Information manifold for query processing
First Claim
1. An information manifold system for processing a query with information from at least two of a plurality of available information sources, each information source having certain capabilities, at least two of said information sources having non-identical capabilities, the information manifold system comprising:
- a query interface for formulating said query in terms of a schema of a world-view of said plurality of available information sources;
a query plan generator for formulating a query plan that exploits the capabilities of said information sources with non-identical capabilities, the query plan generator including storage for descriptions of the capabilities of said information sources, said query plan generator including means for generating at least one logical solution to said query, said query plan generator further including means for generating an executable order of said at least one logical solution;
a query plan execution engine for executing said query plan after said query plan is formulated; and
means for returning information which is responsive to said query, from at least two of said available information sources.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for accepting and responding to queries based on information stored on multiple heterogenous information sources. A uniform query interface to large collections of structured information sources is provided to a user to pose queries using a uniform schema of the available information. A query plan for answering the query is formulated from descriptions of the contents and capabilities of the available information sources. Based on these descriptions logical solutions which are subsets of the complete solution to the query are derived. An order for executing these solutions is determined based on the input requirements and other capabilities of the relevant information sources.
86 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An information manifold system for processing a query with information from at least two of a plurality of available information sources, each information source having certain capabilities, at least two of said information sources having non-identical capabilities, the information manifold system comprising:
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a query interface for formulating said query in terms of a schema of a world-view of said plurality of available information sources; a query plan generator for formulating a query plan that exploits the capabilities of said information sources with non-identical capabilities, the query plan generator including storage for descriptions of the capabilities of said information sources, said query plan generator including means for generating at least one logical solution to said query, said query plan generator further including means for generating an executable order of said at least one logical solution; a query plan execution engine for executing said query plan after said query plan is formulated; and means for returning information which is responsive to said query, from at least two of said available information sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for processing a query with information from at least two of a plurality of available information sources, each information source having certain capabilities, at least two of the information sources having non-identical capabilities, said method comprising the steps of:
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formulating said query in terms of a schema of a world-view of said plurality of available information sources; storing descriptions of the capabilities of the information sources; determining those of said plurality of available information sources that are responsive to said query at least in part; formulating a query plan that exploits the capabilities of said information sources that are responsive to said query at least in part and have non-identical capabilities, said formulating a query plan step including step for generating at least one logical solution to said query, said formulating a query plan step further including step for generating an executable order of said at least one logical solution; after said formulating step, executing said query plan; and returning information to said user, from at least one of said information sources that are responsive to said query at least in part. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification