Recursive filter algorithms on hierarchical data models described for the use by the attribute value derivation

• US 9,875,288 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2014
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Bender, Thorsten
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US14/556,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20160154860A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 715708, 715205, 715700, 715270
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/282 Hierarchical databases, e.g. IMS, LDAP data stores or Lotus Notes

Abstract

A system, a method, and a computer program product for filtering data stored in a hierarchical data model for use by an attribute value derivation are provided. At least one filtering mechanism to filter at least one instruction containing at least one target attribute value corresponding to at least one source attribute value combination stored in a hierarchical data model is provided. The instruction is filtered using the filtering mechanism. A user interface for displaying the hierarchical data model containing the filtered instruction is generated.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing at least one filtering mechanism to filter at least one instruction containing at least one target attribute value derived based on at least one source attribute value combination stored in a hierarchical data model including a plurality of nodes storing data in a plurality of levels, the filtering mechanism uses a predicate function on a data stored in a node in the plurality of nodes and a level of the node in the plurality of nodes to return the at least one target attribute value in accordance with the at least one instruction, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes stores at least one upper level node instruction;

filtering, using the at least one filtering mechanism, the at least one instruction; and

generating a user interface for displaying the hierarchical data model containing the at least one filtered instruction;

wherein the at least one of the providing, the filtering, and the generating is performed using at least one processor of at least one computing system.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one filtering mechanism includes at least one of the following:

a filtering mechanism for displaying at least one directly maintained target attribute value;

a filtering mechanism based on at least one source attribute; and

a filtering mechanism for expanding a tree of source attributes up to a selected source attribute;

wherein the filtering mechanisms are applied using a predetermined sequence.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one filtering mechanism is based on at least one of the following:

a first algorithm for generating a path to retrieve at least one node in the hierarchical data model using a predicate function corresponding to the at least one node, the path containing a plurality of nodes and ending in the at least one node, each node in the plurality of nodes in the generated path having valid predicate functions;

a second algorithm for generating a path to retrieve at least one node in the hierarchical data model using a predicate function corresponding to the at least one node, the path containing a plurality of nodes and ending in the at least one node, at least one node in the plurality of nodes in the generated path having a valid predicate function;

a third algorithm for retrieving at least one node in the hierarchical data model based on a level of the hierarchical data model containing the at least one node; and

any combination thereof.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first algorithm uses at least one of the following:

predicate functions of nodes in the generated path containing the plurality of nodes and ending with the at least one node, and

predicate functions of all nodes on each level of the hierarchical data model, each level containing a node in the generated path;

wherein a node is filtered out when a predicate function of that node has a false value.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the second algorithm returns at least one of the following:

a partial path to the at least one node, the partial path containing a node having a predicate function with a true value, and

a complete path to the at least one node, the complete path containing each node having a predicate function with a true value.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein a path generated using the third algorithm contains nodes located on a plurality of levels in the hierarchical data model, each level, preceding and inclusive of the level containing the at least one node, containing nodes having predicate functions with a true value.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the generated user interface displays at least one of the following:

at least one filtered source attribute, the source attribute value corresponding to the at least one filtered source attribute, the source attribute description corresponding to the at least filtered one source attribute, and at least one filtered target attribute corresponding to the at least one filtered source attribute.

8. A system comprising:

at least one programmable processor; and

a machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising;

providing at least one filtering mechanism to filter at least one instruction containing at least one target attribute value derived based on at least one source attribute value combination stored in a hierarchical data model including a plurality of nodes storing data in a plurality of levels, the filtering mechanism uses a predicate function on a data stored in a node in the plurality of nodes and a level of the node in the plurality of nodes to return the at least one target attribute value in accordance with the at least one instruction, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes stores at least one upper level node instruction;

filtering, using the at least one filtering mechanism, the at least one instruction; and

generating a user interface for displaying the hierarchical data model containing the at least one filtered instruction.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one filtering mechanism includes at least one of the following:

a filtering mechanism for displaying at least one directly maintained target attribute value;

a filtering mechanism based on at least one source attribute; and

a filtering mechanism for expanding a tree of source attributes up to a selected source attribute;

