Method and system for user alteration of the configuration of a data warehouse
First Claim
1. A method for altering a configuration of a data warehouse, the method comprising:
- representing an initial configuration of the data warehouse in terms of initial configuration metadata;
presenting to a user for alteration at least a portion of the initial configuration metadata of the data warehouse;
receiving from the user an indication to alter at least a portion of the initial configuration metadata of the data warehouse;
altering at least a portion of the initial configuration metadata of the data warehouse, the altering based, at least in part, on the received user indication;
altering the configuration of the data warehouse, the altering based, at least in part, on the altered configuration metadata of the data warehouse; and
associating approval guidelines with at least a portion of the configuration metadata of the data warehouse; and
waiting until the approval guidelines are satisfied before altering the associated portion of the configuration metadata of the data warehouse;
storing the altered configuration metadata of the data warehouse in a metadata database so that the altered configuration metadata is the only configuration metadata stored in the metadata database.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed are methods usable by non-experts for altering a configuration of a data warehouse. The initial configuration of the data warehouse is represented in terms of metadata, and that metadata configuration is presented to a user. The user can choose to alter the metadata configuration. If alterations are made to the metadata, then the underlying configuration of the data warehouse is altered accordingly. Because there may be multiple users wishing to alter aspects of the data warehouse, some embodiments of the present invention enforce approval guidelines so that proposed changes to the data warehouse configuration are only implemented after the appropriate approvals have been secured. By presenting a metadata representation of the data warehouse configuration, the present invention both allows non-experts to have a hand in converting a data warehouse and prevents user errors from corrupting the data warehouse conversion process.
30 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for altering a configuration of a data warehouse, the method comprising:
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representing an initial configuration of the data warehouse in terms of initial configuration metadata; presenting to a user for alteration at least a portion of the initial configuration metadata of the data warehouse; receiving from the user an indication to alter at least a portion of the initial configuration metadata of the data warehouse; altering at least a portion of the initial configuration metadata of the data warehouse, the altering based, at least in part, on the received user indication; altering the configuration of the data warehouse, the altering based, at least in part, on the altered configuration metadata of the data warehouse; and associating approval guidelines with at least a portion of the configuration metadata of the data warehouse; and waiting until the approval guidelines are satisfied before altering the associated portion of the configuration metadata of the data warehouse; storing the altered configuration metadata of the data warehouse in a metadata database so that the altered configuration metadata is the only configuration metadata stored in the metadata database. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method for altering a configuration of a data warehouse, the method comprising:
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representing an initial configuration of the data warehouse in terms of initial configuration metadata; presenting to a user for alteration at least a portion of the initial configuration metadata of the data warehouse; receiving from the user an indication to alter at least a portion of the initial configuration metadata of the data warehouse; altering at least a portion of the initial configuration metadata of the data warehouse, the altering based, at least in part, on the received user indication; altering the configuration of the data warehouse, the altering based, at least in part, on the altered configuration metadata of the data warehouse; and associating approval guidelines with at least a portion of the configuration metadata of the data warehouse; and waiting until the approval guidelines are satisfied before altering the associated portion of the configuration metadata of the data warehouse; storing the altered configuration metadata of the data warehouse in a metadata database so that the altered configuration metadata is the only configuration metadata stored in the metadata database. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A system for altering a configuration of a data warehouse, the system comprising:
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the data warehouse; initial configuration metadata representing an initial configuration of the data warehouse; a user interface for presenting to a user for alteration at least a portion of the initial configuration metadata of the data warehouse and for receiving from the user an indication to alter at least a portion of the initial configuration metadata of the data warehouse; an altered portion of configuration metadata of the data warehouse, the altered portion based, at least in part, on the received user indication; a configuration server for altering the configuration of the data warehouse, the altering based, at least in part, on the altered configuration metadata of the data warehouse; and approval guidelines associated with at least a portion of the configuration metadata of the data warehouse; a metadata database for storing the altered configuration metadata of the data warehouse so that the altered configuration metadata is the only configuration metadata stored in the metadata database. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification