PROCESSING OF BUSINESS EVENT DATA TO DETERMINE BUSINESS STATES

1 . A computer program product, the computer program product being tangibly embodied on a computer-readable storage medium and including executable code that, when executed, is configured to cause at least one data processing apparatus to:

obtain business event data for a business, the business event data associated with one or more items for sale by or sold by the business;

determine summary rate data based on the business event data;

compare the summary rate data to one or more business patterns; and

detect a state of the business based on the comparison of the summary rate data to one or more of the business patterns.

2 . The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the executable code causing the data processing apparatus to detect comprises executable code causing the data processing apparatus to detect a state of the business based on a match of the summary rate data to one or more of the business patterns.

3 . The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the executable code causing the data processing apparatus to detect comprises executable code causing the data processing apparatus to detect a change in a state of the business based on a match of the summary rate data to one or more of the business patterns.

4 . The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the executable code causing the data processing apparatus to obtain business event data comprises executable code causing the data processing apparatus to read or receive the business event data for the business from one or more databases.

5 . The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the executable code causing the data processing apparatus to determine comprises executable code causing the data processing apparatus to transform the business event data for the business that describes two or more business events to summary rate data that provides a summary of the business event data to identify a rate or frequency of occurrence for two or more business events over one or more periods of time.

6 . The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the business event data comprises data describing a plurality of business events that occurred for the business, and wherein the summary rate data summarizes the business event data over a period of time.

7 . The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the executable code further causes the data processing apparatus to generate a graphical representation of the summary rate data for display.

8 . The computer program product of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more patterns comprises one or more conditions, and wherein the executable code causing the data processing apparatus to compare the summary rate data to one or more business patterns comprises executable code causing the data processing apparatus to determine whether the summary rate data meets the one or more conditions.

9 . The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the executable code causing the data processing apparatus to determine whether the summary rate data meets the one or more conditions comprises executable code causing the data processing apparatus to determine whether the summary rate data exceeds one or more thresholds.

10 . The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the summary rate data is for a period of time, and the one or more patterns each comprise summary rate data for a previous period of time.

11 . The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the executable code further causes the data processing apparatus to provide one or more recommended business actions in response to the detected state of the business.

12 . The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the executable code further causes the data processing apparatus to perform a business action in response to the detected state of the business.

13 . The computer program product of claim 1 :

wherein the executable code causing the data processing apparatus to detect comprises executable code causing the data processing apparatus to detect a change in a state of the business based on the comparison of the summary rate data to one or more of the business patterns; and

wherein the executable code further causes the data processing apparatus to perform a business action in response to the detected change in a state of the business.

14 . The computer program product of claim 1 and wherein the executable code further causes the data processing apparatus to store in a memory one or more of the business patterns and a business action associated with each business pattern.

15 . The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the executable code further causes the data processing apparatus to:

determine, based on the comparison, that the summary rate data does not meet conditions associated with the one or more business patterns; and

create, in response to the determining and based on the summary rate data, a new business pattern that includes one or more conditions that would be met by the summary rate data; and

store the new business pattern.

16 . A computer implemented method comprising:

obtaining business event data for a business, the business event data associated with one or more items for sale by or sold by the business;

determining summary rate data based on the business event data;

comparing the summary rate data to one or more business patterns; and

detecting a state of the business based on the comparison of the summary rate data to one or more of the business patterns.

17 . The computer implemented method of claim 16 wherein the detecting comprises detecting a state of the business, or a change in the state of the business, based on a match of the summary rate data to one or more of the business patterns.

18 . The computer implemented method of claim 16 wherein the determining comprises transforming the business event data for the business that describes two or more business events to summary rate data that provides a summary of the business event data to identify a rate or frequency of occurrence for two or more business events over one or more periods of time.

19 . The computer implemented method of claim 16 , wherein the one or more patterns comprise one or more conditions or thresholds, and wherein the comparing comprises determine whether the summary rate data meets the one or more conditions or thresholds.

20 . An apparatus comprising:

obtaining logic configured to obtain business event data for a business, the business event data associated with one or more items for sale by or sold by the business;

determining logic configured to determine summary rate data based on the business event data;

comparison logic configured to compare the summary rate data to one or more business patterns; and

detection logic configured to detect a state of the business based on the comparison of the summary rate data to one or more of the business patterns.

21 . The apparatus of claim 20 and further comprising:

graphical generation logic configured to generate a graphical representation of the summary rate data for display; and

business action logic configured to perform a business action related to materials for or manufacturing of one or more of the items for sale in response to the detected state of the business.