Techniques for facilitating the joining of datasets

• US 10,565,222 B2
• Filed: 09/14/2017
• Issued: 02/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Murray, Glenn Allen, Rivas, Luis E.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Baoquoc N
• Application Number:
  US15/705,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20180075115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 887 Days
• Field of Search: 707714, 707E17017
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2456 Join operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for a system that provides an intuitive way for merging or joining data from different datasets. The system may provide graphical interfaces to enable a user to combine or join datasets identified as having a relationship. In at least one embodiment, the system can determine options for joining datasets, such as by a left join, right join, or outer join. A graphical interface may display a visual representation (e.g., a “Glenn Diagram”) illustrate options for joining datasets based on identifying a relationship between the data sets. The representation may further illustrate one or more types of joins and information about the data, such as rows where data may be joined based on the type of join function for the relationship by columns. The visual representation may indicate where the datasets can be joined, such that they are not overlapping.

Claims

1. A method comprising, at a computer system:

generating first profile metadata for each column of a first plurality of columns in a first dataset stored a first data source;

generating second profile metadata for each column of a second plurality of columns in a second dataset stored a second data source;

identifying, based on the first profile metadata and the second profile metadata, a plurality of column pairs between the first dataset and the second dataset, wherein columns in each of the plurality of column pairs have a relationship;

determining one or more recommendations for blending each of one or more column pairs of the plurality of column pairs that have the relationship;

determining one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs based on the one or more recommendations for blending each of the one or more column pairs;

generating a first graphical interface to display each of the one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs that have the relationship, wherein each of the one or more types of join functions are displayed showing a diagram of a type of join function for joining the first dataset with the second dataset by columns in a different column pair of the plurality of column pairs;

receiving input corresponding to selection of a first type of join function of the one or more types of join functions; and

generating a second graphical interface to display a third dataset based on joining, according to the first type of join function, the first dataset at a first column within a first column pair with the second dataset at a second column in the first column pair.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the diagram of the type of join function displayed for the type of join function is displayed with a visual appearance where columns in the first column pair are joined between the first dataset and the second dataset.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the third dataset is displayed with an visual appearance that indicates columns in the first column pair where the first dataset and the second dataset are joined to form the third dataset.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the third dataset based on joining, according to the first type of join function, the first dataset at the first column within the first column pair with the second dataset at the second column in the first column pair.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the input is a first input, and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a second input corresponding to a selection of a second type of join function of the one or more types of join functions; and

updating the second graphical interface to display a fourth third dataset based on joining, according to the second type of join function, the first dataset at a first column within a second column pair with the second dataset at a second column in the second column pair.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more types of join functions includes a left join, a right join, or an outer join.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first graphical interface presents each of the identified column pairs with one of the one or more types of join functions.

8. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory accessible to the one or more processors, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to;

generate first profile metadata for each column of a first plurality of columns in a first dataset stored a first data source;

generate second profile metadata for each column of a second plurality of columns in a second dataset stored a second data source;

identify, based on the first profile metadata and the second profile metadata, a plurality of column pairs between the first dataset and the second dataset, wherein columns in each of the plurality of column pairs have a relationship;

determining one or more recommendations for blending each of one or more column pairs of the plurality of column pairs that have the relationship;

determine one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs based on the one or more recommendations for blending each of the one or more column pairs;

generate a first graphical interface to display each of the one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs that have the relationship, wherein each of the one or more types of join functions are displayed showing a diagram of a type of join function for joining the first dataset with the second dataset by columns in a different column pair of the plurality of column pairs;

receive input corresponding to selection of a first type of join function of the one or more types of join functions; and

generate a second graphical interface to display a third dataset based on joining, according to the first type of join function, the first dataset at a first column within a first column pair with the second dataset at a second column in the first column pair.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the diagram of the type of join function displayed for the type of join function is displayed with a visual appearance where columns in the first column pair are joined between the first dataset and the second dataset.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the third dataset is displayed with an visual appearance that indicates columns in the first column pair where the first dataset and the second dataset are joined to form the third dataset.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

generate the third dataset based on joining, according to the first type of join function, the first dataset at the first column within the first column pair with the second dataset at the second column in the first column pair.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the input is a first input, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:

receive second input corresponding to a selection of a second type of join function of the one or more types of join functions; and

update the second graphical interface to display a fourth third dataset based on joining, according to the second type of join function, the first dataset at a first column within a second column pair with the second dataset at a second column in the second column pair.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more types of join functions includes a left join, a right join, or an outer join.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing one or more instructions that are executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to:

generate first profile metadata for each column of a first plurality of columns in a first dataset stored a first data source;

generate second profile metadata for each column of a second plurality of columns in a second dataset stored a second data source;

identify, based on the first profile metadata and the second profile metadata, a plurality of column pairs between the first dataset and the second dataset, wherein columns in each of the plurality of column pairs have a relationship;

determine one or more recommendations for blending each of one or more column pairs of the plurality of column pairs that have the relationship;

determine one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs based on the one or more recommendations for blending each of the one or more column pairs;

generate a first graphical interface to display each of the one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs that have the relationship, wherein each of the one or more types of join functions are displayed showing a diagram of a type of join function for joining the first dataset with the second dataset by columns in a different column pair of the plurality of column pairs;

receive input corresponding to selection of a first type of join function of the one or more types of join functions; and

generate a second graphical interface to display a third dataset based on joining, according to the first type of join function, the first dataset at a first column within a first column pair with the second dataset at a second column in the first column pair.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the diagram of the type of join function displayed for the type of join function is displayed with a visual appearance where columns in the first column pair are joined between the first dataset and the second dataset.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the third dataset is displayed with an visual appearance that indicates columns in the first column pair where the first dataset and the second dataset are joined to form the third dataset.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the one or more instructions are executable by the one or more processors to further cause the one or more processors to:

generate the third dataset based on joining, according to the first type of join function, the first dataset at the first column within the first column pair with the second dataset at the second column in the first column pair.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the input is a first input, and wherein the one or more instructions are executable by the one or more processors to further cause the one or more processors to:

receive second input corresponding to selection of a second type of join function of the one or more types of join functions; and

update the second graphical interface to display a fourth third dataset based on joining, according to the second type of join function, the first dataset at a first column within a second column pair with the second dataset at a second column in the second column pair.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the one or more types of join functions includes a left join, a right join, or an outer join.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first graphical interface presents each of the identified column pairs with one of the one or more types of join functions.