Using an index to access a subject multi-dimensional database

• US 6,915,289 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2000
• Issued: 07/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Robinson, Gary, Malloy, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Leslie
• Application Number:
  US09/564,344
• Time in Patent Office: 1,888 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/6, 707/101, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/7, 707/205, 707/3, 707/503, 707/504, 707/514, 715/503
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2264 Multidimensional index structures
• 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 707/99937 Sorting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A technique for accessing a subject multi-dimensional database stored on a data store connected to the computer. An index is created for the subject multi-dimensional database, wherein the index includes another multi-dimensional database having dimensions of the subject multi-dimensional database and an additional ranking dimension. Then, the subject multi-dimensional database is accessed using the index.

Claims

1. A method of accessing a subject multi-dimensional database having dimensions and members and stored on a data store connected to a computer, comprising:

creating an index for the subject multi-dimensional database, wherein the index comprises a second multi-dimensional database having said dimensions of the subject multi-dimensional database and with an additional ranking dimension; and

accessing the subject multi-dimensional database using the index.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the index comprises creating a second multi-dimensional database derived from the subject multi-dimensional database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying features in the subject multi-dimensional database.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising collecting parameter values for retrieving data from the subject multi-dimensional database to be used when identifying features.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying features comprises generating an ordered list of multi-dimensional points.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising storing the ordered list of multi-dimensional points is in a spreadsheet data file.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising creating the index using the list of multi-dimensional points.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying features comprises generating additional information.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing the additional information as one or more linked reporting objects.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising mapping the dimensions of the subject multi-dimensional database to the index, while mapping out the ranking dimension.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the index comprises creating a second multi-dimensional database having a dimension having a member representing one or more deviations.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising mapping the member representing a deviation to a member of the subject multi-dimensional database.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising linking the index to the subject multi-dimensional database.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising creating a spreadsheet from the index.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising accessing the subject multi-dimensional database with the spreadsheet.

16. An apparatus for accessing a subject multi-dimensional database having dimensions and members, the apparatus comprising:

a computer having a data store coupled thereto, wherein the data store stores a subject multi-dimensional database; and

one or more computer programs, performed by the computer, for creating an index for the subject multi-dimensional database, wherein the index comprises another multi-dimensional database and for accessing the subject multi-dimensional database using the index, the index having said dimensions of the subject multi-dimensional database and an additional ranking dimensions.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the index comprises a multi-dimensional database that is derived from the subject multi-dimensional database.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising identifying features in the subject multi-dimensional database.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising collecting parameter values for retrieving data from the subject multi-dimensional database to be used when identifying features.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein identifying features comprising generating an ordered list of multi-dimensional points.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the ordered list of multi-dimensional points is stored in a spreadsheet data file.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising creating the index using the list of multi-dimensional points.

23. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein identifying features comprises generating additional information.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising storing the additional information as one or more linked reporting objects.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising mapping the dimensions of the subject multi-dimensional database to the index, while mapping out the ranking dimension.

26. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the index comprises a dimension having a member representing one or more deviations.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising mapping the member representing a deviation to a member of the subject multi-dimensional database.

28. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising linking the index to the subject multi-dimensional database.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising creating a spreadsheet from the index.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising accessing the subject multi-dimensional database with the spreadsheet.

31. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to access a subject multi-dimensional database having dimensions and members and being stored on a data store connected to the computer, comprising:

creating an index for the subject multi-dimensional database, wherein the index comprises an index multi-dimensional database having said dimensions of the subject multi-dimensional database and an additional ranking dimension; and

accessing the subject multi-dimensional database using the index.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 31, wherein the index comprises a multi-dimensional database that is derived from the subject multi-dimensional database.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 31, further comprising identifying features in the subject multi-dimensional database.

34. The article of manufacture of claim 33, further comprising collecting parameter values for retrieving data from the subject multi-dimensional database to be used when identifying features.

35. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein identifying features comprises generating and ordered list of multi-dimensional points.

36. The article of manufacture of claim 35, wherein the ordered list of multi-dimensional points is stored in a spreadsheet data file.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 35, further comprising creating the index using the list of multi-dimensional points.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 33, wherein identifying features comprises generating additional information.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 38, further comprising storing the additional information as one or more linked reporting objects.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 31, further comprising mapping the dimensions of the subject multi-dimensional database to the index, while mapping out the ranking dimension.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 31, wherein the index comprises a dimension having a member representing one or more deviations.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 41, further comprising mapping the member representing a deviation to a member of the subject multi-dimensional database.

43. The article of manufacture of claim 31, further comprising linking the index to the subject multi-dimensional database.

44. The article of manufacture of claim 31, further comprising creating a spreadsheet from the index.

45. The article of manufacture of claim 44, further comprising accessing the subject multi-dimensional database with the spreadsheet.

46. A method of accessing a subject multi-dimensional database having dimensions and being stored on a data store connected to a computer, comprising:

creating a multi-dimensional database index for the subject multi-dimensional database, wherein the multi-dimensional database index has said dimensions of said subject multi-dimensional database and wherein said creating the index includes creating a second multi-dimensional database having an additional ranking dimension; and

,

accessing the subject multi-dimensional database using the index.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising mapping the dimensions of the subject multi-dimensional database to the index while mapping out ranking dimensions.

48. An apparatus for accessing a subject multi-dimensional database, comprising:

a computer having a data store coupled thereto, wherein the data store stores a subject multi-dimensional database having dimensions; and

,

one or more computer programs, performed by the computer, for creating an index multi-dimensional database for indexing and accessing said subject multi-dimensional database, wherein said index multi-dimensional database has said dimensions of said subject multi-dimensional database and wherein the index includes an additional ranking dimension.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein said one or more computer programs are adapted to map the dimensions of the subject multi-dimensional database to the index while mapping out a ranking dimension.

50. An article of manufacture including a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to access a subject multi-dimensional database having dimensions and stored on a data store connected to the computer, comprising:

creating an index for accessing the subject multi-dimensional database, wherein the index comprises another multi-dimensional database and has said dimensions of said subject multi-dimensional database and wherein the index includes an additional ranking dimension.

51. The article of manufacture according to claim 50 wherein said one or more instructions are executable by said computer to map the dimensions of the subject multi-dimensional database to said index while mapping out a ranking dimension.