Abstract:
Method of producing a narrative analytical report. The system analyzes information which has been input to a database and, using predetermined phrases intermingled with extracts from the database, produces a narrative analytical report which describes the critical aspects of the database. The system also produces a listing of questions on those aspects of the database which require explanation of clarification. In the final output, the user&#39;s responses to the questions are integrated into the appropriate areas of the analytical report.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It should initially be noted that the method has applications beyond the banking industry, however, for purposes of explanation the banking industry will be utilized as an example. 
     The process by which banks reach decisions to extend credit to commercial concerns varies in format but is generally universal in approach. The first step is to &#34;spread&#34; the company&#39;s financial statements. This is a standard banking term which involves transferring and summarizing the company&#39;s balance sheet, income statement and other financial information to a standardized &#34;spread&#34; form, from which ratios and other analytical information are calculated. The concept of spreading financial statements as a basis for financial analysis probably originated at the same time that banks and other financial institutions began analyzing the financial statements of their customers for credit purposes, underwriting of stock or other needs. While the spread forms varied in form by institution, they essentially provided the same information needed to reach the intended decision. Although computerized banking spread programs began to appear in the 1960&#39;s and are used more and more, many of the banks in the United States continue to do this by hand. The advent and growth of the personal computer (PC) has accelerated the use of generic mass-market spread-sheet programs (such as Lotus 1-2-3®. This growth has in turn, fostered the increase in PC based banking spread programs. The primary benefit to these specialized banking programs is to speed the spreading process by automating all of the various calculations needed to be made. 
     After completing the spread, the next step in reaching a credit decision is to prepare a written analysis of the key financial highlights and trends extracted from the spread to form the financial basis for a credit decision. This is prepared manually by either an analyst or the loan officer and usually requires several hours of time to review the spread, select the key analytical points to be covered in the analysis, develop questions to ask the management of the company to explain or clarify necessary items, then actually write the report. Subsequently, the report will normally be typed, rereviewed by the writer for additions or corrections and retyped as necessary. These reports vary in format and length depending on the policy of the institution, however, the key credit analysis topics reviewed in making a credit decision are largely universal. 
     Some of the potential shortfalls of this manual process include the overlooking of important analytical points especially by a less experienced individual and errors in figures by the analyst or the typist which are not caught by the individual reviewing the analysis who makes the final decision to make the loan. Since a majority of loans made by commercial banks are not secured by collateral and are primarily based on the analysis of financial statement trends, it is important that all key financial topics be covered accurately in the analysis. 
     Accordingly, for banking purposes, it would be desirable to have a computerized system which not only provides a format to spread financial statements, but would provide an automated credit analysis report which consistently examines the key analytical topics and makes comments on the financial health and performance of a company. It would further be desirable to have questions recommended to help the individual to fully understand the company&#39;s financial situation. The analytical comments and questions would be geared to the financial situation of the particular company and would arise from the examination of a standardized financial database, the spread. 
     For the purposes of other financial (or statistical) applications, it would be desirable to have a computerized system which could create a complex narrative analytical report from a given financial (or statistical) database The contents of the report if financial, would be geared to the particular financial health and performance of the subject of the database If statistical, the report would analyze the desired attributes of the particular statistical database. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a computerized system to produce a narrative credit analysis report in the usual banker&#39;s jargon as well as recommended questions for management which will be geared to a company&#39;s financial history. The report will cover the key credit analysis topics and make comments on the financial health and performance of the company based on the examination of a standardized database format to which the company&#39;s financial statement information can be input. Responses to the questions will be inserted into the appropriate areas of the narrative analysis in the finished output report. 
     It is further an object of the invention to provide a computerized system to produce a narrative analytical report and pertinent questions in the typical jargon of other specific financial applications which would be geared to the subject of the database. The database would consist of the subject&#39;s summarized financial statement information and/or any other information pertinent to the specific application. Responses to the questions will be inserted in the appropriate areas of the narrative analysis in the finished output report. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a computerized system to produce a narrative analytical report and pertinent questions from a standardized database of any type. Responses to the questions will be inserted in the appropriate areas of the narrative analysis in the finished output report. 
