Systems and methods to create continuous queries via a semantic layer

• US 8,447,739 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP France SA (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: SAP France SA (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Naibo, Alexis, Bolf, Didier, Marinescu, Dan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ehichioya, Fred I
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACKES, KRIS E
• Application Number:
  US12/173,979
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 707/688
• US Class Current: 707/688
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A system, method, means, and/or computer program code may be provided to facilitate a presentation of information to a user. According to some embodiments, continuous query definition parameters are created by a user via a graphical user interface. Moreover, semantic layer information associated with an event processing engine may be provided. The event processing engine may, for example, receive an event stream from a data source. According to some embodiments, the semantic layer information is defined by a semantic layer designer via a graphical user interface. At least one event processing language statement may be created based on (i) the continuous query definition parameters and (ii) the semantic layer information. The statement may then be provided to the event processing engine so as to establish a continuous query at the event processing engine, the continuous query providing output data based on events in the event stream. According to some embodiments, a continuous meta-query for a complex event processing engine is initially created. When a connection with a business user is subsequently established, a continuous user-query is initiated based on the continuous meta-query.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions that when executed by a processor result in the following:

providing at least one event stream from at least one data source to an event processing engine;

prior to establishing a connection with any user, automatically establishing, by a processor at a query technique engine, a first continuous meta-query for the event processing engine, the first continuous meta-query providing meta-output data based on the at least one event stream, the meta-output data being collected from a time prior to establishing a connection with any user and beginning at the creation of the first continuous meta-query;

subsequent to establishment of the first continuous meta-query, establishing a connection with a remote user;

receiving, at the query technique engine, continuous query definition parameters for a continuous user-query from the user via a graphical user interface;

retrieving, at the query technique engine, semantic layer information associated with the event processing engine;

automatically creating event processing language statements by the processor at the query technique engine, the event processing language statements being created based on (i) the continuous query definition parameters from the user and (ii) the semantic layer information;

arranging for the event processing language statements to be provided to the event processing engine so as to establish the continuous user-query at the event processing engine, the continuous user-query providing user-output data based on a combination of newly occurring events in the event stream and at least a portion of said meta-output data that was provided before the connection with the user was established;

subsequently de-establishing the connection with the user; and

halting the continuous user-query without halting the first continuous meta-query.

2. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the semantic layer information includes at least one of:

(i) schema definitions, (ii) tables defining attributes, (iii) business object metadata, (iv) metadata based on an entity relationship model, (v) a metadata name, (vi) a metadata description, (vii) a metadata object type, (viii) dimension, measure, detail, or pre-condition object definitions, (ix) a metadata data type, (x) a metadata aggregation type, (xi) metadata distinction information, (xii) metadata formula information, (xiii) stream adapter metadata, (xiv) event driven universe metadata, or (xv) query panel information.

3. The computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the semantic layer information includes at least one of:

(i) window information defining a bounded portion of the event stream, (ii) a window time parameter, (iii) a window count parameter, (iv) window sliding information, (v) window cycling information, (vi) window unique information, (vii) window top information, or (viii) window bottom information.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the continuous query definition parameters from the user include at least one of:

(i) an event driven universe, (ii) an event driven query, (iii) a class, (iv) an object, (v) an adapter, (vi) a source stream, (vii) a target, or (viii) a filter.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein execution of the instructions further results in:

responsive to the output data, transmitting information to the user via a push-model.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the transmitted information is associated with at least one of:

(i) a web service associated with a client, (ii) a desktop widget application associated with a client, (iii) a dashboard application associated with a client, (iv) a web analytic application associated with a client, or (v) a web browser application associated with a client.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the information is transmitted to at least one of:

(i) a personal computer, or (ii) a wireless device.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the continuous user-query at the event processing engine is associated with at least one of:

(i) an event aggregation, (ii) an event abstraction, or (iii) a complex event.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein a plurality of continuous user-queries provide data based on the meta-output data.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the user-output data is based on data associated with a plurality of continuous meta-queries.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first continuous meta-query is further associated with a filter operation.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the first continuous meta-query is further associated with at least one of:

(i) a complex formula, (ii) aggregation information, (iii) a join operation, (iv) an order operation, (v) a group operation, (vi) an output rate parameter, or (vii) a tree of conditions.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the continuous user-query is further associated with user security information and access to the continuous meta-output is based at least in part on the user security information.

14. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing at least one event stream from at least one data source to an event processing engine;

prior to establishing a connection with any user, automatically establishing, by a processor at a query technique engine, a first continuous meta-query for the event processing engine, the first continuous meta-query providing meta-output data based on the at least one event stream, the meta-output data being collected from a time prior to establishing a connection with any user and beginning at the creation of the first continuous meta-query;

subsequently establishing a connection with a remote user;

receiving, at the query technique engine, continuous query definition parameters for a continuous user-query from the user via a graphical user interface;

retrieving, at the query technique engine, semantic layer information associated with the event processing engine;

automatically creating event processing language statements by the processor at the query technique engine, the event processing language statements being created based on (i) the continuous query definition parameters from the user and (ii) the semantic layer information;

arranging for the event processing language statements to be provided to the event processing engine so as to establish the continuous user-query at the event processing engine, the continuous user-query providing output data based on newly occurring events in the event stream combined with at least a portion of said meta-output data that was provided before the connection with the user was established;

subsequently de-establishing the connection with the user; and

halting the continuous user-query without halting the first continuous meta-query.

15. A system, comprising:

an event processing engine to receive at least one event stream from at least one data source;

a query technique engine including a processor to;

(i) prior to establishing a connection with any user, automatically establish a first continuous meta-query for the event processing engine, the first continuous meta-query providing meta-output data based on the at least one event stream, the meta-output data being collected from a time prior to establishing a connection with any user and beginning at the creation of the first continuous meta-query, (ii) subsequently establish a connection with a remote user, (iii) receive continuous query definition parameters for a continuous user-query from the user via a graphical user interface, (iv) retrieve semantic layer information associated with the event processing engine, and (v) automatically create event processing language statements based on (a) the continuous query definition parameters from the user and (b) the semantic layer information;

wherein it is arranged for the event processing language statements to be provided to the event processing engine so as to establish the continuous user-query at the event processing engine, the continuous user-query providing output data based on newly occurring events in the event stream combined with at least a portion of said meta-output data that was provided before the connection with the user was established;

and further wherein the connection with the user is subsequently de-established and the continuous user-query is halted without halting the first continuous meta-query.