Web Intelligence Document as Reusable Data Source
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Web Intelligence (WebI) BI tools, users face a time-consuming and error-prone process of recreating data preparations for ad-hoc queries and analysis in each document, as virtual data sources created are only available inside the document.
Innovation Solution
A Web Intelligence document is transformed into a reusable data source (WaaS) through a compound database platform that combines multiple data sources into a single data source using a data flow merge operation, managed by a WebI report server with an SDK component, allowing secure, automatic, and accurate data access and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If virtual data sources are created inside each document, then data preparation can be performed for ad-hoc queries and analysis, but users must recreate these data preparations in each new document which is time-consuming and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the data preparation logic by generating a WDM (WebI Data Model) that represents the data preparation as a reusable object. This WDM can be copied and reused across multiple documents through the authoring API, eliminating the need to manually recreate data preparations in each document.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the data preparation logic from individual documents and isolates it as a separate WDM object stored in the report repository. This extraction allows the data preparation to be independently managed and reused across multiple documents without being tied to a single document context.
2Adaptability or versatility
If data preparations are recreated in each document, then each document can have customized data preparation, but the process becomes error-prone and inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal WDM object that can serve multiple documents simultaneously. This single data preparation object can be instantiated and used across numerous documents, ensuring that the same validated logic is applied consistently throughout the system while still allowing document-specific configurations through parameters and variables.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the WDM is stored in a report repository and can be version-controlled. When data preparations are updated, the system can track changes and ensure consistency across all documents using that WDM, providing feedback loops for validation and error detection.
3Ease of operation
If multiple data sources are combined into a single data source, then data access is simplified and automated, but system complexity increases requiring SDK components and authoring APIs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a WDM as an intermediary layer between multiple data sources and the final report. This mediator object consolidates access to multiple underlying data sources through a unified interface, simplifying data access for users while the system handles the complexity of coordinating multiple sources behind the scenes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual representation (copy) of the complex multi-source data structure in the WDM object. This copied abstraction simplifies the interface presented to users while maintaining the underlying complexity in the backend system, allowing simple access patterns for common operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A report repository may store report results, and a web intelligence report server may include an SDK component to manage sessions, states, security, and resource access and to receive web intelligence data model authoring information, associated with a document, via an authoring API. The web intelligence report server may further include data sources associated with a plurality of data source types and data access associated with a plurality of data layers. A compound database platform of an in-memory database may create a report result via a data flow merge operation that combines multiple data sources into a single data source, based on the web intelligence data model authoring information, the data sources, and the data access. The report result may be stored in the report repository, and the web intelligence data model may be associated with a Web intelligence document as a data Source (“WaaS”) reusable in other documents.