Providing suggestions based on user context while exploring a dataset

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016371395-A1
Application number	US-201514856979-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 17, 2015
Priority date	Jun 16, 2015
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for generating a plurality of data query suggestions is described. The method includes receiving a textual input in a user interface of a software application implementing a plurality of business processes and determining a query context for the textual input. The method also includes computing a plurality of ranked numerical scores based on the query context in which the ranked numerical scores are computed using information obtained from a plurality of usage metrics associated with the query context and determining, using the plurality of ranked numerical scores, a plurality of candidate data combinations. The method also includes ordering the plurality of candidate data combinations according to the plurality of ranked numerical scores and generating at least one data suggestion using the ordered plurality of candidate data combinations and providing the at least one data suggestion in the user interface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method for generating a plurality of data query suggestions, the method comprising:
receiving, from a user, a textual input in a user interface of a software application implementing a plurality of business processes; determining a query context for the textual input, the query context being determined from the textual input, characteristics of the user, and data that the user is viewing in the software application; computing a plurality of ranked numerical scores based on the query context, the ranked numerical scores being computed using information obtained from a plurality of usage metrics associated with the query context; determining, using the plurality of ranked numerical scores, a plurality of candidate data combinations, the data combinations including a plurality of dimensions and measures compatible with the query context; ordering the plurality of candidate data combinations according to the plurality of ranked numerical scores; and generating at least one data suggestion using the ordered plurality of candidate data combinations and providing the at least one data suggestion in the user interface.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the plurality of candidate data combinations includes modifying the query context by performing actions using a dataset associated with the query context, the actions selected from the group consisting of substituting one dimension for another dimension, adding a dimension, adding a measure, and adding a filter.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ranked numerical scores are used to recommend one or more graphic data visualizations corresponding to the at least one data suggestion.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining a query context associated with the user and data that the user is viewing in the software application includes:
accessing a profile of the user; extracting information from the profile of the user; selecting a subset of the plurality of usage metrics based on the extracted information; and calculating the ranked numerical scores using the subset of usage metrics.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a usage metric of the plurality of usage metrics is a weighted usage metric, a weighting of the weighted usage metric corresponding with the user.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a usage metric of the plurality of usage metrics is attributable to a plurality of users.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of usage metrics includes:
a plurality of element usage metrics; and at least one element pair usage metric.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein a value of a usage metric of the plurality of usage metrics is exponentially decreased over time.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:
incrementing one or more usage metrics of the plurality of usage metrics in correspondence with the textual input.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein incrementing one or more usage metrics includes incrementing one or more usage statistics using a weight corresponding with the user.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ranked numerical scores include a plurality of conditional probabilities.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of ranked numerical scores include a plurality of normalized averages.

13 . A system for building a query for execution on one or more datasets included in a database, the system comprising:
a client computing device implementing a user interface of a software application implementing a plurality of business processes, the user interface being configured to receive, from a user, a textual input; and a suggest query service configured to:
determine a query context for the textual input, the query context being determined from the textual input, characteristics of the user, and data that the user is viewing in the software application;
compute a plurality of ranked numerical scores based on the query context, the ranked numerical scores being computed using information obtained from a plurality of usage metrics associated with the query context;
determine, using the plurality of ranked numerical scores, a plurality of candidate query suggestions, the query suggestions including a plurality of dimensions and measures compatible with the query context;
order the plurality of candidate query suggestions according to the plurality of ranked numerical scores; and
generate at least one query suggestion using the ordered plurality of candidate query suggestions and providing the at least one query suggestion in the user interface.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the suggest query service is included in an enterprise software application.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the suggest query service is further configured to increment one or more usage metrics of the plurality of usage metrics in correspondence with the textual input.

16 . The system of claim 13 , wherein determining a query context associated with the user and data that the user is viewing in the software application includes:
accessing a profile of the user; and extracting information from the profile of the user; selecting a subset of the plurality of usage metrics based on the extracted information; and calculating the ranked numerical scores using the subset of usage metrics.

17 . A non-transitory recordable storage medium having recorded and stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, result in:
receiving, from a user, a textual input in a user interface of a software application implementing a plurality of business processes; determining a query context for the textual input, the query context being determined from the textual input, characteristics of the user, and data that the user is viewing in the software application; computing a plurality of ranked numerical scores based on the query context, the ranked numerical scores being computed using information obtained from a plurality of usage metrics associated with the query context; determining, using the plurality of ranked numerical scores, a plurality of candidate query suggestions, the query suggestions including a plurality of dimensions and measures compatible with the query context; ordering the plurality of candidate query suggestions according to the plurality of ranked numerical scores; and generating at least one query suggestion using the ordered plurality of candidate query suggestions and providing the at least one query suggestion in the user interface.

18 . The non-transitory recordable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein determining the plurality of candidate query suggestions includes modifying the query context by performing actions using a dataset associated with the query context, the actions selected from the group consisting of substituting one dimension for another dimension, adding a dimension, adding a measure, and adding a filter.

19 . The non-transitory recordable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further result in incrementing one or more usage metrics of the plurality of usage metrics in correspondence with the textual input.

20 . The non-transitory recordable storage me

Assignees

• Business Objects Software Ltd

Inventors

• Dumant Bruno
• Le Biannic Yann
• Hamon Olivier

Classifications

• G06F16/90324

  using system suggestions · CPC title

• G06F16/90328 Primary

  using search space presentation or visualization, e.g. category or range presentation and selection · CPC title

• G06F16/24578

  using ranking · CPC title

• G06F16/24575

  using context · CPC title

• G06F16/9038

  Presentation of query results · CPC title