Method and system for automatically maintaining data consistency across various databases

• US 6,253,213 B1
• Filed: 02/22/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Vanderschaaf, Neil Ray
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US09/253,922
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 707/203, 707/201, 707/202, 707/10, 707/9, 707/102, 707/204, 707/1-4, 703/19, 703/22, 703/14, 709/200, 709/202, 709/238, 709/217, 709/208, 709/247, 709/203, 709/227, 709/224, 709/503, 709/218, 345/349
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A method and system for automatically maintaining data consistency across two or more hierarchically arranged databases is disclosed. A master list and an environmental variable file are created for use in maintaining the data consistency of a cell view. A cell view in a selected database is then checked to see if it has been modified by performing date-time stamp shadowing. If the cell view is modified, the cell view is then retrieved by derivative lists created from the master list and the environmental variable file and translated based on criteria from the environmental variable file. Verification is then performed on the translated cell view once again based on criteria from the environmental variable file. This verification creates a signature for the translated cell view. Signatures are then checked for being out of date with respect to any dependency listing contained internally. Any signature found to be out of date triggers an automatic re-verification of the pertinent data file. The translated and verified cell view is then checked to see if it or any of its dependencies have been altered by performing an audit based on criteria from the environmental variable file using the signature. The translated and verified cell view is then promoted to a higher quality database based on the results of the audit.

Claims

1. A method for automatically maintaining data consistency across two or more hierarchically arranged databases, said method comprising the steps of:

creating a master list and an environmental variable file for use in maintaining data consistency for a cell view;

determining if said cell view in a selected database has been modified by performing date-timestamp shadowing;

responsive to said determination, retrieving said cell view based on derivative lists created from said master list and said environmental variable file from said selected database;

translating said cell view based on criteria from said environmental variable file;

performing verification on said translated cell view based on criteria from said environmental variable file, said verification creating a signature for said translated cell view;

determining if said translated and verified cell view has been altered by performing an audit based on criteria from said environmental variable file using said signature; and

promoting said translated and verified cell view to a higher quality database among said two or more hierarchically arranged databases based on results of said audit.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing date-time stamping further comprising the step of:

comparing an external date-timestamp information for a first database against an internal date timestamp information of a second database to determine if said cell view has been modified.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein performing date-time stamping further comprising the step of:

creating internal date timestamp information for said first database by placing said external date-timestamp information from said second database into said first database when said first database does not have internal date timestamp information.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein performing date-time stamping further comprising the step of:

placing said external date-timestamp information from said second database into said internal date timestamp information for said first database when no modification has occurred.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein translating said cell view further comprising the step of:

driving said translating by a plurality of control files.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein performing verification further comprising the step of:

creating a signature database having dependencies for synchronizing said signature.

7. The method according to claim 6, creating said signature database further comprising the step of:

updating said signature database by examining said dependencies in said signature database.

8. The method according to claim 1, promoting said cell view further comprising the step of:

creating a detailed data file of discrepancies when performing said verification for producing a waiver file to further promote said cell view.

9. A system for automatically maintaining data consistency across two or more hierarchically arranged databases, comprising:

means for creating a master list and an environmental variable file for use in maintaining data consistency for a cell view;

means for performing date-timestamp shadowing to determine if said cell view in a selected database has been modified;

means for retrieving said cell view based on derivative lists created from said master list and said environmental variable file from said selected database when said cell view has been modified;

means for translating said cell view based on criteria from said environmental variable file;

means for performing verification on said translated cell view based on criteria from said environmental variable file, said verification creating a signature for said translated cell view;

means for determining if said translated and verified cell view has been altered by performing an audit based on criteria from said environmental variable file using said signature; and

means for promoting said translated and verified cell view to a higher quality database among said two or more hierarchically arranged databases based on results of said audit.

10. The information handling system according to claim 9, comprising:

means for comparing an external date-timestamp information for a first database against an internal date timestamp information of a second database to determine if said cell view has been modified.

11. The information handling system according to claim 10, comprising:

means for creating internal date timestamp information for said first database by placing said external date-timestamp information from said second database into said first database when said first database does not have internal date timestamp information.

12. The information handling system according to claim 10, comprising:

means for placing said external date-timestamp information from said second database into said internal date timestamp information for said first database when no modification has occurred.

13. The information handling system according to claim 9, comprising:

means for driving said translating by a plurality of control files.

14. The information handling system according to claim 9, comprising:

means for creating a signature database having dependencies for synchronizing said signature.

15. The information handling system according to claim 14, comprising:

means for updating said signature database by examining said dependencies in said signature database.

16. The information handling system according to claim 10, comprising:

means for creating a detailed data file of discrepancies when performing said verification for producing a waiver file to further promote said cell view.

17. A computer program product residing on a computer usable medium for automatically maintaining data consistency across two or more hierarchically arranged databases, comprising:

instruction means for creating a master list and an environmental variable file for use in maintaining data consistency for a cell view;

instruction means for performing date-timestamp shadowing to determine if said cell view in a selected database has been modified;

instruction means for retrieving said cell view based on derivative lists created from said master list and said environmental variable file from said selected database when said cell view has been modified;

instruction means for translating said cell view based on criteria from said environmental variable file;

instruction means for performing verification on said translated cell view based on criteria from said environmental variable file, said verification creating a signature for said translated cell view;

instruction means for determining if said translated and verified cell view has been altered by performing an audit based on criteria from said environmental variable file using said signature;

instruction means for promoting said translated and verified cell view to a higher quality database among said two or more hierarchically arranged databases based on results of said audit; and

instruction means for creating a detailed data file of discrepancies when performing said verification for producing a waiver file to further promote said cell view.

18. The computer program product according to claim 17, comprising:

instruction means for comparing an external date-timestamp information for a first database against an internal date timestamp information of a second database to determine if said cell view has been modified.

19. The computer program product according to claim 17, comprising:

instruction means for creating internal date timestamp information for said first database by placing said external date-timestamp information from said second database into said first database when said first database does not have internal date timestamp information.