Dynamic Data Gap Filling in Reporting Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current reporting systems face challenges in dynamically categorizing data with changing or unknown characteristics, limiting user flexibility in grouping and aggregating data, and requiring database modifications, which can be costly and impractical, especially when dealing with third-party databases.
Innovation Solution
The reporting system extends Report Definition Language (RDL) by adding new XML-based elements for bucket grouping, allowing users to dynamically categorize data into range, array, and custom group buckets, and fills gaps in data to maintain a consistent report layout, enabling unsophisticated users to define reports regardless of missing values or data changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If users want to dynamically categorize data with changing or unknown characteristics, then user flexibility in grouping and aggregating data is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for extended RDL schema and new grouping mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the reporting system into distinct functional components: the RDL schema layer for data structure definition, the grouping mechanism for data categorization, and the gap-filling mechanism for data completeness. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific aspects of data processing independently, improving flexibility without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary gap-filling mechanism that sits between the data source and the report generation process. This intermediary automatically handles missing data by filling gaps with placeholder values or derived data, allowing users to work with incomplete datasets without modifying the underlying data source, thus improving adaptability while containing complexity within the intermediary layer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If database designers modify queries to define different report groupings, then data grouping flexibility is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease due to the cost and effort required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service capabilities that allow report users to dynamically define and modify data groupings without requiring database designer intervention. Users can specify custom groupings, aggregations, and categorizations directly in the report definition, and the system automatically processes these requests. This transfers the capability from expert users (database designers) to general users, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming database modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic grouping mechanisms that allow report parameters and groupings to be changed at runtime without modifying the underlying database schema or queries. The system dynamically adapts to user-defined groupings by processing data through the extended RDL schema and grouping mechanisms, enabling flexible report customization while maintaining a stable database layer.
3Reliability
If reports include predefined categories for all data intervals, then report completeness is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for gap-filling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining a comprehensive set of categories and intervals in the RDL schema before data processing occurs. The gap-filling mechanism is pre-configured with rules for handling missing data, such as using placeholder values, interpolating from adjacent data points, or aggregating from related sources. This preliminary preparation ensures report consistency without requiring complex runtime decisions about how to handle gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by allowing the gap-filling behavior to be controlled through configurable parameters in the RDL schema. Users can specify different gap-filling strategies (e.g., fill with zero, fill with average, fill with null) by changing parameters rather than modifying the underlying mechanism. This approach maintains report consistency while keeping the gap-filling mechanism simple and configurable.
Data Source
AI summary
A reporting system is described herein that allows a report author to declare data reporting structures that specify to a reporting application how to dynamically categorize data with changing or potentially unknown characteristics. The reporting system may extend RDL and the data grouping provided by Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services by adding new elements to the XML-based RDL schema. The reporting system allows the report author to specify for the system to fill gaps in the data, so that the report has a similar layout even as data changes from period to period. The reporting system also allows the report author to specify whether data that does not fit any predefined group bucket is displayed in a report. Thus, the reporting system allows unsophisticated database users to define reports that group data consistently regardless of missing values or other changes in the underlying data.