OLAP Multiplicity Representation via Segmented Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

OLAP systems face limitations in accurately representing and analyzing data with multiplicities, such as multiple predecessor documents for a single successor document, due to their requirement for single-valued attributes, which can lead to inaccurate analytics reporting.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for representing multiplicities in an OLAP system by configuring an extraction system to extract specific information indicating sub-object and predecessor relations between objects, allowing for the accurate representation and analysis of multiplicities through an extraction process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If OLAP systems store data in a format requiring single-valued attributes, then storage efficiency and analytical processing are improved, but the ability to represent multiplicities (multiple predecessor documents for a single successor document) deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanalytical processing efficiencyVSAvoidmultiplicity information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the single successor document record into multiple records, each associated with one predecessor document. Instead of storing multiple predecessors in a single record (which would violate single-valued attribute constraints), the system creates separate records for each predecessor-successor relationship, allowing the OLAP system to maintain its single-valued attribute requirement while preserving multiplicity information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an additional dimensional structure to represent multiplicities. By creating a many-to-many relationship structure through intermediate dimensions (predecessor document dimension and successor document dimension), the system能够在保持单值属性约束的同时表达多重性关系。

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If OLAP systems enforce single-valued fields, then data integrity and query performance are improved, but accurate representation of document flow multiplicities deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidmultiplicity representation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces intermediary dimension structures that mediate between predecessor documents and successor documents. These intermediary dimensions act as bridges, allowing the system to enforce single-valued attributes in each individual record while collectively representing many-to-many relationships across the dataset, thus maintaining both data integrity and multiplicity representation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If traditional extraction processes are used without specific configuration for multiplicities, then extraction simplicity is maintained, but accuracy of predecessor relationship representation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction process simplicityVSAvoidpredecessor relationship accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by configuring the extraction process beforehand to specifically identify and separate predecessor document relationships. The extraction system is pre-configured with rules to recognize document flow multiplicities and structure the extracted data accordingly, ensuring accurate representation from the outset while maintaining a relatively simple extraction process through automated rule-based configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8983895B2Representation of multiplicities for Docflow reporting
Publication Date: 2015.03.17 SAP SE
  • US8983895B2 patent drawing
  • US8983895B2 patent drawing
  • US8983895B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and system for representing and deducing a multiplicity of predecessor relationships between a plurality of first objects and a second object in an OLAP system comprises configuring an extraction system to extract information for a plurality of sub-objects of the first and second objects and using the extracted information to deduce predecessor relationships between the first objects and the second object.