Systems, methods, and computer program products that automatically discover metadata objects and generate multidimensional models

• US 20050278290A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Coates, Marlene L., Bruce, Jay M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,707,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer products that include an automated discovery process that discovers useful metadata objects from an intelligent starting point thereby generating at least one multidimensional model for OLAP analysis. Further, generation of the intelligent starting point may be derived by use of a multidimensional analysis program that analyzes the results of query mining and query analysis. The preferred embodiment of the present invention determines whether metadata useful for OLAP analysis exists by evaluating patterns found in the queries. In addition to using the starting point derived from the results of query mining and query analysis, the preferred embodiment of the present invention may also limit search parameters to narrow the scope of searching for an intelligent starting point and thereby both increase the probability of producing an accurate cube multidimensional model and increase the efficiency of determining the intelligent starting point.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, said computer including a relational database and at least one metadata object, said method comprising:

analyzing at least one query object that queries said relational database;

selecting a starting point from said at least one analyzed query object; and

discovering said at least one metadata object from said starting point and thereby generating a multidimensional model.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing includes mining said at least one query object.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said analyzing includes filtering said at least one query object.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein said filtering includes matching patterns associated with said at least one analyzed query object.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said starting point comprises at least one table associated with said relational database.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said selecting a starting point further comprises accessing at least one table from said relational database.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining a maximum depth level from said at least one query object thereby limiting said discovery of at least one metadata object.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein when said metadata is not useful, selecting a new said starting point based on said at least one analyzed query object.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said generating multidimensional model results in at least two said generated multidimensional models, further comprising:

ordering said at least two generated multidimensional models; and

presenting said ordered multidimensional models to a user.

10. A computer system including a relational database and at least one metadata object comprising:

at least one query object that analyzes queries included in said relational database;

a starting point that is selected from said at least one analyzed query object; and

said at least one metadata object that is discovered from said starting point and that thereby generates a multidimensional model.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said analyzed query object includes at least one mined said query object.

12. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said analyzed query object includes at least one filtered said query object.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein said filtered query object is obtained by matching patterns associated with said at least one analyzed query object.

14. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said starting point comprises at least one table associated with said relational database.

15. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said selected starting point is obtained by accessing at least one table from said relational database.

16. The computer system of claim 10, further comprising a maximum depth level that is determined from said at least one query object and that thereby limits said at least one metadata object.

17. The computer system of claim 10, wherein when said metadata is not useful, a new said starting point replaces said starting point, and said new starting point is based on said at least one analyzed query object.

18. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said generated multidimensional model results in at least two said generated multidimensional models, further comprising ordered said at least two generated multidimensional models that are presented to a user.

19. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program usable medium embodying one or more instructions executable by said computer, said computer including a relational database and at least one metadata object, comprising:

said computer usable instructions that analyze at least one query object that queries said relational database;

said computer usable instructions that select a starting point from said at least one analyzed query object; and

said computer usable instructions that discover said at least one metadata object from said starting point and thereby generate a multidimensional model.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein said at least one analyzed query object includes said computer usable instructions that mine said at least one query object.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein said at least one analyzed query object includes said computer usable instructions that filter said at least one query object.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 21, wherein said filtering includes said computer usable instructions that match patterns associated with said at least one analyzed query object.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein said starting point comprises at least one table associated with said relational database.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein said selected starting point further comprises said computer usable instructions that access at least one table from said relational database.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 19, further comprising said computer usable instructions that determine a maximum depth level from said at least one query object thereby limiting said discovery of at least one metadata object.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein when said metadata is not useful, said computer usable instructions select a new said starting point based on said at least one analyzed query object.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein said generated multidimensional model results in at least two said generated multidimensional models, further comprising:

said computer usable instructions that order said at least two generated multidimensional models; and

said computer usable instructions that present said ordered multidimensional models to a user.

28. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave, said computer including a relational database and at least one metadata object, said computer data signal having one or more instructions, comprising:

said one or more instructions that analyze at least one query object that queries said relational database;

said one or more instructions that select a starting point from said at least one analyzed query object; and

said one or more instructions that discover said at least one metadata object from said starting point and thereby generate a multidimensional model.

29. The computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave of claim 28 wherein said generated multidimensional model results in at least two said generated multidimensional models, further comprising:

said one or more instructions that order said at least two generated multidimensional models; and

said one or more instructions that present said ordered multidimensional models to a user.