System and method for graphically distinguishing levels of a multidimensional database

Abstract

In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for graphically distinguishing levels from a multidimensional database. Levels from a multidimensional database are distinguished, such as by associating two or more of database's levels with a plurality of different visual indicators.

1 . A computer-implemented method for displaying data retrieved from a multidimensional database, comprising: 
 receiving a query for retrieving data from the multidimensional database;    wherein the multidimensional database contains a first dimension that is hierarchically arranged to categorize data in a plurality of levels;    associating two or more of the plurality of levels in the first dimension with a plurality of colors;    generating display information based upon the results obtained through the query upon the multidimensional database;    wherein the generated display information is for use in providing a graphical display that shows the query results categorized in at least the first dimension, and wherein the colors are displayed to graphically distinguish the two or more levels in the first dimension.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of colors are shades of a single color.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the two or more levels in the first dimension are distinguished using progressively darker shades of the single color.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the two or more levels in the first dimension are distinguished using progressively lighter shades of the single color.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of colors are shades of a gray-scale.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the two or more levels in the first dimension are distinguished using progressively darker shades of gray-scale.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the two or more levels in the first dimension are distinguished using progressively lighter shades of gray-scale.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the multidimensional database contains a second dimension that is hierarchically arranged to categorize data in a second plurality of levels, further comprising: 
 associating two or more of the second plurality of levels in the second dimension with a second plurality of colors;    wherein the graphical display shows the query results categorized in at least the first dimension and the second dimension, and wherein the plurality of colors are displayed to graphically distinguish the two or more levels in the first dimension and the second plurality of colors are displayed to graphically distinguish the two or more levels in the second dimension.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of colors are shades of a first color and the second plurality of colors are shades of a second color.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of colors are the same as the second plurality of colors.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of colors and the second plurality of colors are shades of a single color.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of colors and the second plurality of colors are shades of gray-scale.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of colors and the second plurality of colors are shades of the same color.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the two or more levels in the first dimension are distinguished using progressively darker shades of the first color and the two or more levels in the second dimension are distinguished using progressively darker shades of the second color.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the two or more levels in the first dimension are distinguished using progressively lighter shades of the first color and the two or more levels in the second dimension are distinguished using progressively lighter shades of the second color.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the progressively darker shades are used to display levels in the first dimension through a pre-selected level, and wherein a darkest of the progressively darker shades is used to display levels in the first dimension deeper than the pre-selected level.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the progressively lighter shades are used to display levels in the first dimension through a pre-selected level, and wherein a lightest of the progressively lighter shades is used to display levels in the first dimension deeper than the pre-selected level.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical display includes an online analytical processing (OLAP) table.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the graphical display includes an online analytical processing (OLAP) chart.  
   
   
       20 . The method of clam  18 , wherein one or more of the levels in the first dimension are displayed in a breadcrumb, and wherein the colors graphically distinguish the one or more levels displayed in the breadcrumb.  
   
   
       21 . A computer program stored on a computer readable medium and executable by a computer, when executed by the computer, the computer program being operable to perform the method steps of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       22 . A system for use with a multidimensional database containing a first dimension that is hierarchically arranged to categorize data in a plurality of levels, comprising: 
 data retrieval software instructions configured to retrieve data from the multidimensional database;    color gradient software instructions configured to associate two or more of the plurality of levels in the first dimension of the retrieved data with a plurality of colors; and    user interface software instructions configured to generate a graphical display that shows the retrieved data categorized in at least the first dimension, wherein the plurality of colors are displayed to graphically distinguish the two or more levels in the first dimension.    
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of colors are shades of a single color.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the graphical display distinguishes the two or more levels in the first dimension using progressively darker or progressively lighter shades of the single color.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of colors are gray-scale.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the graphical display distinguishes the two or more levels in the first dimension using progressively darker or progressively lighter shades of gray-scale.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the multidimensional database contains a second dimension that is hierarchically arranged to categorize data in a second plurality of levels, and wherein the color gradient software instructions are further configured to: 
 associate two or more of the second plurality of levels in the second dimension of the retrieved data with a second plurality of colors;    wherein the graphical display shows the retrieved data categorized in at least the first dimension and the second dimension, and wherein the plurality of colors are displayed to graphically distinguish the two or more levels in the first dimension and the second plurality of colors are displayed to graphically distinguish the two or more levels in the second dimension.    
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the plurality of colors are shades of a first color and the second plurality of colors are shades of a second color.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the graphical display distinguishes the two or more levels in the first dimension using progressively darker or progressively lighter shades of the first color and distinguishes the two or more levels in the second dimension using progressively darker or progressively lighter shades of the second color.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the plurality of colors and the second plurality of colors are shades of gray-scale.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the graphical display distinguishes the two or more levels in at least one of the first dimension and the second dimension using progressively darker or progressively lighter shades of gray-scale.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the graphical display includes an online analytical processing (OLAP) table.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the graphical display includes an online analytical processing (OLAP) chart.  
   
   
       34 . A computer-implemented system for displaying data retrieved from a multidimensional database, comprising: 
 means for receiving a query for retrieving data from the multidimensional database;    wherein the multidimensional database contains a first dimension that is hierarchically arranged to categorize data in a plurality of levels;    means for associating two or more of the plurality of levels in the first dimension with gradients representing a depth of the level in the first dimension of the multidimensional database;    means for generating display information based upon the results obtained through the query upon the multidimensional database;    wherein the generated display information is for use in providing a graphical display that shows the query results categorized in at least the first dimension, and wherein the gradients distinguish the two or more levels in the first dimension.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the gradients are graphically represented using shades of a single color, wherein progressively darker or progressively lighter shades of the color are used to distinguish between the two or more levels.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the gradients are graphically represented using a plurality of different colors.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the gradients are graphically represented using shaded of gray-scale, wherein progressively darker or progressively lighter shades of gray-scale are used to distinguish between the two or more levels.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the gradients are graphically represented using a line pattern, wherein progressively more-dense or progressively less-dense iterations of the line pattern are used to distinguish between the two or more levels.