Abstract:
Systems and methods are provided for enterprise-level analysis and reporting of transaction information. According to one embodiment, a method is provided by way of an enterprise-level analysis and reporting software application to enable a non-technical user on a Personal Computer (or other Network Appliance) to drag and drop metadata elements (e.g., XBRL elements/objects or generic data keys) onto a productivity tool, such as a spreadsheet (e.g., Microsoft Excel), and interactively update the spreadsheet with aggregated information from originating transactions. According to one embodiment of the present invention, transactions are dynamically accumulated into time-sensitive balances (or buckets) and then aggregated into cube(s) before the spreadsheet is refreshed. The user can then drill back through aggregated information to original transaction information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/785,250, filed on Mar. 22, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
         [0002]    This application is related to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/163,965, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
     COPYRIGHT NOTICE 
       [0003]    Contained herein is material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction of the patent disclosure by any person as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights to the copyright whatsoever. Copyright© 2006 Rivet Software, Inc. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0004]    1. Field 
         [0005]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to business intelligence (BI) systems and systems and methods for performing enterprise-level analysis and reporting of transaction information. More specifically, embodiments of the present invention provide non-technical (e.g., accounting or finance) users with the ability to drag and drop metadata (sometimes referred to as Master Data) elements (e.g., Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) elements/objects or generic data keys) onto a spreadsheet and interactively update the spreadsheet with aggregated information from pre-summarized balances or originating transactions, which may be dynamically accumulated into time-sensitive balances (or buckets) and then aggregated into cube(s) before the spreadsheet is refreshed. The non-technical user can then drill back through aggregated information to original transaction information. 
         [0006]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0007]    One of the key issues decision makers in corporations face today is finding out how the business is doing, planning for the future, measuring performance against plan, being able to determine when and how a plan might need to be changed in response to internal and external events and ensuring that the organization meets regulatory requirements. This requires that reports and other financial applications are able to work with data from more than one system and the systems of more than one sub-entity (division, country office, etc.). 
         [0008]    Traditionally, databases (namely data marts, data warehouses and Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) cubes that are multi-dimensional) would be the central part of any system implementation that attempts to provide business intelligence for any company to make informed decisions. Traditionally, the BI projects would be information technology (IT)-intensive, and requires substantial upfront time for setting up metadata (data about the numeric values) and continues to require IT involvement in making adjustments to the structure/layout of the data warehouse. 
         [0009]    In a typical BI/data warehouse implementation, Extraction, Transformation and Loading (ETL) jobs would be setup to transform diverse data sources; data would be loaded and aggregated based on pre-determined business rules; databases might be replicated so users in different geographical locations (that might not be in the same network) could access data; reports and OLAP cubes would be designed, implemented and maintained by IT staff to support the ever changing business requirements. 
         [0010]    The main short-coming of OLAP is that cubes are defined with a constrained and predetermined set of dimensions and hierarchies within those dimensions. It is not usually possible for a non-technical end user to define additional dimension hierarchies nor is it normal for the OLAP server to update itself with new dimensions when and if the underlying transactions indicates that new data attributes are available and that can be used as dimensions. 
         [0011]    OLAP dimensionality is constrained because OLAP servers pre-aggregate all or at least most of the data and each new dimension added causes an exponential growth in the size of the aggregate data. 
         [0012]    A major disadvantage of the constraints imposed using the approach taken by OLAP servers is that, generally, OLAP cubes are defined using only “first class” dimensions such as time, accounts, product, region. While a user can create a report based on these dimensions, a user cannot create an aggregate based on some other attribute of the data. For example, a dimension of the data may be “Store” and this dimension may have a hierarchy showing a regional aggregation of store data. However, a user may have a requirement to analyze store data grouped by zip code. While zip code may be an attribute of the store, which is available in the underlying transaction data, in the context of the present example, the OLAP user&#39;s solution to this problem of being able to consolidate data across zip codes is to ask for a new, permanent, hierarchy to be defined by making zip code a “first class” dimension even though this required aggregation might only be for a temporary purpose and only for a single user. 
         [0013]    In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to have a more flexible system that allows consolidation of data across multiple geographical locations, multiple functional areas and provides a uniform view to users in an enterprise interactively and on a real-time basis without the need for hierarchy redefinition and significant involvement of IT personnel. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0014]    Systems and methods are described for enterprise-level analysis and reporting of transaction information. According to one embodiment, a method is provided by way of an enterprise-level analysis and reporting software application to enable a non-technical user on a Personal Computer (or other Network Appliance) to drag and drop metadata elements (e.g., XBRL elements/objects or generic data keys) onto a productivity tool, such as a spreadsheet (e.g., Microsoft Excel), and interactively update the spreadsheet with aggregated information from originating transactions. 