     The invention accomplishes the foregoing objectives as follows: 
     A company&#39;s balance sheet, income statement and other key financial information covering a desired period (in this case, three consecutive fiscal years) are input to a standardized spread format. This database contains the input raw financial information and is also programmed to calculate year-to-year increases/decreases, percentage changes, common size statements (all figures taken as a percentage of one other figure) a cash flow statement, numerous standard credit analysis highlight figures and ratios, together with a number of other reports some of which require additional user input such as standard industry information by SIC (Standard Industrial Code) classification. The information input to and processed within this database, properly selected, forms the source for the narrative analytical report. 
     The method used to produce the narrative analytical reports involves first supplying a predetermined set of written phrases/sentences which describe virtually every possible conclusion covering a key analytical topic (attribute of the database). These phrases/sentences are imbedded in mutually exclusive mathematical formulas designed to test the specific attributes of the particular database. Accordingly, when tested by the program, only the true (and therefore appropriate) phrase/sentence will be displayed. The program is further designed to insert actual figures from the database together with additional phrases adjacent to the tested phrase to produce complete written sentences. 
     The method broadly involves two distinct sections: The first section, as described in the preceding paragraph, provides an array of possible phrases for each analytical topic only one of which (that which is true) will be displayed. The other section of the program, that which displays the analytical report in final form, displays the one comment from the array which is applicable on the appropriate line in the final report. It should also be noted that the mathematical formulas are designed to filter out non-material and non-meaningful comments arising from changes in the database which a banker would consider as such based on years of experience. Accordingly, only those comments/questions related to important occurrences within the database from an experienced analytical viewpoint will be mentioned. 
     Using the same methodology, the invention also generates pages of recommended questions based upon an examination of the database. Space is allocated beneath each question for the user to type responses and/or comments directly onto the screen. 
     In the Completed Report, the original analytical report is automatically rewritten integrating the user&#39;s responses and comments into the appropriate areas of the report. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Thus by the present invention, its objects and advantages will be realized the description of which should be taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a flowchart of the decision determination selection portion of the method incorporating the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2/is a flowchart of the transfer and printout portion of the method incorporating the teachings of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the portion of the method requesting additional data input and comments of the user which may be integrated into the Completed Report, incorporating the teachings of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now more particularly to the drawings, it should initially be noted that the invention has been designed using as the original vehicle, the Lotus 1-2-3® programming language, provided by Lotus 1-2-3® which is manufactured by Lotus Development Corp., Cambridge, Massachusetts. However, it could have been designed using other similar mathematical spread-sheet programs. The present method makes use of the inherent &#34;cell structure&#34; of such programs to link possible variations of text with numbers. Normally, unless done on a totally manual basis, analytical reports are manually written, then typed on a computer using word processing programs, however, these programs have no capacity to &#34;think&#34; by drawing conclusions. Mathematical spreadsheet programs have been principally designed to manipulate mathematical databases; while they have been used to produce form letters which match a standard letter body with various addressees, they have not been designed to produce complex and extensive narrative analytical reports which will vary line by line depending upon the particular database. The invention makes use of a mathematical spreadsheet program to produce narrative analytical reports from variable input to a standardized database format. The invention may be used on any IBM® Personal Computer or Compatible designed to use Lotus 1-2-3® Version 2.01. 
