Apparatus and method for compound on-line analytical processing in databases

• US 6,289,352 B1
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Business Objects Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Crystal Decisions Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Proctor, Anthony Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/087,680
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 707/102, 707/200, 707/100, 707/10, 707/2, 707/3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method executed by a computer under the control of a program includes the establishing of a compound structure in the form of a virtual unit of multi-dimensional storage. The compound structure includes a rack with a horizontal arrangement of target structures linked by an alias backbone representing a dimension of information. The horizontal arrangement of target structures selectively includes further compound structures and base structures containing data, in any combination. The compound structure is referenced to obtain information. The method is particularly useful in On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP).

Claims

1. A method executed by a computer under the control of a program, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a view of a compound structure in the form of a virtual unit of multi-dimensional storage, said compound structure including a rack with a horizontal arrangement of target structures linked by an alias backbone representing a dimension of information, wherein said horizontal arrangement of target structures selectively includes further compound structures and base structures containing data, in any combination, said compound structure presenting viewed information within said virtual unit of multi-dimensional storage without storing said viewed information; and

referencing said compound structure to obtain information associated therewith.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each base structure of said base structures defines a multi-dimensional storage unit that exists as physical data in physical storage.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing step includes the step of associating each target structure of said arrangement of target structures with one or more alias fields.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of individually manipulating selected target structures of said arrangement of target structures.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of compiling selected target structures of said arrangement of target structures into corresponding alias descriptor internal control blocks.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said compiling step includes the step of associating each alias descriptor internal control block with a header and a set of alias dimension entries.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said compiling step includes the step of associating said header with a target structure symbol table address, an operator count, and a pool of target tuples.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said compiling step includes the step of associating each alias dimension of said set of alias dimensions with a target dimension address, an alias-to-target field map, and an operator.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing step includes the step of establishing a compound structure with a stack defining a vertical arrangement of racks linked by said alias backbone.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said stack includes a top level rack wherein said target structures have read and write functionality.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said stack includes a bottom level rack wherein said target structures have read-only functionality.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said target structures are processed in parallel during said referencing step.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said alias backbone is used as an index during said referencing step.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein said horizontal arrangement of target structures includes a selected target structure with different target descriptions that reference different parts of said selected target structure.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of utilizing a target description characterizing a set of calculations that yield data for a selected target structure of said arrangement of target structures.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said horizontal arrangement of target structures includes unmapped fields to accommodate changes in said target structures.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein said establishing step includes the step of using base structures selected from the group comprising:

disk base structures, memory base structures, and database base structures.

18. A computer readable memory to direct a computer to function in a specified manner, comprising:

a first module to provide a view of a compound structure in the form of a virtual unit of multi-dimensional storage, said compound structure including a rack with a horizontal arrangement of target structures linked by an alias backbone representing a dimension of information, wherein said horizontal arrangement of target structures selectively includes further compound structures and base structures containing data, in any combination, said compound structure presenting viewed information within said virtual unit of multi-dimensional storage without storing said viewed information; and

a second module to reference said compound structure to obtain information associated therewith.

19. The computer readable memory of claim 18 wherein said first module produces a compound structure with a stack defining a vertical arrangement of racks linked by said alias backbone.

20. The computer readable memory of claim 19 wherein said stack includes a top level rack wherein said target descriptions have read and write functionality.

21. The computer readable memory of claim 19 wherein said stack includes a bottom level rack wherein said target descriptions have read-only functionality.