Unified management of time related information

A method comprising:

• storing a plurality of entity records including entity data in a database, wherein each of the entity records has an associated time period in which the entity record's entity data valid, wherein the database is organized to include:
• a first data group associated with at least one entity record from the plurality of entity records, wherein the at least one entity record associated with the first data group has a first data type, and
• a second data group associated with at least one entity record from the plurality of entity records, wherein the at least one entity record associated with the second data group has a second data type different from the first data type;
• obtaining the stored entity data;
• and
• creating:
• (a) a forward time control that, when selected, causes a time value to move forward in time,
• (b) a backward time control that, when selected, causes the time value to move backward in time,
• (c) a first data group view configured to display at least a portion of a first entity record, the first entity record:
• (i) associated with the first data group, (ii) having the first data type, and (iii) associated with a first valid time period that includes the time value,
• (d) a second data group view configured to display at least a portion of a second entity record, the second entity record:
• (i) associated with the second data group, (ii) having the second data type, and (iii) associated with a second valid time period, different from the first valid time period, that includes the time value, and
• (e) a history view comprising a table with table rows, each table row presenting data associated with an entity record and a timeline value that indicates whether a valid time period associated with the data is in the past, present, or future relative to the time value, the table including both entity data having the first data type and entity data having the second data type.

A system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor;
• a means for storing a plurality of entity records including entity data, wherein each of the entity records has an associated time period in which the entity record's entity data is valid;
• a first data group associated with at least one entity record from the plurality of entity records, wherein the at least one entity record associated with the first data group has a first data type;
• a second data group associated with at least one entity record from the plurality of entity records, wherein the at least one entity record associated with the second data group has a second data type different from the first data type;
• a means for obtaining entity data;
• and
• a means for creating:
• (a) a forward time control that, when selected, causes a time value to move forward in time,
• (b) a backward time control that, when selected, causes the time value to move backward in time,
• (c) a first data group view configured to display at least a portion of a first entity record, the first entity record:
• (i) associated with the first data group, (ii) having the first data type, and (iii) associated with a first valid time period that includes the time value,
• (d) a second data group view configured to display at least a portion of a second entity record, the second entity record:
• (i) associated with the second data group, (ii) having the second data type, and (iii) associated with a second valid time period, different from the first valid time period, that includes the time value, and
• (e) a history view comprising a table with table rows, each table row presenting data associated with an entity record and a timeline value that indicates whether a valid time period associated with the data is in the past, present, or future relative to the time value, the table including both entity data having the first data type and entity data having the second data type.