Hierarchical runtime settings within distributed query execution frameworks

• US 9,753,981 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2014
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Weyerhaeuser, Christoph, Mindnich, Tobias, Merx, Johannes, Schad, Joerg, Schwing, Julian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ortiz Ditren, Belix M
• Application Number:
  US14/205,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20150261822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2455 Query execution

Abstract

A query is received by a database server from a remote application server. The query is associated with a calculation scenario that defines a data flow model that includes one or more calculation nodes. The calculation nodes each define one or more operations to execute by a calculation engine on the database server. Thereafter, the database server instantiates a runtime model of the calculation scenario by accessing a local settings object stored with the calculation scenario that specifies local settings for the calculation scenario. Subsequently, the database server executes the operations defined by the calculation nodes of the instantiated calculation scenario to result in a responsive data set. The data set can then be provided by the database server to the application server.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a database server from a remote application server, a query associated with a calculation scenario, the calculation scenario defining a data flow model that includes one or more calculation nodes that each define one or more operations to execute by a calculation engine on the database server;

instantiating, by the database server, a runtime model of the calculation scenario, the instantiating comprising accessing a local settings object stored with the calculation scenario, the local settings object specifying local settings for the calculation scenario;

executing, by the database server, the operations defined by the calculation nodes of the instantiated calculation scenario to result in a responsive data set; and

providing, by the database server to the application server, the data set.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

combining, using the local settings object, the local settings with global settings pertaining to a plurality of calculation scenarios, wherein the combination of the local settings and the global settings are used when executing the instantiated calculation scenario.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the query has associated query settings, and wherein the method further comprises:

combining, using the local settings object, the local settings with the query settings, wherein the combination of the local settings and the query settings are used when executing the instantiated calculation scenario.

4. A method as in claim 3, further comprising:

combining the combined local settings and query settings with global settings pertaining to a plurality of calculation scenarios, wherein the combination of the local settings, the query settings, and the global settings are used when executing the instantiated calculation scenario.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein settings specified by the local settings object take precedence over the global settings and the query settings when conflicts exist.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of paths and/or attributes defined by the calculation scenario are not required to respond to the query, and wherein the instantiated calculation scenario omits the paths and attributes defined by the calculation scenario that are not required to respond to the query.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the calculation nodes filters results obtained from the database server.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the calculation nodes sorts results obtained from the database server.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein the calculation scenario is instantiated in a calculation engine layer by the calculation engine.

10. A method as in claim 9, wherein the calculation engine layer interacts with a physical table pool and a logical layer, the physical table pool comprising physical tables containing data to be queried, and the logical layer defining a logical metamodel joining at least a portion of the physical tables in the physical table pool.

11. A method as in claim 9, wherein the calculation engine invokes an SQL processor for executing set operations.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein an input for each calculation node comprises one or more of:

a physical index, a join index, an OLAP index, and another calculation node.

13. A method as in claim 10, wherein each calculation node has at least one output table that is used to generate the data set.

14. A method as in claim 11, wherein at least one calculation node consumes an output table of another calculation node.

15. A method as in claim 1, wherein the executing comprises:

forwarding the query to a calculation node in the calculation scenario that is identified as a default node if the query does not specify a calculation node at which the query should be executed.

16. A non-transitory computer program product storing instructions which, when executed by at least one data processor of at least one computing system, result in operations comprising:

receiving, by a database server from a remote application server, a query associated with a calculation scenario, the calculation scenario defining a data flow model that includes one or more calculation nodes that each define one or more operations to execute by a calculation engine on the database server;

instantiating, by the database server, a runtime model of the calculation scenario, the instantiating comprising accessing a local settings object stored with the calculation scenario, the local settings object specifying local settings for the calculation scenario;

executing, by the database server, the operations defined by the calculation nodes of the instantiated calculation scenario to result in a responsive data set; and

providing, by the database server to the application server, the data set.

17. A computer program product as in claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise:

combining, using the local settings object, the local settings with global settings pertaining to a plurality of calculation scenarios, wherein the combination of the local settings and the global settings are used when executing the instantiated calculation scenario.

18. A computer program product as in claim 16, wherein the query has associated query settings, and wherein the operations further comprises:

combining, using the local settings object, the local settings with the query settings, wherein the combination of the local settings and the query settings are used when executing the instantiated calculation scenario;

combining the combined local settings and query settings with global settings pertaining to a plurality of calculation scenarios, wherein the combination of the local settings, the query settings, and the global settings are used when executing the instantiated calculation scenario;

wherein settings specified by the local settings object take precedence over the global settings and the query settings when conflicts exist.

19. A method comprising:

receiving, by a database server from a remote application server, a query associated with a calculation scenario, the calculation scenario defining a data flow model that includes one or more calculation nodes that each define one or more operations to execute by a calculation engine on the database server;

instantiating, by the database server, a runtime model of the calculation scenario, the instantiating comprising accessing settings, and if necessary, resolving conflicts among the settings for the calculation scenario, wherein the settings comprise global settings, local settings specified by a local settings object stored with the calculation scenario, and query settings specified by the query;

executing, by the database server, the operations defined by the calculation nodes of the instantiated calculation scenario to result in a responsive data set; and

providing, by the database server to the application server, the data set.

20. A method as in claim 19, wherein settings specified by the local settings object take precedence over the global settings and the query settings when conflicts exist.