System and method for comparing and visualizing data entities and data entity series

Abstract

Systems and methods for creating and using a workflow template for analyzing data entities stored in the one or more databases. After a desired workflow is identified, one or more series, data source, and/or entity restrictions based upon the workflow may be received. In addition, one or more chart configuration settings based upon the workflow may also be received. The restrictions and configuration settings may be saved as the workflow template. The workflow may then be performed by loading the saved workflow template, in order to automatically generate charts in accordance with the configuration settings of the template, based upon a received selection of series, data sources, and entities that adheres to the restrictions defined in the template.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computing system comprising:
 a computer processor;   one or more databases storing a plurality of time series each comprising values of an attribute over time, wherein the attribute values indicate characteristics or features of an entity; and   a computer readable storage medium storing program instructions configured for execution by the computer processor to cause the computing system to:
 access a workflow chart template usable by a template user to automatically create a plurality of workflow charts, wherein the workflow chart template includes criteria indicating one or more of: 
 time series selectable by the template user; 
 data sources selectable by the template user; and 
 entities selectable by the template user; 
 based on the workflow chart template, automatically determining one or more entities most similar to a baseline comparison entity; 
 generating an interactive user interface comprising user interface elements allowing the template user to select one or more time series, one or more data sources, and one or more of the most similar entities for display in the interactive user interface in one or more workflow charts; 
 receiving selection of one or more time series, data sources, or entities from the template user; 
 responsive to selections from the template user, determine reconfigurations of the interactive user interface to dynamically separate or combine workflow charts using different portions of the time series data associated with the selected one or more time series, data sources, or entities, wherein the reconfigurations of the interactive user interface include at least dynamic adjustment to a display area of the interactive user interface to partition the display area of a single workflow chart in response to a first selection by the template user to replace the single workflow chart with two workflow charts responsive to the second selection or third selection by the template user, in particular:
 in response to the first selection, automatically generate a single workflow chart indicating each of the time series selections by the template user; 
 in response to the second selection, automatically generate a first workflow chart indicating a first time series selected by the template user and a second workflow chart indicating a second time series selected by the template user; 
 in response to the third selection, automatically generate a first workflow chart indicating one or more time series associated with a first entity selected by the template user on a first axis, and a second workflow chart plotting one or more time series associated with a second entity selected by the template user on a second axis. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The computing system of  claim 1 , the instructions further configured to cause the computing system to:
 determine the baseline comparison entity in response to user provided criteria.   
     
     
         3 . The computing system of  claim 1 , the instructions further configured to cause the computing system to:
 receive an indication of the baseline comparison entity from the template user.   
     
     
         4 . The computing system of  claim 1 , the instructions further configured to cause the computing system to:
 generate a modeled baseline comparison entity based on optimal characteristics of entities.   
     
     
         5 . The computing system of  claim 1 , wherein the criteria of the workflow chart template includes a maximum quantity of one or more of time series, data sources, or entities that are selectable by the template user. 
     
     
         6 . A computing system configured to access one or more databases in substantially real-time to create and use a workflow template for analyzing entities, the computing system comprising:
 a computer processor; and   one or more databases storing a plurality of time series values of respective data types over time, wherein the attribute values indicate characteristics or features of an entity;   a computer readable storage medium storing program instructions configured for execution by the computer processor to cause the computing system to:
 create a workflow template, wherein creating the workflow template comprises:
 receiving, from a template creator, one or more template criteria indicating one or more data type, data source, or entity restrictions to be associated with the workflow template,
 wherein data sources store values of the selected data type for respective entities, and wherein the one or more template criteria specify a number of data types, data sources, or entities that may be selected during performance of the workflow template; 
 
 receiving, from the template creator, one or more chart configuration settings to be associated with the workflow template,
 wherein the one or more chart configuration settings specify a separation criteria, wherein the separation criteria selectable by the template creator include at least:  a data type separation criteria indicating that a separate workflow chart be generated for each data type selected by a template user; and  an entity separation criteria indicating that a separate workflow chart be generated for each entity selected by the template user; and 
 
 saving the workflow template, including the plurality of team plate criteria and the chart configuration settings; 
 
 perform the workflow using the workflow template, wherein performing the workflow comprises:
 loading the saved workflow template in response to a request by a template user; 
 receiving selection of one or more data types by the template user in accordance with the template criteria determined by the template creator; 
 receiving selection of one or more data sources by the template user in accordance with the template criteria determined by the template creator; 
 receiving selection of one or more entities by the template user in accordance with the template criteria determined by the template creator; and 
 generating and displaying to the template user one or more workflow charts indicative of values of the selected one or more data types from the selected one or more data sources and associated with the selected one or more entities. 
 
   
     
     
         7 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein in response to determining that the chart configuration settings include a data type separation criteria and the template user selects two or more entities, said generating one or more workflow charts includes generating at least:
 a first workflow chart indicating two or more time series values of a first data type for each of the corresponding two or more selected entities; and   a second workflow chart indicating two or more time series values of a second data type for each of the corresponding two or more selected entities.   
     
     
         8 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein in response to determining that the chart configuration settings include an entity separation criteria and the template user selects two or more data types, said generating one or more workflow charts includes generating at least:
 a first workflow chart indicating first time series values of a first data type associated with a first entity and second time series values of a second data type associated with a first entity; and   a second workflow chart indicating first time series values of the first data type associated with a second entity and second time series values of the second data type associated with a second entity.   
     
     
         9 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein in response to determining that the chart configuration settings do not include an indication of a selected separation criteria, said generating one or more workflow charts includes generating only one workflow chart indicating time series values of each of the selected one or more data types for each of the one or more selected entities. 
     
     
         10 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more data sources comprises a historical data source. 
     
     
         11 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more data sources comprises a model data source. 
     
     
         12 . The computing system of  claim 11 , wherein the model data source is constructed based at least in part upon a historical data source. 
     
     
         13 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more entities are selected based at least in part upon similarity to a baseline entity. 
     
     
         14 . The computing system of  claim 13 , wherein a similarity of a data entity to the baseline entity is determined based at least in part upon a calculated similarity score, the similarity score being calculated as a weighted average. 
     
     
         15 . The computing system of  claim 6 , wherein the chart configuration define a workflow chart indicating differences between time series values of selected data sources.