     The analysis method is comprised of the Decision Area and the Analytical Report Area. In this regard, referring to FIG. 1, illustrated is the methodology of the Decision Area of the program. The user, typically who is skilled in spreading financial statements, spreads the financial statements of a company (at block 10) into a Database Program designed in the Lotus 1-2-3® programming language. Other information is also input if available and/or desirable including industry information, selling and payment terms of the particular company, and various other data often important to the preparation of an in-depth financial analysis. The database format would vary somewhat with certain specialized industries such as utilities, banks, finance companies, airlines, insurance companies and others. This is due to the fact that specialized industries have unique asset, liability, income and expense structures which require a different format as well as different standard ratios and a different analytical approach. Such industry spread formats and analytical approaches are generally universal. The spread database format would also vary if the purpose of the analysis was other than to assist a credit decision. For example, the financial analysis of a publicly-held company in connection with the performance of its stock would require a somewhat different analytical approach than an analysis in connection with the making of a loan. In another instance, the database might differ entirely as would the analytical report if the database did not involve financial statements but covered some other statistical array of information which required analysis. However, it should be understood that such variation of the database format and its effect on particular analyses and conclusions to be reached would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. 
     Once the data has been input to the Database Program, it is then integrated into the Analysis Program. For each analytical topic to be discussed in the analytical report, there is a set of mutually exclusive mathematical formulas (the Primary Formulas) which test (at 12) the appropriate attribute(s) of the database. Imbedded in each of these formulas is a narrative phrase or sentence which describes a possible conclusion or comment relating to the particular analytical topic. This set of formulas contains virtually every possible comment or conclusion concerning that analytical topic which would be drawn from the evaluation of the database. The criteria for being a Primary Formula is containing a complete sentence or containing a phrase which represents the beginning of a sentence. The formulas are designed to display the phrase or comment (at 18) if the mathematical test (at 14) is true. If the test is not true (at 16), a constant is displayed. Accordingly, for each set of mutually exclusive Primary Formulas, when tested, only one will display the correct phrase or comment describing the attribute of the particular database. The balance of formulas in the set will each display the constant. 
     As an example of a mutually exclusive set of Primary Formulas, an analytical topic discussed in the Analytical Report, is the Current Ratio which is the measure of a company&#39;s current assets divided by its current liabilities. This is a common indicator of a company&#39;s liquidity and is often viewed on a three year trend basis. For the purpose of this example, assume that the database calculates the following values for the Current Ratio for each of the fiscal years ending December 31 of 1985, 1986, and 1987: 
     
         ______________________________________            1985  1986      1987______________________________________Current Ratio      1.94    1.65      1.49Further assume that the              BA246   BB246     BC246Lotus 1-2-3 ® cell address foreach of these indicators is:______________________________________ 
    
     (In the Lotus® cell address, the letters refer to locations of vertical columns and the numbers refer to locations of horizontal rows. The combination of the two pinpoints the exact cell address of an item of data. Here, the current ratio for 1987 is located in column BC at row 246.) 
     Additionally, the constant used to indicate that a formula is not true is a zero. (Another choice of constant could have been used such a the letter &#34;X&#34;.) 
     The first Primary Formula in the set might read as follows: 
     BA262 @IF(@ROUND(BC246,1)&gt;(@ROUND(BB246,1)+0.05) #AND#@ROUND(BB246,1)&gt;@ROUND(BA246,1),&#34;The current ratio improved at the third consecutive year-end to&#34;,&#34;0&#34;) 
     This formula (itself located in cell BA262) translates as follows: if the value for the current ratio in 1987 (rounded to one decimal) is greater than the value for the current ratio in 1986 (rounded to one decimal; plus 0.05) and the rounded value for 1986 is itself greater than the rounded value for 1985 display the phrase: The current ratio improved at the third consecutive year-end to; if this formula is not true, display a zero. 
     Other similar mutually exclusive formulas test these three database indicators to display one of the following phrases: BA263 The current ratio declined at the third consecutive year-end to BA264 The current ratio was roughly level with the prior year-end at BA265 The current ratio improved at year-end to a 3 year high point of BA266 The current ratio weakened at year-end to a 3 year low point of BA267 After weakening at prior year-end the current ratio improved to BA268 After improving at prior year-end the current ratio fell to BA269 The current ratio improved over its prior unchanged level to BA270 The current ratio declined form its prior unchanged level to 
     The formulas often contain analytical judgement parameters to filter out non-material or non-meaningful comments. In this example, the judgement parameters involve rounding the data to one decimal point (as a movement of less than this would not be deemed meaningful) and ensuring that the most recent move is material by forcing it to exceed the prior year value by 0.05. Accordingly, the only true formula in this example is that in BA263 which will display the phrase: &#34;The current ratio declined at the third consecutive year-end to&#34;. 
