METHOD FOR PRESENTING ON THE SAME GRAPH AND ANALYZING DATA HAVING DIFFERENT VALUES RECEIVED FROM VARIOUS SOURCES AND A

DEVICE RELATING TO THIS

Technical Filed

The invention relates to; a method which enables the functions of presenting data of different categories, different nominal values, different units and different scales on the same graph, comparing them with each other and analyzing them and a device thereof.

The invention relates, as a component of support systems, to; a method and a device which enables an objective determination of relations between, and trends in, business data received from various sources.

The invention relates in particular to; a method and a device which enables different and high volume data which is received from unrelated and internal and external sources, that are independent from each other, and which are stored in data warehouses to be organized in the form of information and, by converting into percentage rations displayed on a single graph, presented to decision makers in the form of objective, where necessary, current, and instant reports in the form of an interface consisting of information which can be easily comprehended and interpreted.

State of the Art

Developments in technology and, in parallel to that, in the materials used, have caused an improvement or elimination in existing industries. Industries which are capable of reflecting technology changes into their constitution survive and display a continuously developing structure. Therefore, every single innovation arising in technology has fundamentally changed the structure of the production process. New production technologies have, to a great extent, a structure which is computer aided. Use of computers in the production flow in the factory has brought about a series of changes under computer support. It is possible to see these improvements in every stage of production, from its start to its final stage. Among these, technologies such as computer aided engineering, computer aided design and production, bring significant advantages to companies in engineering services. Similarly, innovations such as computer aided manufacturing planning, computer aided production planning and control bring a

different advantage as production control strategies. Additionally, computer aided decision systems, known as support systems, used for performing data collection, evaluation and storage functions provide a very important support for managers in decision making.

As known, the decision systems are computer based and interactive systems that support decision makers in their jobs by helping them make use of semi-structured and unstructured data and models. Structured decisions are decisions that can be executed very easily with rules. The decision making procedure can be expressed as a set of steps to be followed. For unstructured decisions, on the other hand, the information required is not clear and defined. There is no procedure or rules to reach the decision. Use of intuitive rules and experience is the basic attribute of unstructured decisions. There is no specific and absolute decision making procedure for these.

The decision support system combines data, models, a software interface and the users in the effective decision making systems. Additionally, they are systems that provide the decision maker recommendations for action by modern analytic techniques. Decision support systems aim to improve the effectiveness of decision making rather than improving its adequacy. The goal of these systems is not to establish management judgments, but to support such judgments. Decision support systems are highly valuable aides in helping decision makers to understand their specific conditions and choices. Despite many applications, the success of decision support systems in practice is low due to the fact that generally their user affinity inadequate, they lack functionality and that the analysis of the outputs is difficult in present applications.

In the decision making activities of corporate managers access to accurate and timely information is important. Such information actually exists in the data collected during the operation of the organization. Decision support systems is interested in converting the internal and external data of the organization into information which can be used in the decision making process.

Data owned by an organization can be found in various sources. Collecting these in a single pool is desired for easy access. Information collected by the OLTP (OnLine Transaction Processing) systems (databases) by which the organization performs its operational processes need to be collected in a single pool to be used, after performance improving changes, in decision making activities. When it is considered

that the change in data, in other words, the historical changes in the data, is also very important for decision making, the pool called data warehouse is formed, in which all the data is collected. Pulling data out from their related sources and transferring them to the data warehouse is known as ETL (Extract Transform Load). Data warehousing is a method which provides architectures and tools for those who manage their businesses in systematically organizing, understanding their business and to use in decision making. With online analysis processing (OLAP) facilities found among the tools the user can move on the data in a flexible manner, define a data set related to the subject, view the data from different perspectives and display the result in different forms. However, with existing applications trends related to information obtained from data in different categories, scales and units are presented to the decision makers separately without correlation and therefore, a subjective structure of decision making process is produced which depends on the person based on the analysis skill of the decision makers.

