PEER TO PEER (P2P) FEDERATED CONCEPT QUERIES

• US 20080250005A1
• Filed: 06/25/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Workday Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dettinger, Richard D., Kulack, Frederick A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,375,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/256 in federated or virtual databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/903 Querying for retrieval from the web G06F16/953

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention are generally related to data processing, and more specifically to retrieving results for a query from one or more devices coupled to a network. A first device may receive an abstract query including logical fields defined by a first data abstraction model and retrieve query results stored in the first device. The query may be sent to one or more other devices via the network. The one or more other devices may be configured to convert the abstract query to local abstract queries including logical fields defined in local data abstraction models. The local queries may be issued against local databases to retrieve additional results for the query.

Claims

1. A method for retrieving query results comprising:

receiving an abstract query from a requesting entity, wherein the abstract query comprises one or more logical fields defined in a first data abstraction model comprising a plurality of first logical field definitions mapping the first logical fields to physical fields of a first database in a first device coupled to a network;

issuing the abstract query against the database to retrieve a first set of results for the abstract query;

sending the abstract query to at least one second device coupled to the network, the second device comprising a second data abstraction model comprising a plurality of second logical field definitions mapping the second logical fields to physical fields of a second database, wherein the second logical fields are distinct from the first logical fields;

receiving a second set of results for the abstract query from the at least one second device; and

providing the first and second set of results to the requesting entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the abstract query comprises a concept code associated with each of the one or more logical fields of the abstract query, wherein the concept code associates a respective logical field to standardized metadata describing the logical field.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a peer-to-peer network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising concatenating the first set of results and second set of results prior to providing the first and second set of results to the requesting entity.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a union operation to combine the first set of results and the second set of results prior to providing the first and second set of results to the requesting entity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting entity is one of a client computer and an application.

7. The memory circuit of claim 1, wherein the first device and second device are servers.

8. A computer readable storage medium comprising a program product which, when executed by a processor is configured to perform an operation for retrieving query results, comprising:

receiving an abstract query from a requesting entity, wherein the abstract query comprises one or more logical fields defined in a first data abstraction model comprising a plurality of first logical field definitions mapping the first logical fields to physical fields of a first database in a first device coupled to a network;

issuing the abstract query against the database to retrieve a first set of results for the abstract query;

sending the abstract query to at least one second device coupled to the network, the second device comprising a second data abstraction model comprising a plurality of second logical field definitions mapping the second logical fields to physical fields of a second database, wherein the second logical fields are distinct from the first logical fields;

receiving a second set of results for the abstract query from the at least one second device; and

providing the first and second set of results to the requesting entity.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the abstract query comprises a concept code associated with each of the one or more logical fields of the abstract query, wherein the concept code associates a respective logical field to standardized metadata describing the logical field.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the network is a peer-to-peer network.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operation further comprises concatenating the first set of results and second set of results prior to providing the first and second set of results to the requesting entity.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the operation further comprises performing a union operation to combine the first set of results and the second set of results prior to providing the first and second set of results to the requesting entity.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the requesting entity is one of a client computer and an application.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the first device and second device are servers.

15. A system, comprising a plurality of devices coupled via a network, wherein each device is configured to:

receive an abstract query from a requesting entity, wherein the abstract query comprises one or more logical fields defined in a first data abstraction model comprising a plurality of first logical field definitions mapping the first logical fields to physical fields of a first database;

issue the abstract query against the database to retrieve a first set of results for the abstract query;

send the abstract query to at least one other device coupled to the network, the at least one other device comprising a second data abstraction model comprising a plurality of second logical field definitions mapping the second logical fields to physical fields of a second database, wherein the second logical fields are distinct from the first logical fields;

receive a second set of results for the abstract query from the at least one other device; and

provide the first and second set of results to the requesting entity.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the abstract query comprises a concept code associated with each of the one or more logical fields of the abstract query, wherein the concept code associates a respective logical field to standardized metadata describing the logical field.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the network is a peer-to-peer network.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein each device is further configured to concatenate the first set of results and second set of results prior to providing the first and second set of results to the requesting entity.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein each device is further configured to perform a union operation to combine the first set of results and the second set of results prior to providing the first and second set of results to the requesting entity.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the requesting entity is one of a client computer and an application.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of devices are servers.