Time intelligence for application programs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8966381-B2
Application number	US-78488707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2007
Priority date	Apr 10, 2007
Publication date	Feb 24, 2015
Grant date	Feb 24, 2015

Abstract

Techniques to implement time intelligence for application program are described. An apparatus may include a calendar application module. The calendar application module may be arranged to define and generate a calendar for an application program, the calendar application module to define time members for a time dimension of a multidimensional data model, assign a monotonically increasing unique identifier to each time member, and generate the calendar with time members from the time dimension using the unique identifiers. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
receiving definitions for time members for a time dimension of a multidimensional data model, wherein a time member represents a specific instance of a characteristic of the time dimension;
assigning by a processor a monotonically increasing unique identifier to each time member, wherein an ordering of the unique identifiers of each time member is preserved when an operation is performed on the unique identifiers;
generating a calendar with time members from the time dimension using the unique identifiers, wherein the calendar defines time dimension information for cells of a multidimensional data cube employing the multidimensional data model, and comprises at least one frequency instance and each frequency instance comprises at least one end marker and each end marker corresponds to an end value; and
translating the calendar to a business dimension having at least one business dimension attribute and each business dimension attribute corresponding to a frequency instance, such that an end value of a day frequency instance becomes a business member of the business dimension and an end value of a different frequency instance becomes a value of the business dimension attribute.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:
receiving definitions for a calendar pattern for the time members;
setting an is dirty property, an is new property, and an is extend property to false; and
generating a new value for the business dimension attribute corresponding to a frequency instance, when the is dirty property is true for the frequency instance.

3. The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving definitions for week distribution rules for the calendar.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising adding extra week's for the calendar.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving calendar frequency selections for the calendar.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving naming scheme definitions for frequency members for the calendar.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving calendar view definitions for the calendar in the time dimension.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising generating a calendar with time members from the time dimension using the unique identifiers for a financial application program.

9. An article comprising a computer readable storage memory unit containing instructions that if executed enable a system to:
define time members for a time dimension of a multidimensional data model, wherein a time member represents a specific instance of a characteristic of the time dimension;
assign a monotonically increasing unique identifier to each time member, wherein an ordering of the unique identifiers of each time member is preserved when an operation is performed on the unique identifiers;
generate a calendar for an application program with time members from the time dimension using the unique identifiers, wherein the calendar defines time dimension information for cells of a multidimensional data cube employing the multidimensional data model, and comprises at least one frequency instance and each frequency instance comprises at least one end marker and each end marker corresponds to an end value; and
translate the calendar to a business dimension having at least one business dimension attribute and each business dimension attribute corresponding to a frequency instance, such that an end value of a day frequency instance becomes a business member of the business dimension and an end value of a different frequency instance becomes a value of the business dimension attribute.

10. The article of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to define a calendar pattern for the time members.

11. The article of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to define week distribution rules for the calendar.

12. The article of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to add extra weeks for the calendar.

13. The article of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to select calendar frequencies for the calendar.

14. The article of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to define a naming scheme for frequency members for the calendar.

15. The article of claim 9 , further comprising instructions that if executed enable the system to create calendar views for the calendar in the time dimension.

16. An apparatus comprising a processor and a calendar application module to define and generate a calendar for an application program, the calendar application module to define time members for a time dimension of a multidimensional data model, wherein a time member represents a specific instance of a characteristic of the time dimension, assign, by the processor, a monotonically increasing unique identifier to each time member, wherein an ordering of the unique identifiers of each time member is preserved when an operation is performed on the unique identifiers, generate the calendar with time members from the time dimension using the unique identifiers, wherein the calendar defines time dimension information for cells of a multidimensional data cube employing the multidimensional data model and comprises at least one frequency instance and each frequency instance comprises at least one end marker and each end marker corresponds to an end value, and translate the calendar to a business dimension having at least one business dimension attribute and each business dimension attribute corresponding to a frequency instance, such that an end value of a day frequency instance becomes a business member of the business dimension and an end value of a different frequency instance becomes a value of the business dimension attribute.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , the calendar application module to define a calendar pattern for the time members.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , the calendar application module to select calendar frequencies for the calendar.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 , the calendar application module to define a naming scheme for frequency members for the calendar.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 , the calendar application module to create calendar views for the calendar in the time dimension.

Assignees

• Dong Randy
• Shetty Rohan
• Huang Rou-Peng
• Bull Peter
• Yang Mark
• Microsoft Corp

Inventors

• Dong Randy
• Shetty Rohan
• Huang Rou-Peng
• Bull Peter
• Yang Mark

Classifications

• G06F3/048

  Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI] · CPC title

• G06F3/0481 Primary

  based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance · CPC title

• G06Q10/109 Primary

  Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting · CPC title