wherein the filtering mechanisms are applied using a predetermined sequence.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one filtering mechanism is based on at least one of the following:

a first algorithm for generating a path to retrieve at least one node in the hierarchical data model using a predicate function corresponding to the at least one node, the path containing a plurality of nodes and ending in the at least one node, each node in the plurality of nodes in the generated path having valid predicate functions;

a second algorithm for generating a path to retrieve at least one node in the hierarchical data model using a predicate function corresponding to the at least one node, the path containing a plurality of nodes and ending in the at least one node, at least one node in the plurality of nodes in the generated path having a valid predicate function;

a third algorithm for retrieving at least one node in the hierarchical data model based on a level of the hierarchical data model containing the at least one node; and

any combination thereof.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the first algorithm uses at least one of the following:

predicate functions of nodes in the generated path containing the plurality of nodes and ending with the at least one node, and

predicate functions of all nodes on each level of the hierarchical data model, each level containing a node in the generated path;

wherein a node is filtered out when a predicate function of that node has a false value.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the second algorithm returns at least one of the following:

a partial path to the at least one node, the partial path containing a node having a predicate function with a true value, and

a complete path to the at least one node, the complete path containing each node having a predicate function with a true value.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein a path generated using the third algorithm contains nodes located on a plurality of levels in the hierarchical data model, each level, preceding and inclusive of the level containing the at least one node, containing nodes having predicate functions with a true value.

14. The system according to claim 8, wherein the generated user interface displays at least one of the following:

at least one filtered source attribute, the source attribute value corresponding to the at least one filtered source attribute, the source attribute description corresponding to the at least filtered one source attribute, and at least one filtered target attribute corresponding to the at least one filtered source attribute.

15. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one programmable processor, cause the at least one programmable processor to perform operations comprising:

providing at least one filtering mechanism to filter at least one instruction containing at least one target attribute value derived based on at least one source attribute value combination stored in a hierarchical data model including a plurality of nodes storing data in a plurality of levels, the filtering mechanism uses a predicate function on a data stored in a node in the plurality of nodes and a level of the node in the plurality of nodes to return the at least one target attribute value in accordance with the at least one instruction, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes stores at least one upper level node instruction;

filtering, using the at least one filtering mechanism, the at least one instruction; and

generating a user interface for displaying the hierarchical data model containing the at least one filtered instruction.

16. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the at least one filtering mechanism includes at least one of the following:

a filtering mechanism for displaying at least one directly maintained target attribute value;

a filtering mechanism based on at least one source attribute; and

a filtering mechanism for expanding a tree of source attributes up to a selected source attribute;

wherein the filtering mechanisms are applied using a predetermined sequence.

17. The computer program product according to claim 15, wherein the at least one filtering mechanism is based on at least one of the following:

a first algorithm for generating a path to retrieve at least one node in the hierarchical data model using a predicate function corresponding to the at least one node, the path containing a plurality of nodes and ending in the at least one node, each node in the plurality of nodes in the generated path having valid predicate functions;

a second algorithm for generating a path to retrieve at least one node in the hierarchical data model using a predicate function corresponding to the at least one node, the path containing a plurality of nodes and ending in the at least one node, at least one node in the plurality of nodes in the generated path having a valid predicate function;

a third algorithm for retrieving at least one node in the hierarchical data model based on a level of the hierarchical data model containing the at least one node; and

any combination thereof

18. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the first algorithm uses at least one of the following:

predicate functions of nodes in the generated path containing the plurality of nodes and ending with the at least one node, and

predicate functions of all nodes on each level of the hierarchical data model, each level containing a node in the generated path;

wherein a node is filtered out when a predicate function of that node has a false value.

19. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein the second algorithm returns at least one of the following:

a partial path to the at least one node, the partial path containing a node having a predicate function with a true value, and

a complete path to the at least one node, the complete path containing each node having a predicate function with a true value.

20. The computer program product according to claim 17, wherein a path generated using the third algorithm contains nodes located on a plurality of levels in the hierarchical data model, each level, preceding and inclusive of the level containing the at least one node, containing nodes having predicate functions with a true value.