Datawarehouse including a meta data catalog

• US 6,718,335 B1
• Filed: 05/31/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ball, Gregory M.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/585,882
• Time in Patent Office: 1,406 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/102, 707/101, 707/2, 707/3, 707/203
• 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 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A data warehouse, including a modeler for database modeling, and an extraction program for extracting data from the database and storing the extracted data. A reporting tool is used to make inquiries of the stored data and to format the results of the inquiries, and a single meta data catalog is coupled to the modeler, the extraction program, and the reporting tool. With the preferred embodiment of this invention, a user needs to update information only once. The meta data then drives changes in associated systems, such as the warehouse, extraction programs and reporting tools. In order to accomplish this, the meta data catalog holds enough information to control all these various part of the process.

Claims

1. A data warehouse comprising:

means for modeling;

an extraction program for extracting data from said database and storing said extracted data;

a reporting tool for making inquiries of said stored extracted data and for formatting the results of said inquiries; and

a single meta data catalog coupled to said means for modeling, said extraction program, and said reporting tool; and

wherein, the meta data catalog stores meta data from different databases, and said meta data catalog includes mapping information identifying how two databases are linked to each other; and

wherein, the meta data catalog then updates said received meta data information in a plurality of associated systems, including the extraction program and the reporting tool.

2. A data warehouse according to claim 1, wherein a user needs to update information only once in the meta data catalog, and the meta data then drives changes in the extraction program and the reporting tool.

3. A data warehouse according to claim 1, wherein the meta data catalog explains physical attributes of the database.

4. A data warehouse according to clam 1, wherein the data warehouse is part of a database computer.

5. A data warehouse according to claim 4, wherein said database computer includes one or more storage media containing the data warehouse.

6. A data warehouse according to claim 4, wherein said database computer is a parallel process computer.