Method, article of manufacturing, and apparatus for generating a multi-dimensional record management index

• US 7,774,303 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Issued: 08/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Shoup, Randall, Wolf, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Jalil; Neveen Abel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pulliam; Christyann R
• Application Number:
  US11/155,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20050262120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,881 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/604
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• 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 record management system is provided for generating a multi-dimensional view for different measures. A set of records is retrieved in response to a set of queries. The set of records is maintained in a master table. The record management system generates a record structure foundation, including a query map and a master table index. The record management system then employs the record structure foundation to generate a multi-dimensional layout mapping for the measures that are to be represented in the view. The record structure foundation and measure values in the master table are used to convert the layout mapping into the desired multidimensional view. The record management system includes data storage units. These data storage units are coupled to a set of processing engines, which that provide for performing operations that result in the generation of a multi-dimensional view.

Claims

1. In a record management system having a record structure foundation storage unit coupled to a processing engine, a master table, and a master table index, a computer-implemented method to construct a layout mapping of cells over a plurality of axes, the method comprising:

(a) receiving formatting information that identifies each dimension value to be represented on a first axis, identifies each dimension value to be represented on a second axis, and identifies each measure value to be characterized by the identified dimension values;

(b) forming the record structure foundation by compiling a set of dimension value combinations selected from a set consisting of unique combinations of dimension values with each dimension value being from a different one of the first axis'"'"' dimensions, wherein the record structure foundation is formed independent of hierarchical relationships between different dimension values;

(c) for each combination of dimension values in the set of dimension value combinations, utilizing the dimension value combination as a comparison dimension value combination to determine whether a combination of master table records exists that contains the same dimension values as are in the comparison dimension value combination;

(d) when a combination of master table records exists that contains the same dimension values as are in the comparison dimension value combination, then utilizing this combination of master table records to determine whether each master table record in the said combination of master table records includes a measure object that is identical to a measure object identified in the received formatting information; and

(e) when each master table record in the said combination of master table records includes a measure value that is identical to a measure value identified in the received formatting information, then designating the combination of dimension values from the said combination of master table records as the layout mapping of cells to be represented on the first axis;

wherein unnecessary cell locations in the record structure are eliminated, and

wherein an unnecessary cell location is eliminated when a first dimension value associated with a first corresponding dimension being represented on a selected axis from among the plurality of axes does not coexist as a second dimension value associated with a second dimension being represented on the selected axis.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) repeating steps (b) through (e) by substituting the second axis in the place of the first axis; and

(g) designating a set of cells to correspond to each group to be represented on the first axis and designating a cell from each set of cells to correspond to each group to be represented on the second axis.

3. The method of claim 2, where the first axis is a horizontal axis, where the second axis is a vertical axis, where each dimension value combination is a unique dimension value combination, and where each unique comparison dimension value combination and the combination of master table records that contains the same dimension values as are in each unique comparison dimension value combination each contains at least one matching dimension value.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(f) storing for the master table storage unit a first master table record and a second master table record, where the first master table record includes a first master table record dimension value and a first query-record identifier that identifies the first master table record and where the second master table record includes a second master table record dimension value and a second query-record identifier that identifies the second master table record;

(g) storing for the master table index storage unit a first dimension index record that includes the first master table record dimension value and the first query-record identifier;

(h) selecting the second master table record;

(i) determining whether the second master table record dimension value exists in the first dimension index record that includes the first master table record dimension value;

(j) (1) when the second master table record dimension value does not exist in the first dimension index record, then creating a second dimension index record that includes the second master table record dimension value and the second query-record identifier; and

(j) (2) when the second master table record dimension value exists in the first dimension index record, then updating the first dimension index record with the second query-record identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

(k) storing for the master table storage unit a third master table record, where the third master table record includes a third master table record dimension value and a third query-record identifier that identifies the third master table record;

(l) selecting the third master table record;

(m) determining whether the third master table record dimension value exists in the master table index storage unit; and

(n) when the third master table record dimension value does not exist in the master table index storage unit, then creating a third dimension index record that includes the third master table record dimension value and the third query-record identifier.

6. A record management system having a record structure foundation storage unit coupled to a processing engine, a master table, and a master table index, the system constructing a layout mapping of cells over a plurality of axes, the system comprising:

a server, comprising a processor and memory, configured to perform;

(a) receiving formatting information that identifies each dimension value to be represented on a first axis, identifies each dimension value to be represented on a second axis, and identifies each measure value to be characterized by the identified dimension values;

(b) forming the record structure foundation by compiling a set of dimension value combinations selected from a set consisting of unique combinations of dimension values with each dimension value being from a different one of the first axis'"'"' dimensions, wherein the record structure foundation is formed independent of hierarchical relationships between different dimension values;

(c) for each combination of dimension values in the set of dimension value combinations, utilizing the dimension value combination as a comparison dimension value combination to determine whether a combination of master table records exists that contains the same dimension values as are in the comparison dimension value combination;

(d) when a combination of master table records exists that contains the same dimension values as are in the comparison dimension value combination, then utilizing this combination of master table records to determine whether each master table record in the said combination of master table records includes a measure object that is identical to a measure object identified in the received formatting information; and

(e) when each master table record in the said combination of master table records includes a measure value that is identical to a measure value identified in the received formatting information, then designating the combination of dimension values from the said combination of master table records as the layout mapping of cells to be represented on the first axis;

wherein unnecessary cell locations in the record structure are eliminated, and wherein an unnecessary cell location is eliminated when a first dimension value associated with a first corresponding dimension being represented on a selected axis from among the plurality of axes does not coexist as a second dimension value associated with a second dimension being represented on the selected axis.

