Drill-through Lens for Real-time Report Context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drill-through techniques in Business Intelligence reports require users to select data before navigating to target reports, which can disrupt the context and layout, and do not allow for real-time, transparent display of target reports within the source report window.
Innovation Solution
A drill-through lens tool that provides a floating, transparent window allowing users to hover over data in the source document to select and view further details from a target document without leaving the source report context, using configurable parameters and URLs to render target reports in real-time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional drill-through technique is used to navigate from source report to target report, then data can be selected and target report can be accessed, but the layout and context of the source report are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The drill-through functionality is segmented into a separate floating lens window that overlays the source report. This allows the target report to be accessed without disrupting the source report's layout, as the lens window operates as an independent overlay layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The target report is nested within the lens window overlay, which itself is overlaid on the source report. This nested structure enables the target report to be viewed within the context of the source report without replacing or disrupting the source report's layout.
2Productivity
If conventional drill-through technique is used, then target report can be accessed, but real-time transparent display of target report within source report window is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The lens window is made dynamic by allowing it to float and reposition over different data elements in the source report. The window automatically updates its content based on the hovered data, enabling real-time interaction without requiring complex manual navigation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens window serves as an intermediary between the source report and target report. It provides a transparent overlay that displays target report content while maintaining the source report context, enabling real-time data investigation without direct disruption to either report.
3Ease of operation
If user must select data before navigating to target report, then navigation can be triggered, but seamless investigation without selection is not enabled
Solution Approach 1:
The lens window is pre-configured with drill-through parameters and target report mappings. When the user positions the lens over data, the system automatically retrieves and displays the corresponding target report content without requiring explicit selection or additional navigation steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens window automatically detects the hovered data element and triggers the appropriate drill-through action without requiring user selection. The system self-updates the lens content based on the user's position, enabling seamless investigation through passive hovering.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are techniques for providing drill-through information. User input of locations of one or more target documents and values of parameters for those one or more target documents is received. A user is allowed to move a drill-through lens window across a source document, wherein the drill-through lens window displays a floating, transparent target document. In response to the drill-through lens window floating over the data in the source document, in real time: the data is selected in the source document, the selected data is identified as a parameter for a target document, the parameter is used to obtain further details from the target document, and the drill-through lens window is displayed showing the further details.