Apparatus and method for receiving a report

1. A method of receiving a report at a computer comprising:

submitting, by at least one data processor, a search query to a set of reports, wherein each report includes information automatically retrieved from a data source, where the information is structured in accordance with a report schema that specifies the form in which the information should be presented, wherein submitting produces report search results identifying individual reports corresponding to the search query;

generating, by at least one data processor, a proposed abstract query by:

extracting data model object information for data model objects in at least one semantic abstraction to define a first set of indexed fields including a data model object name, a data model object identifier and a semantic abstraction identifier;

extracting report data values from data model objects in report data results to define a second set of indexed fields including a report data value and a data model object name associated with a data model object name in the first set of indexed fields;

applying search terms in the search query against the first and second sets of indexed fields;

retrieving a first list of search query results with matching data model objects and corresponding semantic abstractions;

retrieving a second list of search query results with matching report data values and corresponding data model objects and semantic abstractions; and

generating a proposed abstract query with a semantic abstraction from the first list and at least one matching data model object of the semantic abstraction;

receiving, by at least one data processor, the proposed abstract query and the report search results;

accepting, via a graphical user interface by at least one data processor, a user-generated choice between submitting the proposed abstract query to generate a new report and designating an existing report from the report search results; and

receiving, by at least one data processor, either the new report or an existing report according to the choice.

2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the search query comprises a text search query with at least one search term.

3. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising rendering, in a graphical user interface, graphical elements providing options to add or remove a data model object from the proposed abstract query, and to add or remove a query filter from the proposed abstract query.

4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the proposed abstract query is a business intelligence query.

5. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing executable instructions to:

submit a search query to a set of reports, wherein each report includes information automatically retrieved from a data source, where the information is structured in accordance with a report schema that specifies the form in which the information should be presented, wherein submitting produces report search results identifying individual reports corresponding to the search query;

generate a proposed abstract query by:

extracting data model object information for data model objects in at least one semantic abstraction to define a first set of indexed fields including a data model object name, a data model object identifier and a semantic abstraction identifier;

extracting report data values from data model objects in report data results to define a second set of indexed fields including a report data value and a data model object name associated with a data model object name in the first set of indexed fields;

applying search terms in the search query against the first and second sets of indexed fields;

retrieving a first list of search query results with matching data model objects and corresponding semantic abstractions;

retrieving a second list of search query results with matching report data values and corresponding data model objects and semantic abstractions; and

generating a proposed abstract query with a semantic abstraction from the first list and at least one matching data model object of the semantic abstraction;

receive the proposed abstract query and the report search results;

accepting, via a graphical user interface, a user-generated choice between submitting the proposed abstract query to generate a new report and designating an existing report from the report search results; and

receiving either the new report or an existing report according to the choice.

6. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 5 , wherein the search query comprises a text search query with at least one search term.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 5 further comprising executable instructions to:

render, in a graphical user interface, graphical elements providing options to add or remove a data model object from the proposed abstract query, and to add or remove a query filter from the proposed abstract query.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 5 , wherein the proposed abstract query is a business intelligence query.

9. A system comprising:

at least one data processor;

memory storing executable instructions, which when executed, cause the at least one data processor to:

submit a search query to a set of reports, wherein each report includes information automatically retrieved from a data source, where the information is structured in accordance with a report schema that specifies the form in which the information should be presented, wherein submitting produces report search results identifying individual reports corresponding to the search query;

generate a proposed abstract query by:

extracting data model object information for data model objects in at least one semantic abstraction to define a first set of indexed fields including a data model object name, a data model object identifier and a semantic abstraction identifier;

extracting report data values from data model objects in report data results to define a second set of indexed fields including a report data value and a data model object name associated with a data model object name in the first set of indexed fields;

applying search terms in the search query against the first and second sets of indexed fields;

retrieving a first list of search query results with matching data model objects and corresponding semantic abstractions;

retrieving a second list of search query results with matching report data values and corresponding data model objects and semantic abstractions; and

generating a proposed abstract query with a semantic abstraction from the first list and at least one matching data model object of the semantic abstraction;

receive the proposed abstract query and the report search results;

accept, via a graphical user interface, a user-generated choice between submitting the proposed abstract query to generate a new report and designating an existing report from the report search results; and

receive either the new report or an existing report according to the choice.

10. A system as in claim 9 , wherein the search query comprises a text search query with at least one search term.

11. A system as in claim 9 , wherein the executable instructions, which when executed, further cause the at least one data processor to:

render, in a graphical user interface, graphical elements providing options to add or remove a data model object from the proposed abstract query, and to add or remove a query filter from the proposed abstract query.

12. A system as in claim 9 , wherein the proposed abstract query is a business intelligence query.