7. The system of claim 6, said server further configured to perform:

(f) repeating steps (b) through (e) by substituting the second axis in the place of the first axis; and

(g) designating a set of cells to correspond to each group to be represented on the first axis and designating a cell from each set of cells to correspond to each group to be represented on the second axis.

8. The system of claim 7, where the first axis is a horizontal axis, where the second axis is a vertical axis, where each dimension value combination is a unique dimension value combination, and where each unique comparison dimension value combination and the combination of master table records that contains the same dimension values as are in each unique comparison dimension value combination each contains at least one matching dimension value.

9. The system of claim 6, said server further configured to perform:

(f) storing for the master table storage unit a first master table record and a second master table record, where the first master table record includes a first master table record dimension value and a first query-record identifier that identifies the first master table record and where the second master table record includes a second master table record dimension value and a second query-record identifier that identifies the second master table record;

(g) storing for the master table index storage unit a first dimension index record that includes the first master table record dimension value and the first query-record identifier;

(h) selecting the second master table record;

(i) determining whether the second master table record dimension value exists in the first dimension index record that includes the first master table record dimension value;

(j) (1) when the second master table record dimension value does not exist in the first dimension index record, then creating a second dimension index record that includes the second master table record dimension value and the second query-record identifier; and

(j) (2) when the second master table record dimension value exists in the first dimension index record, then updating the first dimension index record with the second query-record identifier.

10. The system of claim 9, said server further configured to perform:

(k) storing for the master table storage unit a third master table record, where the third master table record includes a third master table record dimension value and a third query-record identifier that identifies the third master table record;

(l) selecting the third master table record;

(m) determining whether the third master table record dimension value exists in the master table index storage unit; and

(n) when the third master table record dimension value does not exist in the master table index storage unit, then creating a third dimension index record that includes the third master table record dimension value and the third query-record identifier.

11. In a record management system having a record structure foundation storage unit coupled to a processing engine, a master table, and a master table index, a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon when executed by a processor, perform an inverse discrete cosine transform on a block of input data to construct a layout mapping of cells over a plurality of axes, the non-transitory computer readable medium comprising sets of instructions for performing:

(a) receiving formatting information that identifies each dimension value to be represented on a first axis, identifies each dimension value to be represented on a second axis, and identifies each measure value to be characterized by the identified dimension values;

(b) forming the record structure foundation by compiling a set of dimension value combinations selected from a set consisting of unique combinations of dimension values with each dimension value being from a different one of the first axis'"'"' dimensions, wherein the record structure foundation is formed independent of hierarchical relationships between different dimension values;

(c) for each combination of dimension values in the set of dimension value combinations, utilizing the dimension value combination as a comparison dimension value combination to determine whether a combination of master table records exists that contains the same dimension values as are in the comparison dimension value combination;

(d) when a combination of master table records exists that contains the same dimension values as are in the comparison dimension value combination, then utilizing this combination of master table records to determine whether each master table record in the said combination of master table records includes a measure object that is identical to a measure object identified in the received formatting information; and

(e) when each master table record in the said combination of master table records includes a measure value that is identical to a measure value identified in the received formatting information, then designating the combination of dimension values from the said combination of master table records as the layout mapping of cells to be represented on the first axis;

wherein unnecessary cell locations in the record structure are eliminated, and wherein an unnecessary cell location is eliminated when a first dimension value associated with a first corresponding dimension being represented on a selected axis from among the plurality of axes does not coexist as a second dimension value associated with a second dimension being represented on the selected axis.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for performing:

(f) repeating steps (b) through (e) by substituting the second axis in the place of the first axis; and

(g) designating a set of cells to correspond to each group to be represented on the first axis and designating a cell from each set of cells to correspond to each group to be represented on the second axis.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, where the first axis is a horizontal axis, where the second axis is a vertical axis, where each dimension value combination is a unique dimension value combination, and where each unique comparison dimension value combination and the combination of master table records that contains the same dimension values as are in each unique comparison dimension value combination each contains at least one matching dimension value.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions for performing:

(f) storing for the master table storage unit a first master table record and a second master table record, where the first master table record includes a first master table record dimension value and a first query-record identifier that identifies the first master table record and where the second master table record includes a second master table record dimension value and a second query-record identifier that identifies the second master table record;

(g) storing for the master table index storage unit a first dimension index record that includes the first master table record dimension value and the first query-record identifier;

(h) selecting the second master table record;

(i) determining whether the second master table record dimension value exists in the first dimension index record that includes the first master table record dimension value;

(j) (1) when the second master table record dimension value does not exist in the first dimension index record, then creating a second dimension index record that includes the second master table record dimension value and the second query-record identifier; and

(j) (2) when the second master table record dimension value exists in the first dimension index record, then updating the first dimension index record with the second query-record identifier.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for performing:

(k) storing for the master table storage unit a third master table record, where the third master table record includes a third master table record dimension value and a third query-record identifier that identifies the third master table record;

(l) selecting the third master table record;

(m) determining whether the third master table record dimension value exists in the master table index storage unit; and

(n) when the third master table record dimension value does not exist in the master table index storage unit, then creating a third dimension index record that includes the third master table record dimension value and the third query-record identifier.