Visual-modeling technique for use in implementing a database system

• US 20030055837A1
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Published: 03/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teradata US, Inc. (Teradata Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NCR Corporation (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Brobst, Stephen A., Redd, Edwina R., Naik, Ojustwin
• Granted Patent: US 7,167,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/947 Human resources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An interactive visual-modeling tool helps a database architect implement a database system. The tool gathers information about data that will form the content of the database, gathers information about one or more applications that will access the database, and gathers information about one or more phases in which the database-implementation project will occur. The tool uses this information to create a model of relationships among the content, the applications, and the project phases and to calculate costs for the implementation project. The tool then presents the model and the calculated costs to a human user through a graphical display.

Claims

1. A method for use in implementing a database system, the method comprising:

gathering information about data that will form the content of the database;

gathering information about one or more applications that will access the database;

gathering information about one or more phases in which the database-implementation project will occur;

using the gathered information to;

create a model of relationships among the content, the applications, and the project phases; and

calculate costs for the implementation project; and

presenting the model and the calculated costs to a human user through a graphical display.

2. The method of claim 1, where creating a model of relationships includes creating a map that links the database content to the applications that rely on that content.

3. The method of claim 1, where creating a model of relationships includes creating a map that links applications to the project phases in which those applications are to be implemented.

4. The method of claim 1, where calculating costs includes calculating an amount of database resources needed to implement the database system.

5. The method of claim 1, where calculating costs includes calculating an amount of human resources needed to implement the database system.

6. The method of claim 1, where calculating costs includes calculating costs for each phase of the implementation project.

7. The method of claim 1, also including a step of allowing a human user to modify the graphical display to effect changes in the implementation plan.

8. The method of claim 7, also including a step of revising the model of relationships among the content, applications, and phases in response to changes made by the user.

9. The method of claim 7, also including a step of recalculating costs for the implementation project in response to changes made by the user.

10. The method of claim 1, where gathering information about the data that will form the content of the database includes deriving information from a data model that defines a logical structure for the data in the database.

11. A visual modeling tool for use in implementing a database system, the tool comprising computer-readable instructions stored on a tangible storage medium that, when executed by a computer system, cause the system to:

gather information about data that will form the content of the database;

gather information about one or more applications that will access the database;

gather information about one or more phases in which the database-implementation project will occur;

use the gathered information to;

create a model of relationships among the content, the applications, and the project phases; and

calculate costs for the implementation project; and

present the model and the calculated costs to a human user through a graphical display.

12. The tool of claim 11, where, in creating a model of relationships, the computer system creates a map that links the database content to the applications that rely on that content.

13. The tool of claim 11, where, in creating a model of relationships, the computer system creates a map that links applications to the project phases in which those applications are to be implemented.

14. The tool of claim 11, where, in calculating costs, the computer system calculates an amount of database resources needed to implement the database system.

15. The tool of claim 11, where, in calculating costs, the computer system calculates an amount of human resources needed to implement the database system.

16. The tool of claim 11, where, in calculating costs, the computer system calculates costs for each phase of the implementation project.

17. The tool of claim 11, where the computer system also allows a human user to modify the graphical display to effect changes in the implementation plan.

18. The tool of claim 17, where the computer system revises the model of relationships among the content, applications, and phases in response to changes made by the user.

19. The tool of claim 17, where the computer system recalculates costs for the implementation project in response to changes made by the user.

20. The tool of claim 11, where, in gathering information about the data that will form the content of the database, the computer system derives information from a data model that defines a logical structure for the data in the database.