Method and apparatus for processing a query to a multi-dimensional data structure

• US 20030115194A1
• Filed: 08/01/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Harmony Software, Inc. (Infor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harmony Software, Inc. (Infor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lewsey, Derek A., Pitts, Theodore H., Schmidt, Rolfe R.
• Application Number:
  US10/211,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115194A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24534 Query rewriting; Transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24542 Plan optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24556 Aggregation; Duplicate elimination
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP

Abstract

Consistent with the invention, a method includes receiving dimension solve order rules associated with a set of calculated members, and using the received dimension solve orders rules to translate a client query into a different query with corresponding solve orders.

Claims

1. A method for forming a simplified query having absolute solve orders, the method comprising:

receiving a set of strictly increasing dimension solve order rules associated with a set of calculated measures;

assigning a set of labels to each of the set of calculated measures, the labels being assigned in order;

generating a matrix having rows and columns corresponding to the assigned labels;

receiving a complex query involving aggregation, the complex query corresponding to a multi-dimensional data structure;

parsing the complex query according to a predetermined complex syntax;

determining solve order rules, based on the generated matrix; and

combining information from the parsed complex query with the determined solve order rules, whereby the simplified query is produced.

2. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a set of dimension solve order rules associated with a set of calculated members;

assigning a set of labels to each of the set of calculated members;

generating a matrix corresponding to the assigned labels; and

determining absolute solve orders for a client query based on the generated matrix, wherein the client query involves aggregation of calculated members.

3. A metrics engine comprising:

means for receiving dimension solve order rules associated with a set of calculated members; and

means for determining absolute solve orders for a client query based on the received dimension solve order rules.

4. The metrics engine of claim 3 further comprising:

means for providing global calculated members for formulating a client query.

5. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving dimension solve order rules associated with a set of calculated members; and

using the received dimension solve orders rules to translate a client query into a different query with corresponding solve orders.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 further comprising:

providing global calculated members for formulating a client query.

7. A metrics engine comprising:

means for receiving dimension solve order rules associated with a set of calculated members; and

means for facilitating the application of the dimension solve order rules to a relationship between a calculated member and a dimension.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a client query having at least one associated function; and

supporting a function across calculated members that is not supported by an underlying data source.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 further comprising:

querying the underlying data source for a response to the client query.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein the supported function involves aggregation.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 further comprising:

translating the client query into a different query with corresponding solve orders.

12. A computer-implemented method for forming a simplified query having absolute solve orders, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a complex query involving aggregation of calculated members, the complex query corresponding to a multi-dimensional data structure;

determining absolute solve orders; and

combining information from the complex query with the absolute solve orders, whereby the simplified query is produced.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising:

parsing the complex query.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving a set of dimension solve order rules associated with a set of calculated members.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein the determining absolute solve orders is based on the received set of dimension solve order rules.

16. A computer-implemented method for transforming a client query, the computer-implemented method comprising:

generating at least one member with associated query language for

the client query; and

determining absolute solve orders for generated members.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 further comprising:

receiving a set of dimension solve order rules associated with a set of calculated members.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein determining absolute solve orders is based on the received set of dimension solve order rules.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 16 wherein the client query contains an aggregate function.

20. A computer-implemented method of claim 16 wherein the at least one generated member is a calculated member.

21. A computing system comprising:

a display to provide an interface to facilitate processing of dimension solve order; and

a processing module for receiving the dimension solve order associated with a calculated member from the interface, the dimension solve order indicating where the member should be computed in relation to a dimension.

22. The computing system of claim 21 wherein the processing module is to provide access to global calculated members from the interface.

23. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a set of dimension solve order rules associated with a set of calculated members;

assigning a set of labels to each of the set of calculated members;

generating a matrix corresponding to the assigned labels; and

determining absolute solve orders for a client query based on the generated matrix, wherein the client query involves aggregation across calculated members.

24. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving dimension solve order rules associated with a set of calculated members; and

using the received dimension solve orders rules to translate a client query into a different query with corresponding solve orders.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 24, wherein the method further comprises:

providing global calculated members for formulating a client query.

26. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a complex query involving aggregation of calculated members, the complex query corresponding to a multi-dimensional data structure;

determining absolute solve orders; and

combining information from the complex query with the absolute solve orders to produce a different query.

27. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

generating at least one calculated member with associated query language for the client query; and

determining solve orders for generated calculated members.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a set of dimension solve order rules associated with a set of calculated members.

29. A metrics engine to facilitate application of an aggregate function to calculated members.