Mapping of an RDBMS schema onto a multidimensional data model
First Claim
1. A method of translating a relational model defined by a relational table into a multi-dimensional data model, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) if the relational table is not normalized, creating a normalized table from the relational table and defining a relationship between the relational table and the normalized table, and if the relational table is normalized, referring to the relational table as the normalized table; and
(b) transforming the normalized table into an OLAP model.
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Abstract
A Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) having any arbitrary structure is translated into a multi-dimensional data model suitable for performing OLAP operations upon. If a relational table defining the relational model includes any tables with cardinality of 1,1 or 0,1, the tables are merged into a single table. If the relational table is not normalized, then normalization is performed and a relationship between the original table and the normalized table is created. If the relational table is normalized, but not by dependence between columns, such as in the dimension table in a snowflake schema, the normalization process is performed using the foreign key in order to generate the normalized table. Once the normalized table is generated, OLAP measures are derived from the normalized relational table by an automated method. In addition, OLAP dimensions are derived from the normalized relational table and the results of the OLAP measures derivation by an automated method according to the present invention. According to an aspect, it is possible to associate a member of a dimension to another member of the same or another dimension. According to another aspect, it is possible to create a new dimension of analysis, the members of which are all the different values that a scalar expression can take on. According to yet another aspect, it is possible to access the various instances of a Reporting Object as members in an OLAP dimension. According to the yet another aspect, it is possible to apply opaque filters or a combination of them to the data that underlies analysis.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of translating a relational model defined by a relational table into a multi-dimensional data model, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) if the relational table is not normalized, creating a normalized table from the relational table and defining a relationship between the relational table and the normalized table, and if the relational table is normalized, referring to the relational table as the normalized table; and
(b) transforming the normalized table into an OLAP model. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of translating a relational model into a multi-dimensional data model, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) creating a list B having all tables in the relational model that do not reference a foreign key from another table, excluding recursive relations; and
(b) creating a list M from amongst all columns of the tables in the list B containing one or more aggregation measures for each column that is not a primary or a foreign key and that is numerical. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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12. A method of translating a relational model into a multi-dimensional data model, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) creating a list A with all tables in the relational model that do not have any foreign keys, excluding recursive relations;
(b) defining a hierarchy for each table found in the list A, and associating the hierarchy to the table;
(c) for each hierarchy, adding a first level ALL;
(d) creating a list B having all tables in the relational model that do not reference a foreign key from another table, excluding recursive relations, and for each table not in the list B, creating a level; and
(e) completing all hierarchies by using relations between tables, such that levels are placed in a correct order under each hierarchy.
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30. A method of translating a relational model into a multi-dimensional data model, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) calculating a number of distinct values for each column in a table;
(b) collecting as a level or an attribute each column that has a number of distinct values that is very similar to a number of rows;
(c) for each column not collected by step (b), grouping columns that are similar; and
(d) creating a list ORD by ordering groups by an ascending number of distinct values. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification