Multiple source data management using a conflict rule

• US 8,359,297 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Garrett, Andrew J., Martin, James A. Jr., Prince, Jeffrey E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Shahid
• Application Number:
  US11/427,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20080027965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,399 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 707/802, 345/744, 345/664, 726/24
• US Class Current: 707/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP

Abstract

A solution for managing data received from multiple sources is provided. In particular, when conflicting data values are received from multiple sources for a data element, a conflict rule is used to determine the main data value for the data element, which is subsequently stored for use. The conflict rule can define any automatic, semi-automatic, or manual procedure for resolving the conflict. The conflict rule, or an identifier thereof, can be stored with each data value and the main data value for the data element.

Claims

1. A method of managing data received from a plurality of sources, the method comprising:

obtaining a multi-dimensional set of data from each of the plurality of sources, each multi-dimensional set of data including a common data element; and

generating a main multi-dimensional set of data based on a combination of the sets of data, the generating including;

obtaining a data value for the data element from each of the sets of data obtained from the plurality of sources;

determining whether a conflict exists between the obtained data values;

using a conflict rule to determine a main data value for the data element in the main multi-dimensional set of data when the conflict exists;

storing a derivation record for the main data value for the data element in the main multi-dimensional set of data, the derivation record including;

the main data value, the data value received from each of the plurality of sources, and the conflict rule;

obtaining the stored derivation record;

modifying the conflict rule, which is stored in the derivation record; and

determining a new main data value using the modified conflict rule.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining one of a plurality of conflict rules for use as the conflict rule for the data element.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second data value for a second data element from one of the plurality of sources; and

storing the second data value as a main data value for the second data element.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the data value as the main data value when the conflict does not exist.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the using includes automatically selecting the data value received from one of the plurality of sources based on a corresponding priority for each of the plurality of sources.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the using includes:

selecting the data value received from one of the plurality of sources based on a corresponding priority for each of the plurality of sources;

presenting the selected data value for evaluation by at least one of the sources; and

obtaining the main data value based on the evaluation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the using includes:

providing the plurality of data values for evaluation by a third party; and

obtaining the main data value based on the evaluation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the sets of data obtained from the plurality of sources are stored in a spreadsheet.