Metadata database management system and method therefor

• US 20060253495A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 11/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Refinitiv US Organization, LLC (Refinitiv US Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Reuters Limited (The Woodbridge Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: PNG, TECK HOK
• Granted Patent: US 7,613,728 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 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A metadata database management system (300), comprising a metadata database (305) and a knowledge manager (310), for dynamically coupling to a database system (315). The metadata database (305) provides a single knowledge repository for storing metadata assoicated with information sources (330), that provide information that is processed by inbound information processors (325) for storage in the database system (315); and metadata associated with information consumers (340), that provide information retrieved from the database system (315), and processed by the outbound information processors (335). The knowledge manager (310) is coupled to access the metadata database (305), and provides one or more metadata applications that selectively use the metadata in the metadata database (305) to manage a plurality of knowledge aspects of the database system (315), the information sources (325) and the information consumers (335).

Claims

1. A metadata database management system for at least one database, wherein the at least one database is coupled to receive information from at least one information source and coupled to provide information to at least one information consumer, the metadata database management system comprising:

a metadata database for storing metadata associated with data stored in the at least one database, for storing metadata associated with the at least one information source, and for storing metadata associated with the at least one information consumer; and

a knowledge manager coupled to the metadata database, the knowledge manager comprising at least one metadata application for managing a plurality of knowledge aspects of the at least one database, the at least one metadata application for accessing at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database, and the at least one metadata application for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one of the plurality of knowledge aspects of the at least one database.

2. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1 being adapted for dynamically coupling to the at least one database.

3. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1 being adapted for dynamically coupling to the plurality of information sources.

4. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1 being adapted for dynamically coupling to the plurality of information consumers.

5. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one information source comprises at least another database, the metadata database management system for coupling to the at least another database, and the metadata database for storing metadata associated with the at least another database.

6. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the at least another database has at least another one information source coupled thereto, the metadata database management system for coupling to the at least another one information source, and the metadata database for storing metadata associated with the at least another one information source.

7. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 5, wherein the at least another database has at least another one information consumer coupled thereto, the metadata database management system for coupling to the at least another one information consumer, and the metadata database for storing metadata associated with the at least another one information consumer.

8. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one information consumer comprises at least one other database, the metadata database management system for coupling to the at least one other database, and the metadata database for storing metadata associated with the at least one other database.

9. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the at least one other database is coupled to at least one other information source, the metadata database management system for coupling to the at least one other information source, and the metadata database for storing metadata associated with the at least one other information source.

10. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the at least one other database is coupled to at least one other information consumer, the metadata database management system for coupling to the at least one other information consumer, and the metadata database for storing metadata associated with the at least one other information consumer.

11. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database constitute a knowledge portion of the metadata database, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one knowledge metadata.

12. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database constitute a knowledge entity portion of the metadata database, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one knowledge entity metadata.

13. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database constitute a data mapping portion of the metadata database, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one data mapping metadata.

14. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database constitute a data dictionary portion of the metadata database, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one data dictionary metadata.

15. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database constitute a change management portion of the metadata database, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one change management metadata.

16. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database constitute a business rules portion of the metadata database, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one business rules metadata.

17. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database constitute a business event portion of the metadata database, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one business event metadata.

18. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database constitute a reference and standards portion of the metadata database, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one reference and standards metadata.

19. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database constitute a multiple language portion of the metadata database, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one multiple language metadata.

20. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database constitute a document resources portion of the metadata database, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one document resources metadata.

21. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a data model manager for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one data model of the at least one database.

22. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a data dictionary manager for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one data dictionary of the at least one database.

23. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a knowledge entity manager for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one knowledge entity of the at least one database.

24. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a data mapper for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one data mapping of the at least one database.

25. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a change manager for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one change associated with the at least one database.

26. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a business rules processor for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one business rule associate with the at least one database.

27. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a reference and standards processor for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one reference of the at least one database.

28. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 27, wherein the at least one reference comprises at least one standard.

29. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a performance manager for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one performance aspect of the at least one database.

30. A metadata database management system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a graphical user interface for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one graphical user interface aspect of the at least one database.

31. A metadata database for a metadata database management system of at least one database, wherein the at least one database is coupled to receive information from at least one information source and coupled to provide information to at least one information consumer, the metadata database comprising:

a metadata repository for storing metadata associated with data stored in the at least one database, for storing metadata associated with the at least one information source, and for storing metadata associated with the at least one information consumer.

32. A metadata database in accordance with claim 31, wherein at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata repository constitute a knowledge portion of the metadata repository, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one knowledge metadata.

33. A metadata database in accordance with claim 31, wherein at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata repository constitute a knowledge entity portion of the metadata repository, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one knowledge entity metadata.

34. A metadata database in accordance with claim 31, wherein at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata repository constitute a data mapping portion of the metadata repository, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one data mapping metadata.

35. A metadata database in accordance with claim 31, wherein at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata repository constitute a data dictionary portion of the metadata repository, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one data dictionary metadata.

36. A metadata database in accordance with claim 31, wherein at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata repository constitute a change management portion of the metadata repository, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one change management metadata.

37. A metadata database in accordance with claim 31, wherein at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata repository constitute a business rules portion of the metadata repository, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one business rules metadata.

38. A metadata database in accordance with claim 31, wherein at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata repository constitute a business event portion of the metadata repository, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one business event metadata.

39. A metadata database in accordance with claim 31, wherein at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata repository constitute a reference and standards portion of the metadata repository, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one reference and standards metadata.

40. A metadata database in accordance with claim 31, wherein at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata repository constitute a multiple language portion of the metadata repository, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one multiple language metadata.

41. A metadata database in accordance with claim 31, wherein at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata repository constitute a document resources portion of the metadata repository, and wherein the at least some of the metadata comprises at least one document resources metadata.

42. A knowledge manager for a metadata database management system of at least one database, wherein the at least one database is coupled to receive information from at least one information source and coupled to provide information to at least one information consumer, the knowledge manager comprising:

at least one metadata application for coupling to a metadata database, the at least one metadata application for managing a plurality of knowledge aspects of the at least one database, the at least one metadata application for accessing at least some of the metadata stored in the metadata database, and the at least one metadata application for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one of the plurality of knowledge aspects of the at least one database.

43. A knowledge manager in accordance with claim 42, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a data model manager for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one data model of the at least one database.

44. A knowledge manager in accordance with claim 42, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a dictionary manager for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one data dictionary of the at least one database.

45. A knowledge manager in accordance with claim 42, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a knowledge entity manager for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one knowledge entity of the at least one database.

46. A knowledge manager in accordance with claim 42, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a data mapper for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one data mapping of the at least one database.

47. A knowledge manager in accordance with claim 42, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a change manager for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one change associated with the at least one database.

48. A knowledge manager in accordance with claim 42, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a business rules processor for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one business rule associate with the at least one database.

49. A knowledge manager in accordance with claim 42, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a reference and standards processor for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one reference of the at least one database.

50. A knowledge manager in accordance with claim 49, wherein the at least one reference comprises at least one standard.

51. A knowledge manager in accordance with claim 42, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises a performance manager for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one performance aspect of the at least one database.

52. A knowledge manager in accordance with claim 42, wherein the at least one metadata application comprises at least one graphical user interface for using the at least some of the metadata to manage at least one graphical user interface aspect of the at least one database.