Relational database management of multi-dimensional data
First Claim
1. A method of executing a command in a computer to perform a database operation on a relational database stored on a data storage device, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) defining a multi-dimensional database using an outline that contains one or more dimensions, each dimension having a list of one or more members;
(b) defining a relational schema based on the defined multi-dimensional database;
(c) creating a relational database based on the defined relational schema, wherein the relational database includes a fact table and one or more related dimension tables for storing data from the multi-dimensional database, wherein one of the dimension tables is an anchor dimension table that does not intersect the fact table with a common column and wherein the remaining dimension tables are non-anchor dimension tables, each of which intersects the fact table with a common column; and
(d) accessing the created relational database using access mechanisms provided by the defined multi-dimensional database and the created relational database.
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Abstract
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for using a relational database management system to support on-line analytical processing (OLAP) systems. A multi-dimensional database is defined using an outline that contains one or more dimensions, each dimension having a list of one or more members. A relational schema is defined based on the defined multi-dimensional database. A relational database is created based on the defined relational schema. The relational database is accessed using access mechanisms provided by the multi-dimensional database and the relational database.
268 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of executing a command in a computer to perform a database operation on a relational database stored on a data storage device, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) defining a multi-dimensional database using an outline that contains one or more dimensions, each dimension having a list of one or more members;
(b) defining a relational schema based on the defined multi-dimensional database;
(c) creating a relational database based on the defined relational schema, wherein the relational database includes a fact table and one or more related dimension tables for storing data from the multi-dimensional database, wherein one of the dimension tables is an anchor dimension table that does not intersect the fact table with a common column and wherein the remaining dimension tables are non-anchor dimension tables, each of which intersects the fact table with a common column; and
(d) accessing the created relational database using access mechanisms provided by the defined multi-dimensional database and the created relational database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
accessing rows of data from the relational database; and
mapping the accessed rows of data to a data block.
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6. The method of claim 5 above, wherein the step of creating a relational database further comprises the steps of:
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creating a dimension table for each dimension in the outline; and
creating a fact table containing rows, each row being a unique combination of selected dimensions.
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7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of accessing data further comprises the step of joining selected dimension tables with the fact table.
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8. An apparatus for executing a command in a computer to perform a database operation a relational database, comprising:
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(a) a computer having a data storage device coupled thereto, wherein the data storage device stores the relational database;
(b) one or more computer programs, performed by the computer, for defining a multi-dimensional database using an outline that contains one or more dimensions, each dimension having a list of one or more members, for defining a relational schema based on the defined multi-dimensional database, for creating a relational database based on the defined relational schema, wherein the relational database includes a fact table and one or more related dimension tables for storing data from the multi-dimensional database, wherein one of the dimension tables is an anchor dimension table that does not intersect the fact table with a common column and wherein the remaining dimension tables are non-anchor dimension tables, each of which intersects the fact table with a common column, and for accessing the created relational database using access mechanisms provided by the defined multi-dimensional database and the created relational database. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
means for accessing rows of data from the relational database; and
means for mapping the accessed rows of data to a data block.
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13. The apparatus of claim 12 above, wherein the means for creating a relational database further comprises:
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means for creating a dimension table for each dimension in the outline; and
means for creating a fact table containing rows, each row being a unique combination of selected dimensions.
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14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for accessing data further comprises the means for joining selected dimension tables with the fact table.
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15. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for executing a command to perform a database operation on a relational database stored on a data storage device, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) defining a multi-dimensional database using an outline that contains one or more dimensions, each dimension having a list of one or more members;
(b) defining a relational schema based on the defined multi-dimensional database;
(c) creating a relational database based on the defined relational schema, wherein the relational database includes a fact table and one or more related dimension tables for storing data from the multi-dimensional database, wherein one of the dimension tables is an anchor dimension table that does not intersect the fact table with a common column and wherein the remaining dimension tables are non-anchor dimension tables, each of which intersects the fact table with a common column; and
(d) accessing the created relational database using access mechanisms provided by the defined multi-dimensional database and the created relational database. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
accessing rows of data from the relational database; and
mapping the accessed rows of data to a data block.
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20. The method of claim 19 above, wherein the step of creating a relational database further comprises the steps of:
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creating a dimension table for each dimension in the outline; and
creating a fact table containing rows, each row being a unique combination of selected dimensions.
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21. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of accessing data further comprises the step of joining selected dimension tables with the fact table.
Specification