     The actual screen display for the current ratio selections in the Decision Area would appear as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________BA______________________________________262    0263    The current ratio declined at the third consecutive  year-end to264    0265    0266    0267    0268    0269    0270    0______________________________________ 
    
     This illustrates the display of the one true Primary Formula with all other Primary Formulas displaying the constant, zero. 
     In the preferred embodiment, beneath each Primary Formula set, a Selection Formula (at 20) tests each formula in the set to redisplay the one true phrase. The Selection Formula (itself located in BA271) is in the following format: 
     BA271 @IF(BA262&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,BA262,@IF(BA263&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,BA263,@IF(BA264&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,BA264, @IF(BA265&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,BA265,@IF(BA266&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,BA266, @IF(BA267&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,BA267,@IF(BA268&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,BA268,@IF(BA269&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,BA269, @IF(BA270&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,BA270,&#34;0&#34;))))))))) 
     This translates as: if BA262 is not equal to zero (the constant) display its phrase, if BA263 is not equal to zero, display its phrase, and so forth through BA270. If all formulas should be equal to zero, the Selection Formula will also display a zero. (This can be a possibility if the particular test of database indicators is inappropriate based on the particular database.) 
     Other related formulas (or sets of related formulas) the Dependent Formulas, are simultaneously tested (at 22). These may contain additional phrases, database extracts, or punctuation and are designed to be displayed in order, adjacent to and to the right of the Primary Formulas described above if the Primary Formula is true. If the Primary Formula is not true, these will also display the constant. (These Dependent Formulas may vary depending upon which Primary Formula is the true one.) The combination of the one true Primary Formula and the adjacent Dependent Formula(s) form a complete sentence for inclusion in the Analytical Report. 
     The preferred embodiment for those situations where the Dependent Formula(s) do not vary depending on which Primary Formula is true is as follows: The Dependent Formulas are placed adjacent to the Selection Formula and if the Selection Formula is not equal to the constant, the Dependent Formulas then display the balance of the desired sentence. If the Selection Formula is equal to the constant, each Dependent Formula will also display the constant. (For an example of the preferred embodiment when the Dependent Formula(s) do vary, please see page 16.) 
     An example of Dependent Formulas are those necessary to complete the sentence describing the current ratio. In this instance, there are two Dependent Formulas: the first displays the value of the current ratio for 1987; the second displays a period. 
     The Dependent Formulas in this instance would be in the format: 
     BJ271 @IF(BA271&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,BC246,&#34;0&#34;) 
     BK271 @IF(BJ271&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,&#34;.&#34;,&#34;0&#34;) 
     These formulas appear to the right of the Selection Formula allowing room for the narrative phrase to be displayed. The first translates as: if the Selection Formula in BA271 is not equal to zero (and therefore displays a phrase), display the value in BC246 (the current ratio for 1987), otherwise display a zero. The second translates as: if the Dependent Formula in BJ271 is not equal to zero, display a period, otherwise display a zero. 
