Systems, methods, and computer program products to identify related data in a multidimensional database

• US 20040122820A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Malloy, William Earl, Pu, Ken Qian
• Granted Patent: US 7,472,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2264 Multidimensional index structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/957 Multidimensional
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/958 Data cubes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• 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 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer products that identify data that is related to and associated with data that has been selected from a multidimensional database. The overwhelming amount of data in a multidimensional database that may be viewed by a user, such as a data analyst, is reduced to the selected and associated data by use of index data and related index data, according to the present invention. The views of selected data and related data may be highlighted and formatted for presentation to the user. Further, irrelevant data is filtered out and not presented to the user. Existing systems have not been able to efficiently and adequately identify data that is related to and associated with selected data in a multidimensional database.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for identifying related data that is associated with selected data, said selected data that is implemented in a subject multidimensional database, said selected data being obtained by use of index data that is implemented in an index multidimensional database, comprising:

identifying related index data from said index data; and

identifying said related data from said selected data by use of said related index data.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating a view of said selected data;

creating a query by use of said view of selected data; and

identifying said related data by said query that is directed to said index multidimensional database.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising creating a view of said related data.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising formatting said view of said selected data for presentation to a user.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 further comprising formatting said view of said related data for presentation to a user.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining highlighting criteria for said selected data; and

highlighting said selected data in said view based on said highlighting criteria.

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

determining highlighting criteria for said related data; and

highlighting said related data in said view based on said highlighting criteria.

8. A computer system for identifying related data that is associated with selected data said selected data that is implemented in a subject multidimensional database, said selected data being obtained by use of index data that is implemented in an index multidimensional database, comprising:

related index data from said index data; and

said related data that is identified from said selected data by use of said related index data.

9. The computer system of claim 8, further comprising:

a view of said selected data;

a query that is created by use of said view of selected data; and

said related data that is identified by said query that is directed to said index multidimensional database.

10. The computer system of claim 8, further comprising a view of said related data.

11. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising a formatted said view of said selected data that is presented to a user.

12. The computer system of claim 10 further comprising a formatted said view of said related data for presentation to a user.

13. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising highlighting said selected data in said view based on highlighting criteria.

14. The computer system of claim 12, further comprising highlighting said related data in said view based on highlighting criteria.

15. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program storage medium usable by said computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by said computer for identifying related data that is associated with selected data, said selected data that is implemented in a subject multidimensional database, said selected data being obtained by use of index data that is implemented in an index multidimensional database, wherein:

said computer usable program code identifies related index data from said index data; and

said computer usable program code identifies said related data from said selected data by use of said related index data.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein:

said computer usable program code creates a view of said selected data;

said computer usable program code creates a query by use of said view of selected data; and

said computer usable program code identifies said related data by said query that is directed to said index multidimensional database.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein said computer usable program code creates a view of said related data.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 16, wherein said computer usable program code formats said view of said selected data for presentation to a user.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein said computer usable program code formats said view of said related data for presentation to a user.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 18, wherein:

said computer usable program code determines highlighting criteria for said selected data; and

said computer usable program code highlights said selected data in said view based on said highlighting criteria.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein:

said computer usable program code determines highlighting criteria for said related data; and

said computer usable program code highlights said related data in said view based on said highlighting criteria.