Multimedia inspection database system (MIDaS) for dynamic run-time data evaluation

• US 7,720,861 B1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vasudevan Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vasudevan Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Vasudevan, Mark P
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin; Jean B
• Application Number:
  US11/592,447
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-206, 715/700, 715/737, 715/743, 715/762, 715/782
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/254 Extract, transform and load [ETL] procedures, e.g. ETL data flows in data warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An object-oriented system provides a comprehensive and integrated tool to manage, operate, analyze and inspect structures by providing 3-D visualization of the structures, a database interface, connectivity with one or more databases, a data display and analysis capabilities. The structural model is stored as an object-oriented, serialized file as a series of objects, including primitives, coordinates, object names, group names and other object identifiers. The system integrates various types of data, including tabulated textual data, annotated engineering drawings, photographic records, graphical plots, audio and videotaped records, from different tables and databases. Data are displayed to the user based on queries that the user submits to the system, which queries are evaluated at run-time. As a result, the user achieves unparalleled flexibility in data analysis and evaluation.

Claims

1. A method executed by a programmable apparatus, comprising:

a. receiving with a computer a data retrieval request to form an OLAP cube from a graphical user interface (GUI) on a programmable user display device,

b. in response to the retrieval request to form the OLAP cube, accessing with the computer a plurality of disparate digital databases and retrieving with the computer requested data from such databases,

c. viewing the OLAP cube formed from the retrieved data using the GUI, wherein the retrieved data is accessed dynamically on demand directly from the disparate digital databases,

d. accepting through the GUI a user update of specific data in the OLAP cube,

e. accessing a database relevant to the specific data, and updating that database dynamically on demand with the specific data, and

f. dynamically updating the OLAP CUBE data displayed on the GUI with the specific data.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

g. providing a plurality of access codes, each access code corresponding to a number of the disparate databases that may be accessed with the access code,

h. assigning a user at least one of the access codes, and

i. receiving and responding to a data request from the user if the access code to which the user is assigned authorizes access to the disparate databases relevant to the requested data.

3. A data storage medium containing instructions which, when executed, cause a computational device to perform a method comprising:

a. receiving with a computer a data retrieval request to form an OLAP cube from a graphical user interface (GUI) on a programmable user display device,

b. in response to the retrieval request to form an OLAP cube, accessing with the computer a plurality of disparate digital databases and retrieving with the computer requested data from such databases,

c. viewing the OLAP cube formed from the retrieved data using the GUI, wherein the retrieved data is accessed dynamically on demand directly from the disparate digital databases,

d. accepting through the GUI a user update of specific data in the OLAP cube,

e. accessing a database relevant to the specific data, and updating that database dynamically on demand with the specific data, and

f. dynamically updating the OLAP cube data displayed on the GUI with the specific data.

4. The data storage medium of claim 3, the method further comprising:

g. providing access codes, each of the access codes corresponding to a number of the disparate databases that may be accessed with the access codes,

h. assigning a user at least one of the access codes, and

i. receiving and responding to a data request from the user if the access code to which the user is assigned authorizes access to the disparate databases relevant to the requested data.