It is possible to find improvements, particularly for decision support systems frequently used in the finance and logistics sectors, for improvements in data warehouses where all data for the systems in question are stored and related to access methods to the said data warehouses and patent applications filed in the light of such improvements. For example, the American patent application No: US20030172200 relates to a system and method for the dynamic management and control of a data warehouse management system used particularly in the logistics field, over a computer network. Another American patent application No: US2003225604A1 on the other hand, relates to a system and method for analyzing data and generating estimations. Again, the American patent No: US7152070B1 , relates to a method enabling access to many data sources via the data warehouse. The American application No: US2007022093A1 , on the other hand, relates to a method developed to report data coming from different data sources in different formats. However, when all previous technical documents and existing applications are examined in the light of the disadvantages of the applications in the state of the art mentioned above, no applications relating to a method and a device to enable the functions of presenting data in different categories, with different nominal values, of different units and different scales on the same graph in the from of bar graphs, comparing them with each other and analyzing them are encountered. In existing applications trends related to information obtained from data in different categories, scales and units are presented to decision makers separately without

correlating them. This situation gives rise to the risk of not being able to use some information obtained in previous analyses from high volume of data received from different and very diverse sources. Access to the information may remain limited to the distributed outputs obtained from all these different applications and the people to whom the files are given and thus, an analysis in which all data is taken into the evaluation and their effects reflected into the result, even though in general, can not be in question.

When the information is evaluated separately, because some relations between them and their trends cannot be observed on the same screen or paper via an objective method, generally such relations can not be detected. Therefore, a highly accurate analysis of the conditions relating to the process under analysis and making effective decisions depend entirely on "individual" characteristics such as the attention, experience, correlation and intuitive skills of the analyst examining the information. Dependence on the individual, on the other hand, always comprises a risk fro companies.

The amount of time needed for separately analyzing data from different categories and reaching a decision by integrating the results obtained is very great. Separated evaluation of high volume outputs and/or screen views consisting of different graphs, charts and files and forming observations relating to decision support is a process that requires hours, days and, in fact, months. Along with this information which is to be taken as the basis in the event separated analyses shall be based on historical data. If the changes in the data is desired to be reflected in the deduction to be used in decision support, in order for such current data to be analyzed, each one of the graphs, charts and files need to be obtained and presented to the decision maker again after every data update.

In all existing applications, reviewing criteria such as key performance indicators or critical success factors relating to business processes, determination of problematic, unrelated indicators and/or finding different indicators having greater significance for the observation of the process is made by intuitive methods.

Consequently, the presence of the need for a method and a device enabling any objective and integrated presentation which can be used in the measurement and evaluation of the sensitivity and accuracy of especially the selected performance

indicators and/or measurements and the inadequacy of the solutions existing in this area has necessitated making an improvement in the related technical field.

Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method and a device which satisfies the needs and eliminates all the disadvantages mentioned above and brings in certain additional advantages.

Based on the state of the art the object of the invention is to; the organize different and high volume data which is received from unrelated internal and external sources that are independent from each other, and stored in data warehouses into information and convert them into percentage rations displayed on a single graph and, and thus to present them to decision makers in the form of objective, where necessary, current, and instant reports via an interface consisting of information which can be easily comprehended and interpreted.

More specifically the object of the invention is to; produce a method and a device which will enable the functions of presenting data of different categories, different nominal values, different units and different scales on the same graph in the form of bar graphs, comparing them with each other and analyzing them.

The object of the invention is to; enable correctly selecting criteria used in monitoring business/process performance such as key performance indicators and critical success factors, monitoring and comparing them by integrating high volume data collected from difficult and great number of sources and comparing via objective tools.

The object of the invention is to; enable that the effects of different updates are simultaneously reflected into all variables under study and that instantaneous results are obtained which reflect the current situation when necessary, by processing the changes in all information of different categories, scales and units together with in the conversion unit of the method and device which are the subject matter of the invention.

In existing applications data from different categories, scales and units are presented to decision makers separately. This situation firstly gives rise to the risk of not being able to use some information obtained in previous analyses from high volume of data received from different and very diverse sources. By identifying during design stage of

the system in which the method, which is the subject matter of the invention is used for monitoring any process, all data, information and criteria which may be relevant and displaying them the risk of information loss is eliminated. Additionally, all people who have the authority to use the method and the device, which are the subject matter of the invention, are provided with the facility to analyze the result information obtained via the invented method without requiring then to access separate data sources.

A different object of the invention is; by automating the correlation and analysis process, to enable a presentation of information, which are obtained from data of different categories, scales and units, to enable correlating them in an objective manner and create information based decision mechanisms.

Another object of the invention is to; enable the processing of information with different categories, nominal values, units and scales in a very short time in the order of seconds and displaying instantaneously via a single interface in the from of bar graphs.

Another object of the invention is to be used as a tool which provides feedback in the reviewing of key performance indicators related to business processes and the selection of correct performance indicators and criteria, because the relations and trends for information with different categories, units and scales are produced by an objective method.

In order to satisfy the above mentioned objects the invention relates to; a data analysis method which enables organizing different and high volume data which has different nominal values, different categories, units and scales, which is received from unrelated and internal and external sources, that are independent from each other, and which are stored in data warehouses in the form of information and presenting to decision makers via at least one user interface in the form of objective, current where necessary, and instantaneous reports. The invention is characterized in that; with the collection of the information index elements corresponding to each nominal value and having different categories and scales, the total value of the sub-index elements for each index and by dividing the numerical value of each element in the related index into this total and thus converting the information to be examined into numerical values that correspond to percentage ratios without units to find the effect share percentages for the elements in the index and the presentation of the information converted to numerical values

corresponding to percentage rates to the said decision makers on the same graph over at least one user interface.

In order to satisfy the above mentioned objects the invention relates to; a data analysis device enabling high volume data, which is received from internal and external data sources that are independent of each other and/or un-related with each other and collected in data warehouses and which have different categories, units and scales, to be organized into information and presented to decision makers via at least one user interface in the form of objective, current when necessary, and instantaneous reports, characterized in that the information index corresponding to every nominal value and which has a different category and scale is converted into numerical values corresponding to independent percentage ratios and the information which is converted to numeric values that correspond to the percentage ratios are displayed to the said decision makers via at least one user interface on the same graph in different combinations.

In order to satisfy all the advantages mentioned above and to be understood with the dated description given below, the present invention brings along many facilities with the characteristics mentioned.

The structural and characteristic properties of the invention and all its advantages shall be comprehended more clearly with the figures given below and the detailed description written by reference to these figures and therefore, the evaluation needs to be performed by taking into consideration the said figures and detailed description.

Short Description of the Figures

In order for the embodiment of the present invention and its advantages together with additional elements to be understood in the best way, it needs to be evaluated with the figures described below.

Figure 1 is the block diagram of the method, which is the subject matter of the invention, showing the layers from the collected of the data until their presentation in desired combination.

Reference Numbers and Abbreviations

10. Data sources

11. Data warehouse

12. Converter/device 13. Interface

14. Decision maker

A. Data entry Layer

B. File Layer

C. Application Layer D. Present Layer

ETL (Extract Transform Load) OLTP (OnLine Transaction Processing) OLAP (OnLine Analytical Processing) XML (extensible Markup Language) XLS (Microsoft Excel)

Detailed Description of the Invention

In this detailed description, the method for presentation of the data, which is received from various sources and which has different values, on the same graph, their comparison and analysis and the embodiments of the device relating to this is described only as an example for a better understanding of the matter without bringing any limiting effects? In all descriptions that follow the device and the converter (12) shall be used to have the same meaning.

In Figure 1 the basic block diagram is given for the operation of the method which is the subject matter of the invention. With the method, which is the subject matter of the invention, data on different categories, different values, different units and different scales are compared with each other and analyzed and presented to the user on the same graph via a user interface (13). When information with different units are evaluated separately some relations and trends in between cannot be observed and mostly these relations cannot be detected. Therefore, making a high accuracy analysis of the condition under analysis and effective decisions depends entirely on personal

characteristics such as the attention, experience and correlation and intuitive capability of the person who studies the information. With the method and the device, which are the subject matter of the invention, the analysis process is automated and information obtained from data of different categories, scales and units are presented by correlating them in an objective manner and thus decision making mechanisms that are based on information are enabled.