     Accordingly, the complete Decision Area for the current ratio would be displayed on the screen as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________  PRIMARY FORMULAS  BA262    0263    The current ratio declined at the third consecutive  year-end to264    0265    0266    0267    0268    0269    0270    0BA   BB     BC     BD   BE   BF   BG   BH   BI  BJ  BK                    DEPENDENTSELECTION FORMULA        FORMULAS271    The current ratio declined at the third consecutive  year-end to 1.5.The two Dependent Formulas are shown in columns BJ andBK in row 271 (There are no formulas in cells BB271 - BI271.)______________________________________ 
    
     Referring to FIG. 2, this chart illustrates the methodology of the Analytical Report Area of the analysis program. This area of the program contains a standardized heading format, which through formulas, duplicates information from the database such as the name of the company being analyzed, the most recent fiscal year being analyzed, the initials of the individual who spread the financial statements, and other general type information which will be displayed at the top of each report page. Additionally, there are fixed titles and subtitles of each analytical topic to be discussed. Within the areas between the fixed titles are Transfer Formulas (at 24) at the beginning of each line of the Analytical Report where a comment may be made. (Transfer Formulas are designed to display the Primary Formula and Dependent Formula(s) chosen by the Selection Formula (at 20). If the Selection Formula (and therefore the Dependent Formula.(s)) is equal to zero, the Transfer Formula will display a blank space (at 30).) These Transfer Formulas concatenate the Primary and Dependent formulas for optimal appearance of the final report. (Punctuation can be inserted in the concatenation process or incorporated into Dependent Formulas.) The result is to provide properly spaced complete sentences in the Analytical Report. 
     An example of a Transfer Formula for the current ratio comment is as follows: 
     
         __________________________________________________________________________BA__________________________________________________________________________1110 @IF(BA271&lt;&gt;&#34;0&#34;,BA271&amp;&#34; &#34;&amp;@STRING(BJ271,1)&amp;BK271,&#34; &#34;)__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     This translates as: if BA271 (the Selection Formula) is not equal to zero, display its phrase, then add a space, then display Dependent Formula BJ271 (the current ratio value), then display Dependent Formula BK271 (the period). If the Selection Formula is equal to zero, a blank would be displayed. 
     This Transfer Formula would thus display the following: 
     The current ratio declined at the third consecutive year-end to 1.5. 
     The Analytical Report Area for the current ratio is a portion of a single page under the fixed title &#34;FINANCIAL CONDITION&#34; and the fixed Subtitle, &#34;Liquidity: Current Position&#34;. The following is an example of the actual screen display (and format of the printout) for this section. The current ratio comment appears as the middle sentence. The comments for the quick ratio and the last comparative comment are derived using the same methodology as that described above for the current ratio. 
     
         ______________________________________ BA109911001101                       FINANCIAL1102                       CONDITION110311041105  LIQUIDITY - Current Position1106110711081109  The quick ratio declined from its prior static level to 0.6.1110  The current ratio declined at the third consecutive year-end to 15.1111  At year-end 1986 the quick and current ratios were 0.71112  and 1.6, respectively.______________________________________ 
    
     It should be noted that when printed, the cell column letters and row numbers are not included in the printout.) 
     Depending on the particular database, certain analytical comments may not be warranted. Accordingly, in these cases, all Primary Formulas in a particular set will not be true and thus each will display the constant; (the Selection Formula will therefore also display the constant). As noted previously, the Transfer Formulas are designed to display &#34;blanks&#34; (at 30) if the test (at 28) reveals that the Selection Formula or all component formulas in a Primary Formula set return constants. Thus in the Analytical Report Area, the only visable display is the results of those formulas which test true (at 26). 
     The Primary and Dependent formulas used to test the database vary in complexity depending upon the particular analytical topic. Some test data over a three year horizon to return the appropriate comment whereas some only test two years of data. The design of the formulas reflects a standard analytical approach within the banking industry. Additionally, some formulas may only search to see if certain information has been included in the database and, depending upon the importance of the information, a comment may or may not be made. Other formulas test a large number of variables from the database to select the analytical comment and some apply a weight, prioritize, then identify the principal components which cause a particular change in the database. Analytical judgement parameters are built into many formulas to filter out comments on changes in the database which would be deemed non-meaningful or non-material to an experienced analyst. 
