Data processing apparatus and method including proportional updating of data

摘要

A hierarchical database reporting and updating system is disclosed. The invention makes unique use of bit vectors to represent the relationship between various data items to enable the system to provide powerful data analysis functions. The data structure allows users to change values which represent intermediate or grand summary levels. Such changes are prorated across all lower level data items which make up the intermediate or grand summary level. The invention also allows for the graphical representation of data. Users may modify these graphical representations and the system will update the underlying data.