The amount of time needed for reaching a decision by integrating the results obtained subsequent to separately analyzing data from different categories is very great. Separated evaluation of high volume outputs and/or screen views consisting of different graphs, charts and files and forming observations relating to decision support is a process that requires hours, days and, in fact, months. With the method and the device (12), which are the subject matter of the invention, it is made possible to process the information having different categories, nominal values, units and scales within a short time in the order of seconds and displayed in the form of a bar graph over a single interface (13). In addition to this, because the method and the device (12) enables the display of information on the same graph, in the event of each data update, the effects of the updates on the deduction to be used in decision support can be reflected simultaneously. When required the up to date results on which the effects of updated data shall be obtained when required.

Because the platform on which the method and the device (12), which are the subject matter of the invention, are presented reveals the relations and trends for the information that have different categories, units and scales by an objective method, it can be used as a tool which provides feedback in reviewing the key performance indicators related to the business processes and the selection of correct performance indicators and criteria. Additionally, the device (12), which is the subject matter of the invention, comprises an objective element which supports the identification of mechanism to direct the decision making process in process and/or business management applications and control the execution stages.

It is very important that information collected from numerous data sources (10) are evaluated and analyzed without permitting omissions of any information and by evaluating all the relations between the data and are presented to the decision maker on the same graph. Omission of some data affects the results and hinders the

performance of an accurate analysis. The principle concern is that the decision maker (14) sees the required information on the same graph in which all data are included in an analysis result and that health does not need to interpret separated graphs obtained through numerous and different media (screen displays, outputs etc.). In the block diagram shown in Figure 1 , the steps of the process until the data collected from various data sources (10) are presented to the decision maker (14).

In order to better comprehend the operation of the system, it shall be needed to evaluate the processes in layers. In order to form the information, which are the inputs of the invention, unprocessed raw data are loaded through the data entry layer (A) from independent and unrelated systems by running file transfer tools or web based software tools. To organize the raw data, and convert it into information -which is the input on which the invention is to be used- the data are collected and are subjected to data selection, conversion and loading processes by the ETL. The data received are subjected to data grouping, segmentation and integration processes and converted into information having different categories, different nominal values, different units and different scales and stored in the data warehouse (11) in order to be used as the inputs of the invented method. Said information have now been converted to meaningful and integrated information.

Information indexes having different nominal values, different categories, units and scales are loaded into the device (12) which is the subject matter of the invention in line with the selected criteria. The elements of each information index, having different categories, units and scales, which correspond to each nominal value are added with each other among ^" themselves ^~ and the total values of the index elements for each index are obtained. Dividing the value of each element in the related index into this total this process is performed for the indexes of all information contemplated for study. Thus, the percentage effect share of each element in the index is found and the information to be studied is converted to numerical values corresponding to percentage rates without units. Information which is converted to numerical values corresponding to percentage rates without units are displayed on the same graph via at least one user interface (13) in the form of bar graphs of desired combinations the information which has been normalized on the percentage ratios.

The invention may alternatively b used along with different data/file layers in applications such as statistical applications, decision support applications and reporting applications.

The invention, in its preferred embodiments, is used especially for business intelligence and business performance measurement methods and systems, decision support methods and systems, analysis methods and systems and reporting methods and systems.

The scope of protection of this application is stated in the claims section and cannot be limited to those described above, given absolutely for the sake of example. It is evident that a person specialized in the technology can produce the innovation introduced with the invention by using similar embodiments and/or apply this embodiment to other fields with similar purposes in the related technology. Therefore it is also evident that such embodiments shall be bereft of the innovation criterion and particularly the criterion of exceeding the state of the art in particular in the presence of our application.