         [0015]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, transactions are dynamically accumulated into time-sensitive balances (or buckets) and then aggregated into cube(s) before the spreadsheet is refreshed. The user can then drill back through aggregated information to original transaction information. 
         [0016]    Other features of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the detailed description that follows. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
           [0018]      FIG. 1  is an example of a computer system upon which or with which embodiments of the present invention may be utilized. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Systems and methods are described for enterprise-level analysis and reporting of transaction information. According to one embodiment of the Rivet™ Crossfire™ system as described in the attached Appendix, an enterprise-level analysis and reporting system is designed to break the traditional BI/data warehouse model and is able to consolidate data across multiple geographical locations, multiple functional areas and provide a uniformed view to users in an enterprise (RIVET and CROSSFIRE are trademarks of Rivet Software, Inc. of Englewood, Colo.). In one embodiment, the enterprise-level analysis and reporting system is based on Extensible Markup Language (XML) and its inherent capability of storing information in infinite ways and of having unlimited versions or iterations of such information. 
         [0020]    In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. 
         [0021]    Embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a computer program product which may include a machine-readable medium having stored thereon instructions which may be used to program a computer (or other electronic devices) to perform a process. The machine-readable medium may include, but is not limited to, floppy diskettes, optical disks, compact disc read-only memories (CD-ROMs), and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, random access memories (RAMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), magnetic or optical cards, flash memory, or other type of media/machine-readable medium suitable for storing electronic instructions. Moreover, embodiments of the present invention may also be downloaded as a computer program product, wherein the program may be transferred from a remote computer to a requesting computer by way of data signals embodied in a carrier wave or other propagation medium via a communication link (e.g., a modem or network connection). 
         [0022]    While, for convenience, various embodiments of the present invention may be described with reference to Microsoft Office Excel, the present invention is equally applicable to various other spreadsheet applications, web-based or online spreadsheets, such as Kyplot, Origin, Quantrix Modeler, Lotus Improv, Ability Spreadsheet, ExcelExplorer, GS-Calc, Mariner Calc, Softmaker Office Planmaker, Spread32, SygmaPlot, The Cruncher, Calc Open, KDCalc, ExcelLite, SpreadsheetGear, 602 Office Tab, Ability Office, Applixware Spreadsheets, AppleWorks, Ashampoo Office PlanMaker, Corel WordPerfect Office Quattro Pro, EasyOffice EasySpreadsheet, Evermore Integrated Office Spreadsheet, Framework, Gobe Spreadsheet, Lotus SmartSuiteLotus 123, Microsoft Works Spreadsheet, Softmaker Office PlanMaker, Open Office Calc, StarOffice Calc, Techdigm Office Calc, Thinkfree Office Spreadsheet, Xoom Office Spreadsheet, JotSpot Tracker, iRows.com, Numsum, ComplyXL, FlyCalc, i-spreadsheet, QuickBase, SecureSheet, Thinkfree, Online Spreadsheet and the like. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention are applicable to other types of productivity tools or programs designed to perform general computational tasks or organizational tasks in relation to underlying data, including word processing applications, such as Microsoft Word and the like and database applications or database management systems, such as 4D, Adabas, Corel Paradox, IBM DB2, FileMaker Pro, FirebirdSQL, IMS, Informix, Ingres, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, OOo Base, Oracle, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Sybase ASE and the like. 
         [0023]    For the sake of illustration, various embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the context of computer programs, physical components, and logical interactions within modern computer networks. Importantly, while these embodiments describe various aspects of the invention in relation to modern computer networks and programs, the method and apparatus described herein are equally applicable to other systems, devices, and networks as one skilled in the art will appreciate. As such, the illustrated applications of the embodiments of the present invention are not meant to be limiting, but instead exemplary. 
       Terminology 
       [0024]    Brief definitions of terms, abbreviations, and phrases used throughout this application are given below. 
         [0025]    The phrase “Analytical Access Point” or acronym “AAP” generally refers to a hub for a group of one or more users to access one or more AAUs (defined below). AAPs may cache data requested by users as well as provides “access management” for users accessing data from the AAUs within the environment. According to one embodiment, an AAP is a user-centric server component that can cache and/or aggregate user requested information before sending to the user. In one embodiment, a CF installation can support multiple AAPs and each AAP can request information from multiple AAUs. According to one embodiment, interactive queries in a Web-centric model are supported by a layered architecture including the chain from the user to the AAP to AAU(s). 
         [0026]    The phrase “Analytical Aggregation Unit” or “Library” or acronym “AAU” generally refers to a collection of services that provide data and metadata storage and handle query resolutions. In one embodiment, an AAU is a data-centric server component that sends cubes and supporting information to a user-centric server component. In one embodiment, a CF installation can support multiple user-centric server components and each user-centric server component can request information from multiple AAUs. 
         [0027]    The term “folio” generally refers to a collection of objects including one or more spreadsheets, metadata elements, hierarchies, and/or various other objects and properties that support enterprise reporting and analysis functionality. According to one embodiment, once a folio is created, reports and analysis can be published and distributed from the folio. 
         [0028]    The terms “connected” or “coupled” and related terms are used in an operational sense and are not necessarily limited to a direct physical connection or coupling. Thus, for example, two devices may be couple directly, or via one or more intermediary media or devices. As another example, devices may be coupled in such a way that information can be passed there between, while not sharing any physical connection on with another. Based on the disclosure provided herein, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate a variety of ways in which connection or coupling exists in accordance with the aforementioned definition. 
         [0029]    The phrases “in one embodiment,” “according to one embodiment,” and the like generally mean the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention, and may be included in more than one embodiment of the present invention. Importantly, such phases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. 
         [0030]    If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic. 
         [0031]    The term “responsive” includes completely or partially responsive. 
       Exemplary Computer System Overview 
       [0032]    Embodiments of the present invention include various steps, which will be described in more detail below. A variety of these steps may be performed by hardware components or may be embodied in machine-executable instructions, which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor programmed with the instructions to perform the steps. Alternatively, the steps may be performed by a combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. As such,  FIG. 1  is an example of a computer system  100 , such as a workstation, personal computer, client, server, or gateway, upon which or with which embodiments of the present invention may be utilized. 
         [0033]    According to the present example, the computer system includes a bus  130 , at least one processor  105 , at least one communication port  110 , a main memory  115 , a removable storage media  140  a read only memory  120 , and a mass storage  125 . 
         [0034]    Processor(s)  105  can be any known processor, such as, but not limited to, an Intel® Itanium® or Itanium 2 processor(s), or AMD® Opteron® or Athlon MP® processor(s), or Motorola® lines of processors. Communication port(s)  110  can be any of an RS-232 port for use with a modem based dialup connection, a 10/100 Ethernet port, or a Gigabit port using copper or fiber. Communication port(s)  110  may be chosen depending on a network such a Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN), or any network to which the computer system  100  connects. 
         [0035]    Main memory  115  can be Random Access Memory (RAM), or any other dynamic storage device(s) commonly known in the art. Read only memory  120  can be any static storage device(s) such as Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) chips for storing static information such as instructions for processor  105 . 
         [0036]    Mass storage  125  can be used to store information and instructions. For example, hard disks such as the Adaptec® family of SCSI drives, an optical disc, an array of disks such as RAID, such as the Adaptec family of RAID drives, or any other mass storage devices may be used. 
         [0037]    Bus  130  communicatively couples processor(s)  105  with the other memory, storage and communication blocks. Bus  130  can be a PCI/PCI-X or SCSI based system bus depending on the storage devices used. 
         [0038]    Optionally, operator and administrative interfaces (not shown), such as a display, keyboard, and a cursor control device, may also be coupled to bus  130  to support direct operator interaction with computer system  100 . Other operator and administrative interfaces can be provided through network connections connected through communication ports  110 . 
         [0039]    Removable storage media  140  can be any kind of external hard-drives, floppy drives, IOMEGA® Zip Drives, Compact Disc—Read Only Memory (CD-ROM), Compact Disc—Re-Writable (CD-RW), Digital Video Disk—Read Only Memory (DVD-ROM). 
         [0040]    The components described above are meant to exemplify some types of possibilities. In no way should the aforementioned examples limit the scope of the invention, as they are only exemplary embodiments. 
         [0041]    In the attached Appendix, an enterprise-level analysis and reporting system called the Rivet™ Crossfire™ Analysis and Reporting System is illustrated according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.