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

• US 20050154727A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Epstein, Martin Betz, Sharyn O'Halloran
• Original Assignee: David Epstein, Martin Betz, Sharyn O'Halloran
• Inventors: Betz, Martin, Epstein, David, O'Halloran, Sharyn
• Application Number:
  US11/056,636
• Publication Number:
  US 20050154727A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 representing a subset of a dataset table of rows and columns, the method comprising:

selecting a set of blocking variables corresponding to blocking columns of the dataset table such that, for each row in the dataset table, a tuple of values for the blocking columns uniquely identifies the row within the dataset table;

selecting a set of non-blocking variables corresponding to columns of the subset, the set of non-blocking variables disjoint from the set of blocking variables; and

creating a block information structure that includes the set of non-blocking variables and that includes, for each blocking variable in the set of blocking variables, a set of values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein for each row in the subset having a tuple of values for the blocking columns, the values of the tuple are included in the corresponding sets of values for the blocking variables.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of the dataset table includes the entire dataset table.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a sum of the number of elements in the set of non-blocking columns and in the sets of values for the blocking columns is linearly proportionate to an upper bound on binary storage requirements of the block information structure.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the block information structure on a machine-readable medium.

6-23. -23. (canceled)

24. An article comprising a machine-readable storage medium that stores executable instructions to represent a subset of a dataset table of rows and columns, the instructions causing a machine to:

select a set of blocking variables corresponding to blocking columns of the dataset table such that, for each row in the dataset table, a tuple of values for the blocking columns uniquely identifies the row within the dataset table;

select a set of non-blocking variables corresponding to columns of the subset, the set of non-blocking variables disjoint from the set of blocking variables; and

create a block information structure that includes the set of non-blocking variables and that includes, for each blocking variable in the set of blocking variables, a set of values.

25. (canceled)