Systems and methods for managing large data environments

• US 20040193646A1
• Filed: 03/31/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Swierczek, Chad, Cuckson, Lee T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24564 Applying rules; Deductive queries

Abstract

A data management system includes a plurality of data environments. Each data environment includes data relating to items. A variable relating to each item has a plurality of possible values. A particular value of the variable relating to a specific item in one data environment may be different from the particular value of the variable relating to the specific item in another of the data environments. In the system, a method of managing the data includes identifying a plurality of rules. Each rule represents a unique combination of the possible values of the variable in each of the plurality of data environments. The method also includes creating a record for each item. The record for each item includes an item field that identifies the item and a rule field that associates the item with one of the plurality of rules. The method also includes storing the records and receiving a request at the data management system to display the particular value of an item in one of the data environments. The method further includes locating the record relating to the item, using the rule in the record to determine the value of the item in the data environment, and communicating the value of the particular item.

Claims

1. In a data management system comprising a plurality of data environments, wherein the data environments comprise data relating to items, wherein a variable relating to each item has a plurality of possible values, and wherein a particular value of the variable relating to a specific item in one data environment may be different from the particular value of the variable relating to the specific item in another of the data environments, a method of managing the data, comprising:

identifying a plurality of rules, each rule representing a unique combination of the possible values of the variable in each of the plurality of data environments;

creating a record for each item, wherein the record for each item comprises;

an item field that identifies the item; and

a rule field that associates the item with one of the plurality of rules;

storing the records;

receiving a request at the data management system to display the particular value of an item in one of the data environments;

locating the record relating to the item;

using the rule in the record to determine the value of the item in the data environment; and

communicating the value of the particular item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each record further comprises a start field that identifies a beginning of a period of time during which a rule is associated with an item.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the period of time continues from the beginning of a period of time until a present date.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein each record further comprises an end field that identifies an end of a period of time during which a rule was associated with an item, wherein the period of time continues from the beginning of the period of time until the end of the period of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the items comprise telephone numbers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the variable relates to the status of telephone numbers.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request at the data management system to display a report comprising the value of the variable for a plurality of items; and

displaying the report.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the report comprises rendering the report on a display device.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying the report comprises printing the report on paper.

10. A system for managing data, comprising:

a host computer system programmed to receive data from each of a plurality of data environments, wherein the data environments comprise data relating to items, wherein a variable relating to each item has a plurality of possible values, wherein a particular value of the variable relating to a specific item in one data environment may be different from the particular value of the variable relating to the specific item in another of the data environments, and wherein the host computer system is further programmed to;

receive a plurality of rules, each rule representing a unique combination of the possible values of the variable in each of the plurality of data environments;

create a record for each item, wherein the record for each item comprises;

an item field that identifies the item; and

a rule field that associates the item with one of the plurality of rules;

store the records;

receive a request to display the particular value of an item in one of the data environments;

locate the record relating to the item;

use the rule in the record to determine the value of the item in the data environment; and

communicate the value of the particular item.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each record further comprises a start field that identifies a beginning of a period of time during which a rule is associated with an item.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the period of time continues from the beginning of the period of time until a present date.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein each record further comprises an end field that identifies an end of a period of time during which a rule was associated with an item, wherein the period of time continues from the beginning of the period of time until the end of the period of time.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the items comprise telephone numbers.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the host computer system is further programmed to display the value of the variable relating to an item for inspection by a user on a display monitor associated with the user.

16. A data management system, comprising:

receiving means for receiving data from each of a plurality of data environments, wherein the data environments comprise data relating to items, wherein a variable relating to each item has a plurality of possible values, and wherein a particular value of the variable relating to a specific item in one data environment may be different from the particular value of the variable relating to the specific item in another of the data environments;

rule receiving means for receiving a plurality of rules, each rule representing a unique combination of the possible values of the variable in each of the plurality of data environments;

computing means for creating a record for each item, wherein the record for each item comprises;

an item field that identifies the item; and

a rule field that associates the item with one of the plurality of rules;

and for locating records relating to items and using the rules in the records to determine the value of the item in the data environments;

storage means for storing the records; and

a user interface configured to receive from a user computer a request to display the value of the variable relating an item in one of the data environments and to transmit information that causes the value to be displayed for inspection by the user.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein each record further comprises a start field that identifies a beginning of a period of time during which a rule is associated with an item.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the period of time continues from the beginning of the period of time until a present date.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein each record further comprises an end field that identifies an end of a period of time during which a rule was associated with an item, wherein the period of time continues from the beginning of the period of time until the end of the period of time.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the items comprise telephone numbers.