SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY SELECTING A DATA SOURCE FOR PROVIDING DATA RELATED TO A QUERY
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of prioritizing a predefined set of electronic data sources, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a database containing metadata related to the predefined set of electronic data sources, the metadata comprising, for each electronic data source, one or more source fields, each source field comprising a source data item or a source dimension;
electronically receiving first signals at a processor, the first signals related to a query for a data value;
electronically identifying a query data item and one or more query dimensions based on the query;
electronically determining the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item;
electronically and dynamically ranking the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item based on at least the ability of the data sources to provide data at the one or more query dimensions and the extent of aggregation necessary to provide the data; and
electronically identifying one or more of the data sources having the highest rank as preferred data sources for locating the data value.
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Abstract
A computer-implemented method of prioritizing a predefined set of electronic data sources includes the steps of electronically determining data sources in which at least one of one or more source fields is the same as a query data item of a query statement, electronically and dynamically ranking the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item based on at least the ability of the data sources to provide data at one or more query dimensions of the query statement and the extent of aggregation necessary to provide the data, and electronically identifying one or more of the data sources having the highest rank as preferred data sources for locating the data value.
90 Citations
43 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of prioritizing a predefined set of electronic data sources, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a database containing metadata related to the predefined set of electronic data sources, the metadata comprising, for each electronic data source, one or more source fields, each source field comprising a source data item or a source dimension; electronically receiving first signals at a processor, the first signals related to a query for a data value; electronically identifying a query data item and one or more query dimensions based on the query; electronically determining the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item; electronically and dynamically ranking the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item based on at least the ability of the data sources to provide data at the one or more query dimensions and the extent of aggregation necessary to provide the data; and electronically identifying one or more of the data sources having the highest rank as preferred data sources for locating the data value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for prioritizing a predefined set of electronic data sources, comprising:
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a database containing metadata related to the predefined set of electronic data sources, the metadata comprising, for each electronic data source, one or more source fields, each source field comprising a source data item or a source dimension; a query processor that receives a query for a data value and that electronically identifies a query data item and one or more query dimensions based on the query; a data source analyzer that determines the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item; a data source ranking engine that electronically and dynamically ranks the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item based on at least the ability of the data sources to provide data at the one or more query dimensions and the extent of aggregation necessary to provide the data; and a data source selection engine that electronically identifies one or more of the data sources having the highest rank as preferred data sources for locating the data value. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 41)
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29. A computer system comprising a computer-executable program stored on a computer-readable medium having instructions executable on a computer processor for performing a method for prioritizing a predefined set of electronic data sources, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a database containing metadata related to the predefined set of electronic data sources, the metadata comprising, for each electronic data source, one or more source fields, each source field comprising a source data item or a source dimension; electronically receiving first signals at a processor, the first signals related to a query for a data value; electronically identifying a query data item and one or more query dimensions based on the query; electronically determining the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item; electronically and dynamically ranking the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item based on at least the ability of the data sources to provide data at the one or more query dimensions and the extent of aggregation necessary to provide the data; and electronically identifying one or more of the data sources having the highest rank as preferred data sources for locating the data value. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43)
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Specification