Time-sensitive cube
A time-sensitive cube data system is disclosed in which time-sensitive and/or time-series data objects are output in response to a user's operations on a time-sensitive OLAP cube. The time-sensitive and/or time-series data objects output by the time-sensitive cube data system may be displayed to the user in any way that may be advantageous to the user's understanding. The time-series objects output by the time-sensitive cube data system are more helpful than a single snapshot, as a user is able to see data trends over time.
1. A computer system comprising:
one or more computer processors; and
a computer readable storage medium storing program instructions configured for execution by the one or more computer processors to configure the computer system to:
determine a plurality of data objects corresponding to different combinations of values of at least three dimensions of a multidimensional data set; and
generate a graphical user interface that includes a plurality of selectable layers each corresponding to different values of a first dimension of the at least three dimensions of the multidimensional data set, wherein:
at least a first displayed layer of the plurality of selectable layers includes a plurality of two-dimensional graphs, the plurality of two-dimensional graphs based on corresponding data objects associated with a same first value of the first dimension and different combinations of values of at least a second dimension and a third dimension of the at least three dimensions,
the plurality of two-dimensional graphs are spatially positioned in the graphical user interface based on the different combinations of values of at least the second dimension and the third dimension of the at least three dimensions to enable a user to directly compare data represented in the plurality of two-dimensional graphs to view differences in data across the at least three dimensions,
axes of the two-dimensional graphs represent dimensions that are different from any of the at least three dimensions of the multidimensional data set, and
the plurality of selectable layers corresponding to the different values of the first dimension visually overlap one another.
2. The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the program instructions are configured for execution by the one or more computer processors to further configure the computer system to:
receive, via the graphical user interface, a selection of a second layer of the plurality of selectable layers; and
update the graphical user interface to display the second layer including a second plurality of two-dimensional graphs associated with a second value of the dimension.
3. The computer system of claim 2 , wherein:
the two-dimensional graphs comprise respective x-axes and y-axes,
the x-axes of the two-dimensional graphs each have a first common scale and a first common interval,
the y-axes of the two-dimensional graphs each have a second common scale and a second common interval, and
data represented in the respective two-dimensional graphs is shown according to the first common scale and the first common interval of the x-axes and the second common scale and the second common interval of the y-axes.
4. The computer system of claim 3 , wherein:
the plurality of two-dimensional graphs are displayed in a plurality of rows and columns, and
each combination of row and column corresponds to a different respective combination of values of the second and third dimensions of the at least three dimensions.
5. The computer system of claim 4 , wherein the program instructions are configured for execution by the one or more computer processors to further configure the computer system to:
receive, via the graphical user interface, an indication of a new interval;
re-generate the plurality of two-dimensional graphs such that at least one of the first common interval or the second common interval corresponds to the new interval; and
update the graphical user interface to include the re-generated two-dimensional graphs.
6. The computer system of claim 4 , wherein the program instructions are configured for execution by the one or more computer processors to further configure the computer system to:
receive, via the graphical user interface, a mathematical operation;
apply the mathematical operation to the determined data objects;
re-generate the plurality of two-dimensional graphs such that at least one of the x-axis or the y-axis of each of the two-dimensional graphs represents an output of the applied mathematical operation; and
update the graphical user interface to include the re-generated two-dimensional graphs.
7. The computer system of claim 6 , wherein the received mathematical operation includes an indication of a property associated with the determined data objects.
8. The computer system of claim 6 , wherein the received mathematical operation comprises a summation.
9. The computer system of claim 4 , wherein the program instructions are configured for execution by the one or more computer processors to further configure the computer system to:
receive, via the graphical user interface, an indication of a new interval and a mathematical operation;
apply the mathematical operation to the determined data objects;
re-generate the plurality of two-dimensional graphs such that:
at least one of the first common interval or the second common interval corresponds to the new interval; and
at least one of the x-axis or the y-axis of each of the two-dimensional graphs represents an output of the applied mathematical operation; and
update the graphical user interface to include the re-generated two-dimensional graphs.
10. The computer system of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the at least three dimensions is selected by a user via at least one of: a drill up operation, a drill down operation, a roll up operation, a pivot operation, a slice operation, or a dice operation.
11. A computer-implemented method comprising:
by one or more computer processors executing program instructions:
determining a plurality of data objects corresponding to different combinations of values of at least three dimensions of a multidimensional data set; and
generating a graphical user interface that includes a plurality of selectable layers each corresponding to different values of a first dimension of the at least three dimensions of the multidimensional data set, wherein:
at least a first displayed layer of the plurality of selectable layers includes a plurality of two-dimensional graphs, the plurality of two-dimensional graphs based on corresponding data objects associated with a same first value of the first dimension and different combinations of values of at least a second dimension and a third dimension of the at least three dimensions,
the plurality of two-dimensional graphs are spatially positioned in the graphical user interface based on the different combinations of values of at least the second dimension and the third dimension of the at least three dimensions to enable a user to directly compare data represented in the plurality of two-dimensional graphs to view differences in data across the at least three dimensions,
axes of the two-dimensional graphs represent dimensions that are different from any of the at least three dimensions of the multidimensional data set, and
the plurality of selectable layers corresponding to the different values of the first dimension visually overlap one another.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:
by the one or more computer processors executing program instructions:
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a selection of a second layer of the plurality of selectable layers; and
updating the graphical user interface to display the second layer including a second plurality of two-dimensional graphs associated with a second value of the dimension.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein:
the two-dimensional graphs comprise respective x-axes and y-axes,
the x-axes of the two-dimensional graphs each have a first common scale and a first common interval,
the y-axes of the two-dimensional graphs each have a second common scale and a second common interval, and
data represented in the respective two-dimensional graphs is shown according to the first common scale and the first common interval of the x-axes and the second common scale and the second common interval of the y-axes.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13 , wherein:
the plurality of two-dimensional graphs are displayed in a plurality of rows and columns, and
each combination of row and column corresponds to a different respective combination of values of the second and third dimensions of the at least three dimensions.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 further comprising:
by the one or more computer processors executing program instructions:
receiving, via the graphical user interface, an indication of a new interval;
re-generating the plurality of two-dimensional graphs such that at least one of the first common interval or the second common interval corresponds to the new interval; and
updating the graphical user interface to include the re-generated two-dimensional graphs.
16. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 further comprising:
by the one or more computer processors executing program instructions:
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a mathematical operation;
applying the mathematical operation to the determined data objects;
re-generating the plurality of two-dimensional graphs such that at least one of the x-axis or the y-axis of each of the two-dimensional graphs represents an output of the applied mathematical operation; and
updating the graphical user interface to include the re-generated two-dimensional graphs.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein the received mathematical operation includes an indication of a property associated with the determined data objects.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 , wherein the received mathematical operation comprises a summation.
19. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 further comprising:
by the one or more computer processors executing program instructions:
receiving, via the graphical user interface, an indication of a new interval and a mathematical operation;
applying the mathematical operation to the determined data objects;
re-generating the plurality of two-dimensional graphs such that:
at least one of the first common interval or the second common interval corresponds to the new interval; and
at least one of the x-axis or the y-axis of each of the two-dimensional graphs represents an output of the applied mathematical operation; and
updating the graphical user interface to include the re-generated two-dimensional graphs.
20. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the at least three dimensions is selected by a user via at least one of: a drill up operation, a drill down operation, a roll up operation, a pivot operation, a slice operation, or a dice operation.