receiving a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

displaying the query interface;

displaying in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

displaying in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

displaying a sorting menu in the interface that includes an ascending sorting option, a descending sorting option, and an option to select at least one of the fields added to the query interface that is to be sorted according to either the ascending sorting option or the descending sorting option;

receiving a selection of the at least one added fields to the query interface that is to be sorted and a selection of either the ascending sorting option or the descending sorting option; and

sorting the query result according to the received selection before outputting the query result.

14. A method for providing additional time periods in a query interface comprising:

identifying a query;

triggering a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classifying, using a processing device, the identified fields having a date field type as date fields;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to compute a year, quarter, month, and week of a date in each classified date field and create new respective time period fields in the query result storing the computed year, month, quarter, and week for each classified date field;

triggering an execution of the appended query;

generating, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed year, quarter, month, and week field data and fields for with each classified date field;

adding each of the classified date fields and the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a filter menu in the query interface;

designating each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

adding a selectable count function for each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receiving a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

displaying the query interface;

displaying in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

displaying in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

displaying a grouping menu in the interface that includes an option to select at least one of the added fields to the query interface for grouping the query result;

receiving a selection of the at least one field added fields to the query interface for grouping; and

grouping the filtered modified query result according to the received selection before outputting the query result.

15. A method for providing additional time periods in a query interface comprising:

identifying a query;

triggering a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classifying, using a processing device, the identified fields having a date field type as date fields;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to compute a year, quarter, month, and week of a date in each classified date field and create new respective time period fields in the query result storing the computed year, month, quarter, and week for each classified date field;

triggering an execution of the appended query;

generating, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed year, quarter, month, and week field data and fields for with each classified date field;

adding each of the classified date fields and the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a filter menu in the query interface;

designating each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

adding a selectable count function for each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receiving a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

displaying the query interface;

displaying in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

displaying in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

displaying a limiting menu in the interface that includes an option to limit the query result to a top number N of results, wherein the top number N is selectable by a user;

receiving a selection of the top number N; and

outputting only the top number N of results of the filtered modified query results.

16. A method for providing additional time periods in a query interface comprising:

identifying a query;

triggering a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classifying, using a processing device, the identified fields having a date field type as date fields;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to compute a year, quarter, month, and week of a date in each classified date field and create new respective time period fields in the query result storing the computed year, month, quarter, and week for each classified date field;

triggering an execution of the appended query;

generating, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed year, quarter, month, and week field data and fields for with each classified date field;

adding each of the classified date fields and the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a filter menu in the query interface;

designating each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

adding a selectable count function for each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receiving a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

displaying the query interface;

displaying in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

displaying in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

receiving a selection of more than one field in the first dimension menu;

displaying an option to select between a stacked chart format and an unstacked chart format;

receiving a selection of the displayed option; and

displaying in the first dimension of the interface data from each selected field from the first dimension menu in the selected chart format.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of stored instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

identify a query;

trigger a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classify the identified fields having a date field type as date fields;

append the identified query to compute a year, quarter, month, and week of a date in each classified date field and create new respective time period fields in the query result storing the computed year, month, quarter, and week for each classified date field;

trigger an execution of the appended query;

generate, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed year, quarter, month, and week field data and fields for with each classified date field;

add each of the classified date fields and the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a filter menu in a query interface;

designate each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

add a selectable count function for each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receive a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

append the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

display the query interface;

display in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

display in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

identify a range of values associated with each of the fields added to the filter menu;

provide an option in the filter menu to select at least one value in the range of values associated with at least one field added to the filter menu; and

filter the query result based on a selection of the at least one value in the range of values associated with at least one field added to the filter menu.

18. A method for providing an additional time period in a query interface comprising:

identifying a query;

triggering a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classifying, using a processing device, an identified field having a date field type as a date field;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to compute a time period for the classified date field and create a time period field in the query result for storing the computed time period, the computed time period encompassing a broader time period than the classified date field;

triggering an execution of the appended query;

generating, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed time period data and field;

adding the classified date field and computed time period field to a filter menu in the query interface;

designating the computed time period field as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

adding a selectable count function for the computed time period field to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receiving a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

displaying the query interface;

displaying in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

displaying in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

identifying a range of values associated with each of the fields added to the filter menu;

providing an option in the filter menu to select at least one value in the range of values associated with at least one field added to the filter menu; and

filtering the query result based on a selection of the at least one value in the range of values associated with at least one field added to the filter menu.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of stored instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

identify a query;

trigger a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classify the identified fields having a date field type as date fields;

append the identified query to compute a year, quarter, month, and week of a date in each classified date field and create new respective time period fields in the query result storing the computed year, month, quarter, and week for each classified date field;

trigger an execution of the appended query;

generate, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed year, quarter, month, and week field data and fields for with each classified date field;

add each of the classified date fields and the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a filter menu in a query interface;

designate each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

add a selectable count function for each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receive a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

append the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

display the query interface;

display in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

display in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

display a sorting menu in the interface that includes an ascending sorting option, a descending sorting option, and an option to select at least one of the fields added to the query interface that is to be sorted according to either the ascending sorting option or the descending sorting option;

receive a selection of the at least one added fields to the query interface that is to be sorted and a selection of either the ascending sorting option or the descending sorting option; and

sort the query result according to the received selection before outputting the query result.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of stored instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

identify a query;

trigger a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classify the identified fields having a date field type as date fields;

append the identified query to compute a year, quarter, month, and week of a date in each classified date field and create new respective time period fields in the query result storing the computed year, month, quarter, and week for each classified date field;

trigger an execution of the appended query;

generate, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed year, quarter, month, and week field data and fields for with each classified date field;

add each of the classified date fields and the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a filter menu in a query interface;

designate each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

add a selectable count function for each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receive a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

append the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

display the query interface;

display in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

display in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

display a grouping menu in the interface that includes an option to select at least one of the added fields to the query interface for grouping the query result;

receive a selection of the at least one field added fields to the query interface for grouping; and

group the filtered modified query result according to the received selection before outputting the query result.

21. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of stored instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

identify a query;

trigger a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classify the identified fields having a date field type as date fields;

append the identified query to compute a year, quarter, month, and week of a date in each classified date field and create new respective time period fields in the query result storing the computed year, month, quarter, and week for each classified date field;

trigger an execution of the appended query;

generate, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed year, quarter, month, and week field data and fields for with each classified date field;

add each of the classified date fields and the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a filter menu in a query interface;

designate each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

add a selectable count function for each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receive a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

append the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

display the query interface;

display in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

display in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

display a limiting menu in the interface that includes an option to limit the query result to a top number N of results, wherein the top number N is selectable by a user;

receive a selection of the top number N; and

output only the top number N of results of the filtered modified query results.

22. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a set of stored instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:

identify a query;

trigger a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classify the identified fields having a date field type as date fields;

append the identified query to compute a year, quarter, month, and week of a date in each classified date field and create new respective time period fields in the query result storing the computed year, month, quarter, and week for each classified date field;

trigger an execution of the appended query;

generate, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed year, quarter, month, and week field data and fields for with each classified date field;

add each of the classified date fields and the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a filter menu in a query interface;

designate each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

add a selectable count function for each of the computed year, quarter, month, and week fields to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receive a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

append the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

display the query interface;

display in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

display in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

receive a selection of more than one field in the first dimension menu;

display an option to select between a stacked chart format and an unstacked chart format;

receive a selection of the displayed option; and

display in the first dimension of the interface data from each selected field from the first dimension menu in the selected chart format.

23. A method for providing an additional time period in a query interface comprising:

identifying a query;

triggering a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classifying, using a processing device, an identified field having a date field type as a date field;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to compute a time period for the classified date field and create a time period field in the query result for storing the computed time period, the computed time period encompassing a broader time period than the classified date field;

triggering an execution of the appended query;

generating, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed time period data and field;

adding the classified date field and computed time period field to a filter menu in the query interface;

designating the computed time period field as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

adding a selectable count function for the computed time period field to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receiving a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

displaying the query interface;

displaying in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

displaying in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

displaying a sorting menu in the interface that includes an ascending sorting option, a descending sorting option, and an option to select at least one of the fields added to the query interface that is to be sorted according to either the ascending sorting option or the descending sorting option;

receiving a selection of the at least one added fields to the query interface that is to be sorted and a selection of either the ascending sorting option or the descending sorting option; and

sorting the query result according to the received selection before outputting the query result.

24. A method for providing an additional time period in a query interface comprising:

identifying a query;

triggering a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classifying, using a processing device, an identified field having a date field type as a date field;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to compute a time period for the classified date field and create a time period field in the query result for storing the computed time period, the computed time period encompassing a broader time period than the classified date field;

triggering an execution of the appended query;

generating, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed time period data and field;

adding the classified date field and computed time period field to a filter menu in the query interface;

designating the computed time period field as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

adding a selectable count function for the computed time period field to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receiving a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

displaying the query interface;

displaying in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

displaying in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

displaying a grouping menu in the interface that includes an option to select at least one of the added fields to the query interface for grouping the query result;

receiving a selection of the at least one field added fields to the query interface for grouping; and

grouping the filtered modified query result according to the received selection before outputting the query result.

25. A method for providing an additional time period in a query interface comprising:

identifying a query;

triggering a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classifying, using a processing device, an identified field having a date field type as a date field;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to compute a time period for the classified date field and create a time period field in the query result for storing the computed time period, the computed time period encompassing a broader time period than the classified date field;

triggering an execution of the appended query;

generating, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed time period data and field;

adding the classified date field and computed time period field to a filter menu in the query interface;

designating the computed time period field as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

adding a selectable count function for the computed time period field to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receiving a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

displaying the query interface;

displaying in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

displaying in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

displaying a limiting menu in the interface that includes an option to limit the query result to a top number N of results, wherein the top number N is selectable by a user;

receiving a selection of the top number N; and

outputting only the top number N of results of the filtered modified query results.

26. A method for providing an additional time period in a query interface comprising:

identifying a query;

triggering a partial execution of the identified query to identify fields in a query result having a date field type;

classifying, using a processing device, an identified field having a date field type as a date field;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to compute a time period for the classified date field and create a time period field in the query result for storing the computed time period, the computed time period encompassing a broader time period than the classified date field;

triggering an execution of the appended query;

generating, from the appended query execution, the query result including the computed time period data and field;

adding the classified date field and computed time period field to a filter menu in the query interface;

designating the computed time period field as selectable in a first dimension menu of the query interface;

adding a selectable count function for the computed time period field to a second dimension menu of the query interface, wherein the count function counts a number of instances of a unique field value;

receiving a selection of at least one field in the first dimension menu and at least one function in the second dimension menu;

appending, using the processing device, the identified query to apply the at least one selected function added in the second dimension menu according to the at least one selected field in the first dimension menu;

displaying the query interface;

displaying in a first dimension of the interface data from the at least one selected field from the first dimension menu;

displaying in a second dimension of the interface a result of applying the selected function in the appended query to data displayed in the first dimension;

receiving a selection of more than one field in the first dimension menu;

displaying an option to select between a stacked chart format and an unstacked chart format;

receiving a selection of the displayed option; and

displaying in the first dimension of the interface data from each selected field from the first dimension menu in the selected chart format.