Graphical user interface for relational database

• US 20020035565A1
• Filed: 04/27/2001
• Published: 03/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hyperion Solutions Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Novy, Robert F., Shah, Arun, Ertl, Robert A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,748,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Disclosed is a system, method, and apparatus for calculating metrics by using hierarchical level metadata to describe the various structures within the database. The hierarchical level metadata permit calculation of complex metrics by an analytical server which would otherwise be difficult or impossible. As a result of the way that the analytical server calculates the metrics, slicing and drilling are supported. Additionally, dimension and fact level security are also supported.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface for displaying metrics, said graphical user interface comprising:

a hierarchical listing of a plurality of dimensions for selection of one or more levels and one or more constraints for the plurality of dimensions;

a metric selector for selection of a metric; and

a button for transmitting a query, wherein said query requests calculations of the metric with the one or more levels and one or more constraints.

2. The graphical user interface of claim 1, further comprising:

a results page for displaying calculations of the metric.

3. The graphical user interface of claim 2, wherein the results page further comprises:

a plurality of columns, wherein each of the plurality of columns is associated with a particular metric.

4. The graphical user interface of claim 3, wherein the results page further comprises:

a plurality of rows, wherein each of the plurality of rows is associated with values associated with a particular level of a second dimension.

5. The graphical user interface of claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of columns comprises a graph displaying the calculated metric for the levels and the constraint and a corresponding one of the values.

6. A computer system for providing metrics, said computer system comprising:

an application programming interface for generating a graphical user interface for displaying metrics, said graphical user interface comprising;

a hierarchical listing of a plurality of dimensions for selection of one or more levels and one or more constraints for the plurality of dimensions;

a metric selector for selection of a metric; and

a button for transmitting a query, wherein said query requests calculations of the metric with the one or more levels and one or more constraints.

7. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising:

a client computer for displaying the graphical user interface.

8. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising:

an analytical server for calculating the metric.