Apparatus and method for creating new reports from discrete reports

Abstract

A method of forming a report includes creating a report repository from database information. The database information may be from a set of databases with different formats. Consolidated report criteria are selected. Based upon the consolidated report criteria, individual reports within the report repository are analyzed to generate a consolidated report. A report field of the consolidated report may be linked to an individual report that is the source of the report field.

1 . A method of forming a report without accessing a database, comprising: 
 analyzing a repository of individual reports; and    generating a new report from data collected during said analyzing.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 creating said repository of individual reports by processing data within a database.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein creating includes creating said repository of individual reports as time stamped instances of data within said database.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein generating includes generating said new report with data from time stamped instances of said individual reports.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 creating said repository of individual reports by processing data from a plurality of databases with different formats.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein analyzing includes analyzing at least one common attribute shared by said individual reports within said repository.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 linking data in said new report to source data within an individual report of said repository.  
 
     
     
         8 . A method of forming a report, comprising: 
 defining a report repository with individual reports produced from database information;    selecting consolidated report criteria; and    analyzing, based upon said consolidated report criteria, said individual reports to generate a consolidated report.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein defining includes creating a report repository with individual reports produced from database information selected from a plurality of databases.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein defining includes creating a report repository with individual reports produced from database information selected from a plurality of databases with different formats.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein selecting includes selecting a report field common to said individual reports within said report repository.  
     
     
         12 . The method of claim  111  wherein selecting includes selecting a report field chosen from a report path, a group path, a record number, data date, and data time.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising connecting from a report field of said consolidated report to an individual report that is the source of said report field.  
     
     
         14 . A computer readable memory, comprising: 
 a consolidated report generator with executable instructions to analyze a repository of individual reports and generate a new report from data analyzed within said repository of individual reports.    
     
     
         15 . The computer readable memory of  claim 14  further comprising a query module to create said repository of individual reports by processing data within a database.  
     
     
         16 . The computer readable memory of  claim 14  wherein said query module processes data from a plurality of databases with different formats.  
     
     
         17 . The computer readable memory of  claim 14  wherein said consolidated report generator analyzes at least one common attribute shared by said individual reports within said repository.  
     
     
         18 . The computer readable memory of  claim 14  wherein said consolidated report generator links data in said new report to source data within an individual report of said repository.