Integration of an information server database schema by generating a translation map from exemplary files

• US 5,778,373 A
• Filed: 07/15/1996
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Levy, Alon Yitzchak, Ordille, Joann Janet
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Krisna
• Application Number:
  US08/680,090
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 395/611, 395/612, 395/613, 707/100, 707/102, 707/101
• US Class Current: 707/748
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method of reducing the burden on database administrators when integrating information from a database system with a computer system over a computer network is disclosed. Rather than requiring the database administrator to express the meaning of database attribute names in a new language, the database administrators needs only to specify mappings between different database schemas by creating database example files. The database example files contain a common body of information values stored using the corresponding attribute names of the different database schemas. The database example files then become the basis for generation of a translation map between the computer system and the remote database system. Then, information queries from a user are translated with the translation map to the database schema of the remote database system.

Claims

1. A method of integrating information from a database system with a computer system, comprising the steps of:

a) creating a first database example file comprising first attribute names having first values stored in a first format of a first database schema used in a database system;

b) creating a second database example file comprising second attribute names having second values, stored in a second format of a second database schema, used in a computer system, said second values in said second database example file corresponding to said first values of said first database example file;

c) generating a translation map between said first attribute names of said first database schema and said second attribute names of said second database schema, based on scoring possible mappings between said corresponding first and second values and formats; and

d) performing translations using said translation map of information queries issued from said computer system and composed using attribute names of said second database schema, to information queries using attribute names of said first database schema, making said second values stored in said database system accessible to said computer system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first database example file and said second database example file are created with a keyboard.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first database example file and said second database example file are stored on said database systems so that step c) can occur in response to a query to said database system for said first database example file and said second database example file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said first database example file and said second database example file are stored on said computer system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said second database example file is created by a user at said computer systems based on said first database example file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a user creates said first database example file based on queries of said database system, and creates said second database example file based on said first database example file.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said first database schema is a local schema and said second database schema is a world-view schema.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein said scoring of possible mappings between said corresponding first and second values and formats includes assigning points for one to one mapping, many to one mapping, and one to many mapping.

9. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of altering the assigned points based on comparative mapping scoring.

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of selecting one of said possible mappings with the highest score as said translation map.

11. A method of integrating information from a data base system, having a first local database schema, with a computer system having a second local database schema, via intermediate translations to a world-view database schema, comprising the steps of:

a) creating a first database example file comprising first attribute names having first values stored in a first format of a first local database schema used in a database system;

b) creating a second database example file comprising second attribute names having second values, stored in a second format of a world-view database schema, said second values in said second database example file corresponding to said first values of said first database example file;

c) creating a third database example file comprising third attribute names having third values stored in a third format of a second local database schema used in a computer system;

d) creating a fourth database example file comprising fourth attribute names having values, stored in a fourth format of said world-view database schema, said values in said fourth database example file corresponding to said values of said third database example file;

e) generating a translation map between said first attribute names of said first local database schema and said second attribute names of said world-view database schema, based on scoring possible mappings between said corresponding first and second values and formats;

f) generating a translation map between said third attribute names of said second local database schema and said fourth attribute names of said world-view database schema, based on scoring possible mappings between said corresponding third and fourth values and formats; and

g) performing translations using said translation map of information queries issued from said computer system and composed using said third attribute names of said second local database schema, to information queries using first attribute names of said first local database schema, via intermediate translations to said world view database schema, making said first values stored in said database system accessible to said computer system.

12. A system comprising:

a computer system for formulating information queries using a first database schema characterized by a first database example file comprising attribute names having values stored in a format of said first database schema;

a database system, including a database for storing information in data records, using a second database schema characterized by a second database example file comprising attribute names having values stored in a format of said second database schema, said values in said second database example file corresponding to said values in said first database example file; and

a mediator, coupled between said computer system and said database system, for creating a translation map between said first database schema and said second database schema, based on said first database example file and said second database example file, said mediator further performing translations in response to information queries from said computer system;

a second database example file, comprising attribute names having values stored in said format of said second database schema, said values in said second database example file corresponding to said values in said first database example file; and

a mediator for creating a translation map, between said first database schema and said second database schema, based on said first database example file and said second database example file, said mediator further performing translations in response to information queries from said computer system;

whereby information queries composed using attribute names of said second database schema are translated to information queries using attribute names of said first database schema, thus making values stored in said database system accessible to said computer system.