Version control for resource allocation modeling

• US 9,384,511 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2015
• Issued: 07/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: Apptio Inc (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: Purpus, Eric Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Cheryl
• Application Number:
  US14/971,944
• Time in Patent Office: 202 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2358 Change logging, detection, and notification replication G06F16/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/067 Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

Embodiments are directed towards managing data models using version control for resource allocation modelling. A main data model that includes change records, resource values, model objects, or the like, may be provided. Also, user workspaces associated with the main data model may be provided. The user workspaces may include a workspace data model that is based on the main data model and its change records. Model objects that may be part of the user workspace may be modified by a user where each modification made by the user may be employed to provide workspace change records. If a user finishes modifying the workspace data model, the one or more workspace change records may be used to execute the merge of the modified model objects with the main data model.

Claims

1. A method for managing data models using a network computer that employs one or more processors to execute instructions that perform actions, comprising:

providing a main data model that at least includes a change journal having a plurality of change records that store data modifications, one or more resource values, and one or more model objects, wherein the change records include an identifier (ID), a timestamp, a status, and a description;

providing one or more user workspaces that are associated with the main data model, wherein the one or more user workspaces provide a workspace data model based on the main data model and one or more of the plurality of change records;

providing one or more model objects that are both included with the one or more user workspaces and modified by a user, wherein each modification by the user to the one or more modified model objects is employed to provide one or more workspace change records; and

when the user selects merging of the one or more user workspaces with the main data model, employing the one or more workspace change records to execute the merge of the one or more modified model objects with the main data model.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, providing the workspace data model by executing the portion of the plurality of change records to perform actions in the user workspace.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, referencing the one or more resource values from the workspace data model, wherein the workspace data model references a version of the one or more resource values based on when the user workspace is provided.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing one or more workspace resource values based on the one or more modified model objects; and

storing the one or more workspace resource values separately from the main data model.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing one or more change records from the main data model, wherein the one or more change records are newer than the one or more of the plurality of change records for the workspace data model; and

modifying the workspace data model based on the one or more change records for the main data model.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein merging the main data model, further comprises:

modifying the one or more model objects in the merged main data model; and

including one or more new change records with the merged data model, wherein the one or more new change records correspond to the one or more workspace change records.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

caching at least a portion of the one or more resource values in the user workspace when network communication is unavailable; and

providing the cached at least portion of the one or more resource values when network communication is available.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the main data model further includes, one or more allocation rules that allocate one or more resources within the main data model.

9. A system for managing data models, comprising:

a network computer, comprising;

a transceiver that communicates over the network;

a memory that stores at least instructions; and

a processor device that executes instructions that perform actions, including;

providing a main data model that at least includes a change journal having a plurality of change records that store data modifications, one or more resource values, and one or more model objects, wherein the change records include an identifier (ID), a timestamp, a status, and a description;

providing one or more user workspaces that are associated with the main data model, wherein the one or more user workspaces provide a workspace data model based on the main data model and one or more of the plurality of change records;

providing one or more model objects that are both included with the one or more user workspaces and modified by a user, wherein each modification by the user to the one or more modified model objects is employed to provide one or more workspace change records; and

when the user selects merging of the one or more user workspaces with the main data model, employing the one or more workspace change records to execute the merge of the one or more modified model objects with the main data model; and

a client computer, comprising;

a transceiver that communicates over the network;

a memory that stores at least instructions; and

a processor device that executes instructions that perform actions, including;

providing the user-interface to a user; and

providing one or more user interactions to the network computer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the network computer processor device executes instructions that perform actions, further comprising, providing the workspace data model by executing the portion of the plurality of change records to perform actions in the user workspace.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the network computer processor device executes instructions that perform actions, further comprising, referencing the one or more resource values from the workspace data model, wherein the workspace data model references a version of the one or more resource values based on when the user workspace is provided.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the network computer processor device executes instructions that perform actions, further comprising:

providing one or more workspace resource values based on the one or more modified model objects; and

storing the one or more workspace resource values separately from the main data model.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the network computer processor device executes instructions that perform actions, further comprising:

providing one or more change records from the main data model, wherein the one or more change records are newer than the one or more of the plurality of change records for the workspace data model; and

modifying the workspace data model based on the one or more change records for the main data model.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein merging the main data model, further comprises:

modifying the one or more model objects in the merged main data model; and

including one or more new change records with the merged data model, wherein the one or more new change records correspond to the one or more workspace change records.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

caching at least a portion of the one or more resource values in the user workspace when network communication is unavailable; and

providing the cached at least portion of the one or more resource values when network communication is available.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the main data model further includes, one or more allocation rules that allocate one or more resources within the main data model.

