System and method for enabling multiple parents with weights in a multidimensional database environment

Abstract

In accordance with an embodiment, described herein are systems and methods for enabling multiple parents with weights in a multidimensional database. An exemplary system can comprise a computer that includes one or more microprocessors, and a multidimensional database server executing on the computer, wherein the multidimensional database server supports at least one hierarchical structure of data dimensions. A data dimension can comprises a plurality of members, a first set of members being a first level, and a second set of members being at a second level. A member of the second set of members at the second level can comprises two or more member-member relationships with two or more members of the first set of members at the first level. Each of the two or more member-member relationships are associated with a weight.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for enabling multiple parents with weights in a multidimensional database, comprising:
 providing a multidimensional database server executing on a computer, wherein the multidimensional database server supports at least one hierarchical structure of data dimensions;   providing, within the hierarchical structure of data dimensions, a plurality of members comprising at least a first set of members being at a first level and a second set of members being at a second level, wherein a member of the second set of members at the second level comprises two or more member-member relationships with two or more members of the first set of members at the first level; and   associating each of the two or more member-member relationships with a weight of a plurality of weights.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 associating each of the two or more members of the first set of members at the first level with a demand value of a plurality of demand values.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 propagating each of the demand values associated with each of the two or more members of the first set of members at the first level along each of the two or more member-member relationships with the member of the second set of members at the second level.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein propagating each of the demand values utilizes the weight associated with each of the two or more member-member relationships. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 altering each of the weights of the plurality of weights associated with each of the two or more member-member relationships based upon an input received from a client tier.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 updating the propagation of each of the demand values associated with each of the two or more members of the first set of members at the first level along each of the two or more member-member relationships based upon the altered weights associated with each of the two or more member-member relationships.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein updating the propagation of each of the demand values is done in real time based upon the received input from the client tier. 
     
     
         8 . A system for enabling multiple parents with weights in a multidimensional database, comprising:
 a computer that includes one or more microprocessors; and   a multidimensional database server executing on the computer, wherein the multidimensional database server supports at least one hierarchical structure of data dimensions;   wherein the hierarchical structure of data dimensions comprises a plurality of members, the plurality of members comprising a first set of members being at a first level and a second set of members being at a second level;   wherein a member of the second set of members at the second level comprises two or more member-member relationships with two or more members of the first set of members at the first level; and   wherein each of the two or more member-member relationships are associated with a weight of a plurality of weights.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the two or more members of the first set of members at the first level are associated with a demand value of a plurality of demand values. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , each of the demand values associated with each of the two or more members of the first set of members at the first level is propagated along each of the two or more member-member relationships with the member of the second set of members at the second level. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein propagating each of the demand values utilizes the weight associated with each of the two or more member-member relationships. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each of the weights of the plurality of weights associated with each of the two or more member-member relationships is altered based upon an input received from a client tier. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the propagation of each of the demand values associated with each of the two or more members of the first set of members at the first level along each of the two or more member-member relationships is updated based upon the altered weights associated with each of the two or more member-member relationships. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein updating the propagation of each of the demand values is done in real time based upon the received input from the client tier. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions thereon for enabling multiple parents with weights in a multidimensional database, which when read and executed cause a computer to perform steps comprising:
 providing a multidimensional database server executing on a computer, wherein the multidimensional database server supports at least one hierarchical structure of data dimensions;   providing, within the hierarchical structure of data dimensions, a plurality of members comprising at least a first set of members being at a first level and a second set of members being at a second level, wherein a member of the second set of members at the second level comprises two or more member-member relationships with two or more members of the first set of members at the first level; and   associating each of the two or more member-member relationships with a weight of a plurality of weights.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , the steps further comprising:
 associating each of the two or more members of the first set of members at the first level with a demand value of a plurality of demand values.   
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 16 , the steps further comprising:
 propagating each of the demand values associated with each of the two or more members of the first set of members at the first level along each of the two or more member-member relationships with the member of the second set of members at the second level.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein propagating each of the demand values utilizes the weight associated with each of the two or more member-member relationships. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , the steps further comprising:
 altering each of the weights of the plurality of weights associated with each of the two or more member-member relationships based upon an input received from a client tier.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 19 , the steps further comprising:
 updating the propagation of each of the demand values associated with each of the two or more members of the first set of members at the first level along each of the two or more member-member relationships based upon the altered weights associated with each of the two or more member-member relationships; and   wherein updating the propagation of each of the demand values is done in real time based upon the received input from the client tier.