Forecasting System and Method Using Change Data Based Database Storage for Efficient ASP and Web Application

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system is provided. The system includes a first client. The system also includes an analysis server coupled to the first client. The system further includes a first customer database of information coupled to the analysis server. The first customer database is to embody forecast data and to receive essentially real-time updates to the forecast data. The first customer database supports an OLAP cube associated with the analysis server.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method comprising:
 analyzing and updating data in a first partition of a first database utilizing an analysis server adapted for coupling to at least an external first client and incorporating an analytics and aggregation unit to analyze and update the information in at least a first partition of the first database, wherein the first database is coupled to the analysis server, the first database includes forecast data and receiving updates to the forecast data; and   receiving a query for the first database; and   responding to the query with the data from the first partition of the first database;   wherein:
 the first partition includes only changed data; 
 the amount of data in the first partition is smaller than an amount of data in a second partition of the first database; 
 analyzing and updating the data in the first partition and responding to the query consumes a relatively low amount of resources of the analytics and aggregation unit relative to analyzing and updating the information in the second partition so that access to the data in the first partition is accomplished more quickly than if responding to the query with the data in the second partition. 
   
     
     
         34 . A system comprising:
 an analysis server adapted for coupling to at least an external first client and incorporating an analytics and aggregation unit to analyze and update the information in a first customer database; and   a first database of information coupled to the analysis server, the first database embodying forecast data and receiving updates to the forecast data, wherein during operation the analytics and aggregation unit analyze and update the information of at least a first partition of the first database;   wherein the first partition includes only changed data, the amount of data in the first partition is smaller than the amount of data in the second partition, so that there is a relatively low consumption of resources of the analytics and aggregation unit in analyzing and updating the information and in responding to a query, and so that access to the data is accomplished more quickly that if responding to the query required a higher consumption of resources of the analytics and aggregation unit in analyzing and updating the information in the second partition.