Managing metadata for graph-based computations

• US 20060294150A1
• Filed: 06/27/2005
• Published: 12/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ab Initio Technology LLC (Ab Initio Software Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ab Initio Technology LLC (Ab Initio Software Corporation)
• Inventors: Stanfill, Craig W., Larson, Brond, Allin, Glenn John, Wholey, J. Skeffington
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24526 Internal representations for queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/51 Source to source

Abstract

Determining metadata associated with a graph-based computation includes functionally transforming metadata associated with a first portion of a graph to generate transformed metadata associated with a second portion of the graph; determining a third portion of the graph related to the second portion of the graph; and propagating the transformed metadata from the second portion of the graph to the third portion of the graph.

Claims

1. A method for determining metadata associated with a graph-based computation including:

functionally transforming metadata associated with a first portion of a graph to generate transformed metadata associated with a second portion of the graph;

determining a third portion of the graph related to the second portion of the graph; and

propagating the transformed metadata from the second portion of the graph to the third portion of the graph.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third portion of the graph is related to the second portion of the graph by a data flow.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the data flow includes a data flow between ports of two interconnected graph elements.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the data flow includes an internal data flow between two ports of a graph element.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the third portion of the graph is related to the second portion of the graph by a link indicating that metadata associated with second portion should also be associated with the third portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

the first portion includes a first port of a first graph element;

and

the second portion includes a second port of the first graph element.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the functional transformation includes a metadata definition that includes at least one reference to the metadata associated with the first port.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the metadata definition defines metadata for the second port as a function of the referenced metadata.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first port is an input port and the second port is an output port.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata being functionally transformed supplied by a user.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata being functionally transformed is propagated from a fourth portion of the graph.

12. The method of claim 1, further including propagating the transformed metadata in response to a change in connectivity of the graph.

13. The method of claim 1, further including propagating the transformed metadata in response to a user action.

14. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving a request from a user; and

displaying metadata associated with a graph element to the user in response to the request.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the request from the user includes input from the user selecting a graph element for which metadata is to be displayed.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the input from the user includes positioning an on-screen pointer near a graphical representation of the selected graph element for a predetermined amount of time.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the displayed metadata includes metadata propagated from another graph element.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the displayed metadata is displayed before the graph is run.

19. Software stored on a computer-readable medium, for determining metadata associated with a graph-based computation, the software including instructions for causing a computer system to:

functionally transform metadata associated with a first portion of a graph to generate transformed metadata associated with a second portion of the graph;

determine a third portion of the graph related to the second portion of the graph; and

propagate the transformed metadata from the second portion of the graph to the third portion of the graph.

20. A system for determining metadata associated with a graph-based computation, the system including:

means for functionally transforming metadata associated with a first portion of a graph to generate transformed metadata associated with a second portion of the graph;

means for determining a third portion of the graph related to the second portion of the graph; and

means for propagating the transformed metadata from the second portion of the graph to the third portion of the graph.