Patent ID: 8086607

Claim:
A computer implemented method, comprising: gathering initial future predictive forecast values in a computer from a first group of users; integrating the initial future predictive forecast values into a database and corresponding OLAP cube accessible by the computer, the OLAP cube providing a capability of presenting, manipulating and analyzing the predictive forecast values from multiple perspectives; generating a baseline forecast using the initial future predictive forecast values into the database and corresponding OLAP cube; gathering annotations during a period of time until a final forecast cut-off point is reached including gathering comments on specific entries of the forecast values and changes of the forecast values in the computer after the initial future predictive forecast values are gathered from a second group of users different from the first group of users; the annotations including comments generated by the second group of users indicating whether the initial future predictive forecast values appear to be incorrect to some of the second group of users and to provide commentary information in association with the forecast values for more meaningful interaction between the first group of users and the second group of users than simple changes to the initial future predictive forecast values and to provide an objective basis for generating a new forecast having modified forecast values; integrating the gathered annotations including the comments and changes of the forecast values into the database and corresponding OLAP cube in real-time with the gathering of the annotations, the integrating including (i) modifying the initial future predictive forecast values in the database and the OLAP cube based on any changes of the forecast values, and (ii) coupling the gathered annotations to the initial future predictive forecast values or to the modified future predictive forecast values for further review and annotation by the first group of users and the second group of users; and iteratively generating a revised forecast including gathering revised forecast values and integrated annotations and making the revised forecast values and integrated annotations available for review and further annotation in the computer in real-time until the final forecast cut-off point is reached.