Configurable data analysis using a configuration model

• US 9,721,041 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2015
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Jetter, Stefan, Rooke, Oliver, Lock, Hendrik C. R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US14/601,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20160210373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 707659, 707716, 707769, 707771, 707805, 707810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results

Abstract

The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems, including a method for presenting information. A command is identified from an application, the command associated with a configuration model. The identified command is matched to a step defined within the configuration model, each step in the configuration model associated with a request to a particular backend system, wherein each request is associated with at least one representation, the representation defining a visualization associated with the results returned in response to the request. The requested step is added to an analysis path, the analysis path storing a series of ordered steps performed during execution of the application. The request associated with the added step is executed including sending the request to the particular backend system for execution, and the analysis path is updated. A representation object is generated in response to executing the request.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a command from an application, the command associated with a configuration model;

matching the identified command to a step defined within the configuration model, each step in the configuration model associated with a request to a particular backend system, wherein each request is associated with at least one representation, the representation defining a visualization associated with the results returned in response to the request;

adding the requested step to an analysis path, the analysis path storing a series of ordered steps performed during execution of the application;

executing the request associated with the added step including sending the request to the particular backend system for execution, and updating the analysis path; and

generating a representation object in response to executing the request.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to identifying an initial command from the application, creating an empty analysis path and setting an initial context.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to executing the request associated with the added step, executing requests associated with each of the preceding steps in the analysis path.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein executing each of the preceding steps in the analysis comprises executing the preceding steps in order from the first step in the path to the added step.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more steps in the analysis path include one or more filters determined by the representation object, and wherein the method further comprises, prior to executing the request, retrieving a filter from the representation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein added steps are executed using filters associated with preceding steps in the analysis path.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to move a particular step to a new location in the analysis path;

updating the order of the analytical path based on the request to move the particular step; and

re-executing the requests associated with each step in order beginning with the first step in the analysis path.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration model defines a plurality of step prototypes, each step prototype defining a binding between a request and at least one representation.

9. A system comprising:

memory storing;

at least one configuration model defining a plurality of steps, each step associated with at least one backend request to a backend system and each step further associated with at least one representation corresponding to each backend request, the representation defining a visualization associated with the backend request; and

a runtime data model comprising a runtime object defining an analysis path associated with at least one step from the configuration model and the execution of an application;

an application for;

receiving information associated with representations corresponding to steps in the configuration model;

displaying representations and information for the configuration model in a user interface;

receiving user inputs through the user interface relative to the representations and user selections associated with the configuration model; and

sending user requests, each user request associated with a step from a particular configuration; and

an analytical processor for;

receiving user requests identifying a command from an application, the command associated with the configuration model, the command associated with adding, moving, removing or updating a particular step;

matching the identified command to a step defined within the configuration model;

adding the requested step in an analysis path, the analysis path storing a series of ordered steps performed during execution of the application, and updating the analysis path;

providing the backend request associated with the requested step to the particular backend system for execution;

generating a representation object in response to executing the backend request, the representation object for use in updating the visualization; and

sending the representation object to the application.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the analytical processor, prior to providing the backend request associated with the added step to the particular backend system for execution, executes requests associated with each of the preceding steps in the analysis path.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein one or more steps in the analysis path include one or more filters.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein steps are executed using filters associated with preceding steps in the analysis path.

13. The system of claim 9, the analytical processor further performing:

receiving a request to move or remove a particular step in the analysis path;

updating the order of the analytical path based on the request; and

re-executing the requests associated with each step in order beginning with the first step in the analysis path.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the configuration model defines a plurality of step prototypes, each step prototype defining a binding between a request and at least one representation, the binding defining required filter properties, and the representation, when requested, converts any user interface selection into a filter expressed over the required filter properties.

15. A computer-readable media, the computer-readable media comprising computer-readable instructions embodied on tangible, non-transitory media, the instructions operable when executed by at least one computer to:

identify a command from an application, the command associated with a configuration model;

match the identified command to a step defined within the configuration model, each step in the configuration model associated with a request to a particular backend system, wherein each request is associated with at least one representation, the representation defining a visualization associated with the results returned in response to the request;

add the requested step to an analysis path, the analysis path storing a series of ordered steps performed during execution of the application;

execute the request associated with the added step including sending the request to the particular backend system for execution; and

generate a representation object in response to executing the request.

16. The computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the instructions further include instructions for, prior to executing the request associated with the added step, executing requests associated with each of the preceding steps in the analysis path.

17. The computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein one or more steps in the analysis path include one or more filters.

18. The computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein added steps are executed using filters associated with preceding steps in the analysis path.

19. The computer-readable media of claim 15, the wherein the instructions further include instructions for:

receiving a request to move a particular step to a new location in the analysis path;

updating the order of the analytical path based on the request to move the particular step; and

re-executing the requests associated with each step in order beginning with the first step in the analysis path.

20. The computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the configuration model defines a plurality of step prototypes, each step prototype defining a binding between a request and at least one representation.