Business Intelligence Report Value Traceability via Computation Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Business Intelligence tools lack the ability to intuitively understand and visualize the semantics of complex report data, making it difficult for users to trace the origin and computation of report values, especially in complex reports with multiple data sources and nested elements.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a computer-readable medium with executable instructions that analyze report values by identifying formulas, determining formal and actual parameters, and displaying dimension values, allowing users to understand the computation context and origin of report values, even in complex reports with multiple data sources and nested elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex ad-hoc reports are built with multiple data sources and nested elements, then the reporting capability and flexibility are improved, but the difficulty of understanding data semantics and computation context increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex computation process into discrete, traceable components by introducing computation nodes that represent individual operations. Each node captures specific computation details (formula, parameters, data sources) separately, allowing users to navigate and understand complex reports through structured breakdown rather than viewing them as monolithic black boxes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces computation nodes as intermediary elements between raw data and final report outputs. These nodes serve as mediators that store and expose computation context, formulas, and parameter mappings, enabling users to trace data flow and understand semantics without directly analyzing complex nested report structures.
2Reliability
If report values are computed from complex expressions with multiple parameters, then the analytical power is improved, but the ability to trace computation origin and debug errors worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-computing and storing computation context information in computation nodes before reports are finalized. Each node captures formulas, parameters, and data source mappings in advance, creating an audit trail that enables efficient debugging and error tracing without requiring re-computation or manual analysis of complex expressions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms by providing users with traceable computation paths from report values back to their source data and formulas. This feedback loop allows users to verify computation correctness, understand parameter influences, and debug errors by following the computed path through stored node information rather than manually tracing complex expressions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If declarative self-sufficient report values are used instead of address-based references, then the report adaptability is improved, but the ability to trace individual value computations worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates copies of computation context information in computation nodes that are independent of report structure or cell addresses. Instead of relying on address-based references that break when reports are modified, the system stores self-contained computation descriptions (formulas, parameters, data sources) that remain valid and traceable regardless of report layout changes or value relocation.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer readable medium with executable instructions to analyze a report value, includes executable instructions to select a report value and identify the formula evaluated to produce the report value. Formal parameters associated with the formula are determined. The actual parameters used to compute the report value are located. The formula, the formal parameters and the actual parameters are then displayed.