17. A processor readable non-transitory storage media that includes instructions for managing data models, wherein execution of the instructions by a hardware processor performs actions, comprising:

providing a main data model that at least includes a change journal having a plurality of change records that store data modifications, one or more resource values, and one or more model objects, wherein the change records include an identifier (ID), a timestamp, a status, and a description;

providing one or more user workspaces that are associated with the main data model, wherein the one or more user workspaces provide a workspace data model based on the main data model and one or more of the plurality of change records;

providing one or more model objects that are both included with the one or more user workspaces and modified by a user, wherein each modification by the user to the one or more modified model objects is employed to provide one or more workspace change records; and

when the user selects merging of the one or more user workspaces with the main data model, employing the one or more workspace change records to execute the merge of the one or more modified model objects with the main data model.

18. The media of claim 17, further comprising, providing the workspace data model by executing the portion of the plurality of change records to perform actions in the user workspace.

19. The media of claim 17, further comprising, referencing the one or more resource values from the workspace data model, wherein the workspace data model references a version of the one or more resource values based on when the user workspace is provided.

20. The media of claim 17, further comprising:

providing one or more workspace resource values based on the one or more modified model objects; and

storing the one or more workspace resource values separately from the main data model.

21. The media of claim 17, further comprising:

providing one or more change records from the main data model, wherein the one or more change records are newer than the one or more of the plurality of change records for the workspace data model; and

modifying the workspace data model based on the one or more change records for the main data model.

22. The media of claim 17, wherein merging the main data model, further comprises:

modifying the one or more model objects in the merged main data model; and

including one or more new change records with the merged data model, wherein the one or more new change records correspond to the one or more workspace change records.

23. The media of claim 17, further comprising:

caching at least a portion of the one or more resource values in the user workspace when network communication is unavailable; and

providing the cached at least portion of the one or more resource values when network communication is available.

24. A network computer for managing data models, comprising:

a transceiver that communicates over the network;

a memory that stores at least instructions; and

a processor device that executes instructions that perform actions, including;

providing a main data model that at least includes a change journal having a plurality of change records that store data modifications, one or more resource values, and one or more model objects, wherein the change records include an identifier (ID), a timestamp, a status, and a description;

providing one or more user workspaces that are associated with the main data model, wherein the one or more user workspaces provide a workspace data model based on the main data model and one or more of the plurality of change records;

providing one or more model objects that are both included with the one or more user workspaces and modified by a user, wherein each modification by the user to the one or more modified model objects is employed to provide one or more workspace change records; and

when the user selects merging of the one or more user workspaces with the main data model, employing the one or more workspace change records to execute the merge of the one or more modified model objects with the main data model.

25. The network computer of claim 24, further comprising, providing the workspace data model by executing the portion of the plurality of change records to perform actions in the user workspace.

26. The network computer of claim 24, further comprising, referencing the one or more resource values from the workspace data model, wherein the workspace data model references a version of the one or more resource values based on when the user workspace is provided.

27. The network computer of claim 24, further comprising:

providing one or more workspace resource values based on the one or more modified model objects; and

storing the one or more workspace resource values separately from the main data model.

28. The network computer of claim 24, further comprising:

providing one or more change records from the main data model, wherein the one or more change records are newer than the one or more of the plurality of change records for the workspace data model; and

modifying the workspace data model based on the one or more change records for the main data model.

29. The network computer of claim 24, wherein merging the main data model, further comprises:

modifying the one or more model objects in the merged main data model; and

including one or more new change records with the merged data model, wherein the one or more new change records correspond to the one or more workspace change records.

30. The network computer of claim 24, further comprising:

caching at least a portion of the one or more resource values in the user workspace when network communication is unavailable; and

providing the cached at least portion of the one or more resource values when network communication is available.