The present invention leverages curve fitting data techniques to provide
automatic detection of data anomalies in a "data tube" from a data
perspective, allowing, for example, detection of data anomalies such as
on-screen, drill down, and drill across data anomalies in, for example,
pivot tables and/or OLAP cubes. It determines if data substantially
deviates from a predicted value established by a curve fitting process
such as, for example, a piece-wise linear function applied to the data
tube. A threshold value can also be employed by the present invention to
facilitate in determining a degree of deviation necessary before a data
value is considered anomalous. The threshold value can be supplied
dynamically and/or statically by a system and/or a user via a user
interface. Additionally, the present invention provides an indication to
a user of the type and location of a detected anomaly from a top level
data perspective.