System and Method of Querying Data

• US 20130282740A1
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE), SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Zhou, Xiaofan, Belyy, Andrey, Cao, Wu, XU, Freda
• Granted Patent: US 9,116,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/756
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/211 Schema design and management

Abstract

A system and method of querying data. The method includes transforming first data according to a unified data model. The unified data model has a hierarchical structure with tree nodes and leaf nodes. A leaf node contains a table. The method further includes executing a unified data model query on the first data (having been transformed) to result in second data. The method further includes outputting the second data.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of outputting data, comprising:

transforming first data according to a unified data model, wherein the unified data model has a hierarchical structure with a plurality of tree nodes and a plurality of leaf nodes, and wherein a leaf node of the plurality of leaf nodes contains a table;

executing a unified data model query on the first data having been transformed to result in second data; and

outputting the second data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the table includes a plurality of instances.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the table includes a plurality of instances, wherein an instance is a repeatable item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the table has a reference corresponding to a fully qualified path from a root node to a repeatable node, wherein the repeatable node represents the table.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unified data model query includes an extension that specifies a target column as a distinct criteria.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unified data model query includes an extension that specifies a target column in a where clause of a select statement.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the unified data model query includes a first extension that specifies a target column as a distinct criteria, and a second wherein the unified data model query includes an extension that specifies a target column in a where clause of a select statement.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data is output in a unified data model format.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data is output in a hierarchical format.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data is output in a relational format.

11. A system for outputting data, comprising:

a transforming system that is configured to transform first data according to a unified data model, wherein the unified data model has a hierarchical structure with a plurality of tree nodes and a plurality of leaf nodes, and wherein a leaf node of the plurality of leaf nodes contains a table;

a processing system that is configured to execute a unified data model query on the first data having been transformed to result in second data; and

an output system that is configured to output the second data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the table includes a plurality of instances.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the table includes a plurality of instances, wherein an instance is a repeatable item.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the table has a reference corresponding to a fully qualified path from a root node to a repeatable node, wherein the repeatable node represents the table.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the unified data model query includes an extension that specifies a target column as a distinct criteria.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the unified data model query includes an extension that specifies a target column in a where clause of a select statement.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions to control a computer system for outputting data, comprising:

a transforming component that is configured to control the computer system to transform first data according to a unified data model, wherein the unified data model has a hierarchical structure with a plurality of tree nodes and a plurality of leaf nodes, and wherein a leaf node of the plurality of leaf nodes contains a table;

a processing component that is configured to control the computer system to execute a unified data model query on the first data having been transformed to result in second data; and

an output component that is configured to control the computer system to output the second data.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the table includes a plurality of instances.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the table includes a plurality of instances, wherein an instance is a repeatable item.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the table has a reference corresponding to a fully qualified path from a root node to a repeatable node, wherein the repeatable node represents the table.