Method and system for importing database information

• US 6,424,358 B1
• Filed: 12/02/1999
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Oksoy, Osman Rifki, Dixon, Walter Vincent III, DiDomizio, Virginia Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US09/452,850
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 345/762, 345/765, 345/744, 345/764, 345/804, 707/1, 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/10, 707/501, 707/503, 707/513
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying

Abstract

A method and system for im porting database information or data is disclosed. Generally, the method includes the steps of receiving first information relating to the first database, extracting from the first database second information, processing the second information to provide at least a first expanded name relating to a first item of the second information, and storing the first expanded name, for example in a database structure, such as a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (“LDAP”) directory. Thereafter, the method may include the step of processing a query directed to obtaining information from distributed database, including the first database.

Claims

1. A method of importing information relating to a first database including a plurality of tables, a plurality of table names, a plurality of view names, a plurality of fields within each of the plurality of tables, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving first information from a first user, the first information including at least one of a first database type for the first database, a first database name for the first database, a first database URL for the first database, a first name for the first user, a first password for the first user, a first data dictionary path for the first database, and a first overwrite indication;

extracting second information from the first database, the second information including at least one of the plurality of table names, the plurality of view names, and the plurality of fields within each of the plurality of tables;

processing the second information to provide a first expanded name for at least a first of at least one of the plurality of table names, the plurality of view names, and the plurality of fields within each of the plurality of tables; and

storing the first expanded name.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

processing a first query from one of the first user and a second user to obtain data from a plurality of distributed databases, wherein a first of the plurality of distributed databases comprises the first database.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first database includes a first data dictionary, wherein said processing the second information step comprises the step of:

extracting at least the first expanded name from the first data dictionary.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first database includes a first data dictionary, said method further comprising the steps of:

searching the first data dictionary to match at least a first data dictionary entry with at least the first of at least one of the plurality table names, the plurality of view names, and the plurality of fields within each of the plurality of tables;

extracting a first description associated with the first data dictionary entry; and

associating at least a first key word in the first description with the first of at least one of the plurality table names, the plurality of view names, and the plurality of fields within each of the plurality of tables.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said processing the second information step comprises the step of:

generating the first expanded name using at least one of a corrections dictionary, vowel/consonant frequencies and a dictionary.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of:

calculating a first quality factor for the first expanded name.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said storing step comprises the step of storing at least the first expanded name in a LDAP structure.