Method and system for creating a data dictionary

• US 20090063546A1
• Filed: 08/31/2007
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Bradley, Adrian, Hoehne, Brian John, Sullivan, Andrew Donald, Muir, Thomas Gerard, Henninger, Franklin Harrison
• Application Number:
  US11/896,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063546A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/242 Dictionaries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/247 Thesauruses; Synonyms

Abstract

A method is provided for creating a data dictionary. The method may include creating a first tier for the dictionary, the first tier including a descriptor name. The method may also include creating a second tier for the dictionary by creating a temporary term associated with the descriptor name; defining the temporary term using one or more attributes; checking, based on the attributes, a dictionary for an existing term with attributes that are the same as the attributes of the temporary term; associating, when the attributes are the same, the temporary term with the existing term in the second tier; and creating a new term in the second tier when the attributes are different. Further, the method may include creating a third tier for the dictionary, the third tier including process units for the attributes.

Claims

1. A method for creating a dictionary comprising one or more terms, the method comprising:

creating a first tier for the dictionary, the first tier including a descriptor name;

creating a second tier for the dictionary by;

creating a temporary term associated with the descriptor name;

defining the temporary term using one or more attributes;

checking, based on the attributes, a dictionary for an existing term with attributes that are the same as the attributes of the temporary term;

associating, when the attributes are the same, the temporary term with the existing term in the second tier; and

creating a new term in the second tier when the attributes are different; and

creating a third tier for the dictionary, the third tier including process units for the attributes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the dictionary is arranged using a matrix structure.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the descriptor name identifies a product category for the term.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the attributes identify a product associated with the term and define measurements for the term.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the process units define how the measurements are calculated.

6. The method of claim 1, further including developing product specifications using the dictionary.

7. The method of claim 6, further including searching the dictionary to identify products that meet the product specifications.

8. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method for creating a dictionary comprising one or more terms, the method comprising:

creating a first tier for the dictionary, the first tier including a descriptor name;

creating a second tier for the dictionary by;

creating a temporary term associated with the descriptor name;

defining the temporary term using one or more attributes;

checking, based on the attributes, a dictionary for an existing term with attributes that are the same as the attributes of the temporary term;

associating, when the attributes are the same, the temporary term with the existing term in the second tier; and

creating a new term in the second tier when the attributes are different; and

creating a third tier for the dictionary, the third tier including process units for the attributes.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the method further includes arranging the dictionary using a matrix structure.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the descriptor name identifies a product category for the term.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the attributes identify a product associated with the term and define measurements for the term.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the process units define how the measurements are calculated.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further including developing product specifications using the dictionary.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further including searching the dictionary to identify products that meet the product specifications.

15. A system for creating a dictionary comprising one or more terms, comprising:

a memory;

at least one input device; and

at least one central processing unit in communication with the memory and the at least one input device, wherein the central processing unit;

creates a first tier for the dictionary, the first tier including a descriptor name;

creates a second tier for the dictionary by;

creating a temporary term associated with the descriptor name;

defining the temporary term using one or more attributes;

checking, based on the attributes, a dictionary for an existing term with attributes that are the same as the attributes of the temporary term;

associating, when the attributes are the same, the temporary term with the existing term in the second tier; and

creating a new term in the second tier when the attributes are different; and

creates a third tier for the dictionary, the third tier including process units for the attributes.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the dictionary is arranged using a matrix structure.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the descriptor name identifies a product category for the term.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the attributes identify a product associated with the term and define measurements for the term.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the process units define how the measurements are calculated.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the central processing unit further:

develop product specifications using the dictionary; and

searches the dictionary to identify products that meet the product specifications.