System and method for visualizing trace of costs across a graph of financial allocation rules
First Claim
1. A method for tracing costs for a plurality of cost objects with a network device that is operative to perform actions, comprising:
- determining at least one of the plurality of cost objects that are displayed to a user, wherein the determination is based at least in part on a selection of the at least one cost object by the user;
determining a financial allocation model for the plurality of cost objects, wherein a path in the financial allocation model is characterized by a selection of at least a starting point of at least one cost object and an endpoint of at least one other cost object in the financial allocation model,characterizing the other cost objects as one of above, below, and unrelated to the at least one determined cost object;
generating a first traced cost in the financial allocation model if any of the other cost objects are determined to be below the at least one determined cost object;
generating a second traced cost in the financial allocation model if any of the other cost objects are determined to be above the at least one determined cost object; and
displaying a total traced cost for at least one of the other cost objects related to the at least one cost object, wherein the total traced cost includes at least each of the first traced costs and each of the second traced costs.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments are directed towards budgeting and forecasting of information technology and services. In at least one of the various embodiments, financial allocation models may include multiple cost objects and one or more allocation rules. In at least one of the various embodiments, allocation rules may determine how costs associated with cost objects may be allocated to other cost objects. In at least one of the various embodiments, costs corresponding to one or more selected cost objects may be traced within a financial allocation model. Also, costs associated with multiple cost line items from different cost objects may simultaneously traced for efficient cross-referencing of disparate cost line items. Further, in at least one of the various embodiments, a display of the cost traces may be rendered and displayed to provide a visualization of the traced costs.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for tracing costs for a plurality of cost objects with a network device that is operative to perform actions, comprising:
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determining at least one of the plurality of cost objects that are displayed to a user, wherein the determination is based at least in part on a selection of the at least one cost object by the user; determining a financial allocation model for the plurality of cost objects, wherein a path in the financial allocation model is characterized by a selection of at least a starting point of at least one cost object and an endpoint of at least one other cost object in the financial allocation model, characterizing the other cost objects as one of above, below, and unrelated to the at least one determined cost object; generating a first traced cost in the financial allocation model if any of the other cost objects are determined to be below the at least one determined cost object; generating a second traced cost in the financial allocation model if any of the other cost objects are determined to be above the at least one determined cost object; and displaying a total traced cost for at least one of the other cost objects related to the at least one cost object, wherein the total traced cost includes at least each of the first traced costs and each of the second traced costs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system that is operative to trace costs for a plurality of cost objects over a network, comprising:
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a server device, including; a transceiver that is operative to communicate over the network; a memory that is operative to store at least instructions; and a processor device that is operative to execute instructions that enable actions, including; determining at least one of the plurality of cost objects that are displayed to a user, wherein the determination is based at least in part on a selection of the at least one cost object by the user; determining a financial allocation model for the plurality of cost objects, wherein a path in the financial allocation model is characterized by a selection of at least a starting point of at least one cost object and an endpoint of at least one other cost object in the financial allocation model; characterizing the other cost objects as one of above, below, and unrelated to the at least one determined cost object; generating a first traced cost in the financial allocation model if any of the other cost objects are determined to be below the at least one determined cost object; generating a second traced cost in the financial allocation model if any of the other cost objects are determined to be above the at least one determined cost object; and a client device, comprising; a transceiver that is operative to communicate over the network; a memory that is operative to store at least instructions; and a processor device that is operative to execute instructions that enable actions, including displaying a total traced cost for the at least one of the other cost objects related to the at least one cost object, wherein the total traced cost includes at least each of the first traced costs and each of the second traced costs. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A network device that is operative to trace costs for a plurality of cost objects comprising:
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a transceiver that is operative to communicate over a network; a memory that is operative to store at least instructions; and a processor device that is operative to execute instructions that enable actions, including; determining at least one of the plurality of cost objects that are displayed to a user, wherein the determination is based at least in part on a selection of the at least one cost object by the user; determining a financial allocation model for the plurality of cost objects, wherein a path in the financial allocation model is characterized by a selection of at least a starting point of at least one cost object and an endpoint of at least one other cost object in the financial allocation model; characterizing the other cost objects as one of above, below, and unrelated to the at least one determined cost object; generating a first traced cost in the financial allocation model if any of the other cost objects are determined to be below the at least one determined cost object; generating a second traced cost in the financial allocation model if any of the other cost objects are determined to be above the at least one determined cost object; and displaying a total traced cost for at least one of the other cost objects related to the at least one cost object, wherein the total traced cost includes at least each of the first traced costs and each of the second traced costs. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A processor readable non-transitive storage media that includes instructions for tracing costs for a plurality of cost objects, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor device enables actions, comprising:
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determining at least one of the plurality of cost objects that are displayed to a user, wherein the determination is based at least in part on a selection of the at least one cost object by the user; determining a financial allocation model for the plurality of cost objects, wherein a path in the financial allocation model is characterized by a selection of at least a starting point of at least one cost object and an endpoint of at least one other cost object in the financial allocation model; characterizing the other cost objects as one of above, below, and unrelated to the at least one determined cost object; generating a first traced cost in the financial allocation model if any of the other cost objects are determined to be below the at least one determined cost object; generating a second traced cost in the financial allocation model if any of the other cost objects are determined to be above the at least one determined cost object; and displaying a total traced cost for at least one of the other cost objects related to the at least one cost object, wherein the total traced cost includes at least each of the first traced costs and each of the second traced costs. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification