System and method for analytically modeling data organized according to non-referred attributes

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,275,022
App. No.: 10/199,612
Granted: Sep 25, 2007
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A system and method for analytically modeling data organized according to non-referred attributes is disclosed. Data stored in a first and a second relational data table is analytically modeled in a data cube. The first table organizes a first type according to a first attribute. The second table organizes a second type according to the first attribute and a second attribute. A first measure is modeled according to the first type of the first table. A first dimension is modeled according to the first attribute of the first and second tables. A second dimension is modeled according to the second attribute of the second table. The first measure is tied to the first dimension according to the first attribute of the first table to allow the first measure to be analyzed by the first dimension according to the first attribute. The first measure is tied to the second dimension by, for each entry of the first dimension, allocating the entry to each entry of the second dimension in a predetermined manner.

Claims (53)

1. A method implemented at least in part by a computer, the method in combination with first and second tables of data, the first table organizing a first type according to a first attribute and a second attribute, and a second table organizing a second type according to the first attribute, the method comprising:

modeling a measure according to the second type of the second table;

modeling a first dimension according to the first attribute of the first and second tables;

modeling a second dimension according to the second attribute of the first table;

tying the measure to the first dimension according to the first attribute of the second table to allow the measure to access data for the first dimension according to the first attribute;

tying the measure to the second dimension by, for each entry of the first dimension, allocating a value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension by:

identifying each row in the first table within which a value of the first attribute matches a value of the entry of the first dimension, the first table including no data for the measure;

identifying a value of the second attribute within each identified row in the first table;

identifying each entry in the second dimension for which a value of the entry of the second dimension matches an identified value of the second attribute; and

allocating at least a portion of the value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to at least one of each identified entry of the second dimension; and

generating and displaying a data cube that comprises the measure and the first and second dimensions, the data cube being used for analytically modeling data from at least the first and second tables.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising modeling the measure according to the second type of the second table, the second table comprising data stored in a relational database.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising allocating a complete portion of the value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to every identified entry of the second dimension.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising allocating less than a complete portion of the value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to each identified entry of the second dimension.

5. The method of claim 4 , comprising allocating an even portion of the value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to each identified entry of the second dimension.

6. The method of claim 4 , comprising allocating a proportional portion of the value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to each identified entry of the second dimension.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising allocating a total value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to a pre-determined principal identified entry of the second dimension.

8. A computer readable medium having stored thereon computer readable instructions in combination with first and second tables of data, the first table organizing a first type according to a first attribute and a second attribute, and a second table organizing a second type according to the first attribute, the computer readable instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the following steps:

modeling a measure according to the second type of the second table;

modeling a first dimension according to the first attribute of the first and second tables;

modeling a second dimension according to the second attribute of the first table;

tying the measure to the first dimension according to the first attribute of the second table to allow the measure to access data for the first dimension according to the first attribute; and

tying the measure to the second dimension by, for each entry of the first dimension, allocating a value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension by:

identifying each row in the first table within which a value of the first attribute matches a value of the entry of the first dimension, the first table including no data for the measure;

identifying a value of the second attribute within each identified row in the first table;

identifying each entry in the second dimension for which a value of the entry of the second dimension matches an identified value of the second attribute;

allocating at least a portion of the value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to at least one of each identified entry of the second dimension; and

9. The computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform the step of modeling the measure according to the second type of the second table, the second table comprising data stored in a relational database.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform the step of allocating a complete portion of the value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to every identified entry of the second dimension.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform the step of allocating less than a complete portion of the value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to each identified entry of the second dimension.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform the step of allocating an even portion of the value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to each identified entry of the second dimension.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform the step of allocating a proportional portion of the value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to each identified entry of the second dimension.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to perform the step of allocating a total value of the measure for the entry of the first dimension to a pre-determined principal identified entry of the second dimension.

15. A system in combination with first and second tables of data, the first table organizing a first type according to a first attribute and a second attribute, and a second table organizing a second type according to the first attribute, the system comprising:

a processor operative to execute computer executable instructions; and

memory having stored therein computer executable instructions for performing the following steps: