Method and apparatus for access, integration, and analysis of heterogeneous data sources via the manipulation of metadata objects

• US 8,171,050 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datavine Research Services
• Original Assignee: Datavine Research Services
• Inventors: O'Halloran, Sharyn, Epstein, David, Betz, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US12/169,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 707/779
• US Class Current: 707/779
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP

Abstract

A computer-based method represents a subset of a dataset table of rows and columns. The method includes selecting a set of blocking variables corresponding to blocking columns of the dataset table. For each row in the dataset table, a tuple of values for the blocking columns uniquely identifies the row within the dataset table. The method also includes selecting a set of non-blocking variables that correspond to columns of the subset. The set of non-blocking variables does not intersect the set of blocking variables. The method also includes creating a block information structure that includes both the set of non-blocking variables and, for each blocking variable in the set of blocking variables, a set of values.

Claims

1. A computer-based method of defining a set of data to be accessed, the method comprising:

presenting a graphical user interface with controls for selecting variables, wherein the selected variables are selected from data sets;

providing, in the graphical user interface, controls for selecting values defining particular instances of the selected variables;

detecting a user interaction with the controls for selecting variables, wherein the user interaction comprises selecting variables and values;

in response to a second user interaction, generating a blockset, wherein the blockset comprises metadata representing instructions for combining the selected variables and values assigned to the selected variables; and

in response to a third user interaction, interpreting the metadata to form a selected data set and providing the selected data set to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the selected data set comprises:

generating a block information structure specifying the data to be selected, and

adding the block information structure to the blockset.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the block information structure includes incorporating into the block information structure a representation of the selected variables and values.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

for a particular variable included in the selected variables, presenting enumeration controls in the graphical user interface, each enumeration control corresponding to a set of values.

5. The method of claim 1, in which:

the user interaction comprises specifying a subset of a dataset.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the selected data set comprises:

saving the selected variables and values to a persistent storage medium.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of data to be accessed comprises a plurality of rows.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising adding a row to the set of data to be accessed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises controls representing the set of data to be accessed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical user interface comprises controls representing a superset of the set of data to be accessed.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a column to the set of data to be accessed.

12. The method of claim 1 in which the set of data to be accessed comprises a plurality of columns.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the metadata comprises at least a database name, a blocking variable list and a non-blocking variable list.

14. A computer-readable medium having encoded thereon software for defining a set of data to be accessed, the software comprising instructions that when executed by one or more computers cause the one or more computers to perform operations comprising:

presenting a graphical user interface with controls for selecting variables, wherein the selected variables are selected from data sets;

providing, in the graphical user interface, controls for selecting values defining particular instances of the selected variables;

detecting a user interaction with the controls for selecting variables, wherein the user interaction comprises selecting variables and values;

in response to a second user interaction, generating a blockset, wherein the blockset comprises metadata representing instructions for combining the selected variables and values assigned to the selected variables; and

in response to a third user interaction, interpreting the metadata to form a selected data set and providing the selected data set to a user.