Multimedia inspection database system (MIDAS) for dynamic run-time data evaluation

• US 8,082,268 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Issued: 12/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vasudevan Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vasudevan Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Vasudevan, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleurantin, Jean B
• Application Number:
  US12/781,347
• Publication Number:
  US 20100299304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 707600-831, 715/700, 715/737, 715/743, 715/762, 715/782
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/254 Extract, transform and load [ETL] procedures, e.g. ETL data flows in data warehouses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/283 Multi-dimensional databases or data warehouses, e.g. MOLAP or ROLAP
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/444 Spatial browsing, e.g. 2D maps, 3D or virtual spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An object-oriented system provides a comprehensive and integrated tool to manage, operate, analyze and inspect structures by providing 3-D visualization of the structures, a database interface, connectivity with one or more databases, a data display and analysis capabilities. The structural model is stored as an object-oriented, serialized file as a series of objects, including primitives, coordinates, object names, group names and other object identifiers. The system integrates various types of data, including tabulated textual data, annotated engineering drawings, photographic records, graphical plots, audio and videotaped records, from different tables and databases. Data are displayed to the user based on queries that the user submits to the system, which queries are evaluated at run-time. As a result, the user achieves unparalleled flexibility in data analysis and evaluation.

Claims

1. A data storage medium containing instructions which, when executed, cause one or more computers to perform a method comprising:

a. accessing a plurality of incompatible databases of different types, wherein each of said plurality of incompatible databases contains live source data and associated metadata;

b. retrieving at least a portion of the metadata from each of said plurality of incompatible databases;

c. storing said portion of the metadata in a dimensional format within a metadata repository;

d. creating a graphical user interface;

e. receiving a data retrieval request through said graphical user interface in response to user input, and in response to receiving the data retrieval request;

i. using said portion of the metadata to search the live source data in said plurality of incompatible databases;

ii. retrieving responsive source data, wherein responsive source data includes live source data that is responsive to the data retrieval request; and

iii. dynamically assembling a multidimensional view of at least a portion of said responsive source data without first accessing a persistent repository of said responsive source data created after the data retrieval request is received, wherein the multidimensional view includes at least three dimensions;

f. displaying a representation of at least a portion of said responsive source data in the assembled multidimensional view on said graphical user interface;

g. receiving a request to modify a portion of the displayed assembled multidimensional view from said graphical user interface in response to user input; and

h. in response to receiving the request to modify;

i. directly updating one or more of said plurality of incompatible databases consistent with the request to modify; and

ii. directly updating the assembled multidimensional view consistent with the request to modify.

2. The data storage medium of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises:

i. receiving a plurality of access codes, each access code corresponding to one or more of said plurality of incompatible databases,

j. assigning at least one of said access codes to a user, and

k. wherein the use of metadata to search the live source data occurs only if the one or more access codes assigned to the user authorizes access to one or more of the incompatible databases.

3. The data storage medium of claim 2 wherein said metadata repository further comprises metadata-based correlation parameters.

4. The data storage medium of claim 2 wherein said metadata repository further comprises parameterized metadata-based queries.

5. The data storage medium of claim 2 wherein said metadata repository is serialized.

6. The data storage medium of claim 2 wherein said metadata repository is a database.

7. The data storage medium of claim 2 further comprising pivoting the displayed representation of at least a portion of said responsive source data in the assembled multidimensional view.

8. The data storage medium of claim 2 further comprising drilling-down on the displayed representation of at least a portion of said responsive source data in the assembled multidimensional view.

9. A data storage medium containing instructions which, when executed, cause one or more computers to perform a method comprising:

a. accessing a plurality of incompatible databases of different types, wherein each of said plurality of incompatible databases contains live source data and associated metadata;

b. retrieving at least a portion of the metadata from each of said plurality of incompatible databases;

c. storing said portion of the metadata in a dimensional format within a metadata repository;

d. creating a graphical user interface;

e. receiving a data retrieval request through said graphical user interface in response to user input, and in response to receiving the data retrieval request;

i. using said portion of the metadata to search the live source data in said plurality of incompatible databases;

ii. retrieving responsive source data, wherein responsive source data includes live source data that is responsive to the data retrieval request; and

iii. dynamically assembling a slice of an OLAP cube using at least a portion of said responsive source data without first accessing a persistent repository of said responsive source data created after the data retrieval request is received;

f. displaying a representation of the slice of an OLAP cube on said graphical user interface;

g. receiving a request to modify a portion of the displayed representation of the slice of an OLAP cube from said graphical user interface in response to user input; and

h. in response to receiving the request to modify;

i. directly updating one or more of said plurality of incompatible databases consistent with the request to modify; and

ii. directly updating the slice of an OLAP cube consistent with the request to modify.

10. The data storage medium of claim 9 wherein the method further comprises:

i. receiving a plurality of access codes, each access code corresponding to one or more of said plurality of incompatible databases,

j. assigning at least one of said access codes to a user, and

k. wherein the use of metadata to search the live source data occurs only if the one or more access codes assigned to the user authorizes access to one or more of the incompatible databases.

11. The data storage medium of claim 10 wherein said metadata repository further comprises metadata-based correlation parameters.

12. The data storage medium of claim 10 wherein said metadata repository further comprises parameterized metadata-based queries.

13. The data storage medium of claim 10 wherein said metadata repository is serialized.

14. The data storage medium of claim 10 wherein said metadata repository is a database.

15. The data storage medium of claim 10 further comprising pivoting the displayed representation of the slice of an OLAP cube.

16. The data storage medium of claim 10 further comprising drilling-down on the displayed representation of the slice of an OLAP cube.