OLAP User Member Positioning via Auxiliary Calculated Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing OLAP systems limit user flexibility in positioning user-created data members within hierarchies, as they can only be inserted at the end of a parent member, lacking precision in specifying positions relative to siblings, which restricts data analysis and presentation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that allows users to specify the exact position of user-created data members within an OLAP hierarchy using MDX queries, enabling them to be placed before or after other members, and providing a positioning algorithm that reorganizes the hierarchy based on user-defined orders without requiring stateful calculations or post-processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If user-created data members are inserted only at the end of a parent member in existing OLAP systems, then the system structure remains simple and stable, but user flexibility in positioning members is limited and precision in specifying positions relative to siblings is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension for positioning members by allowing specification of position relative to sibling members within a hierarchy, rather than only at the end of parent members. This enables precise positioning at multiple levels of the hierarchy structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the positioning capability into distinct components: parent-member positioning and sibling-member positioning. This allows independent control over where members are placed within the hierarchy, enabling fine-grained positioning without overwhelming system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users can specify arbitrary positions for user-created members, then data analysis and presentation capabilities are enhanced, but processing time and resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary positioning calculations when the MDX query is executed, determining the rank position of anchor members and calculating auxiliary calculated members in advance. This preliminary action enables efficient retrieval and positioning without repeated processing during data analysis operations.
3Ease of operation
If existing OLAP systems use fixed positioning rules for user-created members, then system operation is simple and stable, but user-specified positions cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static positioning system into a dynamic one by allowing the positioning rules to adapt based on user specifications. The system can now dynamically adjust member positions within the hierarchy based on MDX query parameters, enabling both ease of operation and positioning precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the positioning parameter from a fixed rule (always at end of parent) to a variable parameter that can be specified by users through MDX queries. This allows the position to be changed based on user needs while maintaining system stability through structured parameter handling.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and computer program products for positioning user-created data in an Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) database. A method may comprise receiving, at a server and from a client computing device, a query specifying one or more anchor members in a first hierarchy of the database and one or more user-created members to be positioned in the first hierarchy in relation to the anchor members according to a user-specified order, the first hierarchy of the database including members arranged in positions specified by the server; positioning, by the server, the user-created members in the first hierarchy of the database in relation to the anchor members according to the user-specified order, wherein the positioning comprises: determining a rank position for each of the anchor members; creating, for each of the user-created members, an auxiliary calculated member on an ancillary hierarchy, the auxiliary calculated member indicating the respective user-created member and the rank position of the associated anchor member.