     An example of the preferred embodiment when the dependent Formulas do vary depending upon the true Primary Formula is seen in the second comment on sales.: 
     The first comment on the company&#39;s sales experience begins with the following Primary Formula possibilities: 
     Sales rose by 
     Sales fell by 
     Following the appropriate Primary Formula for the situation, Dependent Formulas will display the actual number percent; the word &#34;percent&#34;; the word &#34;during&#34;; the current year; the phrase &#34;to a level of&#34;; the current year sales amount; and a period. Therefore, if the sales level grew by 8% in the current year to $10,000 the Primary and Dependent formulas for the first comment would display &#34;Sales rose by 8.00 percent during 1987 to a level of 10,000&#34;. 
     The next comment illustrates the variable Dependent Formulas. The Primary Formula for the next comment displays the phrase &#34;This compares with a&#34;. There are then two Dependent Formulas. The first displays the percent change in the prior year. The second will vary depending upon whether that change was an increase or a decrease. This is illustrated as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________PRIMARY FORMULA          DEPENDENT FORMULAS______________________________________This compares with a          X%      increase in the prior period./                  decrease in the prior period.______________________________________ 
    
     Selection Formula assuming a 7% increase in 1986; 
     This compares with a 7.00% increase in the prior period. 
     The Transfer Formula would display and concatenate this as follows: 
     This compares with a 7.00% increase in the prior period. 
     The methodology for the Questions program (FIG. 2 at 32) is identical in most respects to the analytical section in that there is a Decision Area and an Analytical Report area. Analytical judgement parameters and narrative question phrases are imbedded in Primary Formulas (at 12) which test the database (at 14) for changes or movements which would normally need to be explained or clarified by the management of the company. In certain cases there may only be one Primary Formula, to test one attribute of the database, or they may be a set of Primary Formulas to select the proper phrase. In many cases there will also be Dependent Formulas (at 22). 
     As an example, the database contains an input area for contingent liabilities (guarantees, lawsuits etc. which do not appear on a company&#39;s balance sheet). The Primary Formula in the Decision Area returns the sentence (at 18) &#34;What is the specific nature of the contingent liabilities?&#34; if there is an amount input to this area of the database. If no input is made, the formula returns the constant, zero (at 16). Here, as there is only one Primary Formula and no Dependent Formulas, the Selection Formula can be placed directly in the Analytical Report Area. 
     A certain number of lines are allocated in the Analytical Report Area of one of the pages of questions for this topic. A Selection Formula in the Analytical Report area tests for whether the Primary Formula is or is not equal to the constant. If it is not, the actual screen area of the Analytical Report Area appears as follows: 
     What is the specific nature of the contingent liabilities? 
      -- 
      -- 
      -- 
     If the Selection Formula reveals that the Primary Formula is equal to the constant, these lines in the Final Report Area will be blank. 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the user may respond to the questions raised by entering answers or comments directly onto the screen (at 34) above the dotted lines provided. In the Completed Report, Transfer Formulas test (at 36) for the result of each (Transfer or Selection) Formula in the Analytical Report Area of the analysis and questions programs. If a phrase is displayed (representing a selected phrase in the analysis or a user&#39;s comment in the questions) it is redisplayed (at 40) in the Completed Report. If a blank is displayed in the analysis or questions program (representing an inappropriate section in the analysis, no question raised to respond to, or a user&#39;s choice not to respond) the blank (at 38) is redisplayed. 
     The Completed Report arranges the question response areas to integrate into the appropriate areas of the Analysis Analytical Report. For example, if the user responds to a question regarding sales, the response will be placed beneath the analysis program comment on sales in the Completed Report. If no response is entered by the user, this area allocated for a response will be blank. Accordingly, a complete narrative financial analysis is provided including an automated discussion of the actual significant attributes of and changes in the database together with explanations and clarifications provided by the user which are integrated into the appropriate areas (following the related comments) in the Completed Report. 
     Thus by the present invention, its objects and advantages will be realized and although a preferred embodiment has been disclosed and described in detail herein, its scope should not be limited hereby rather its scope should be determined by that of the appended claims.