Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1997-06-30
2001-03-20
Black, Thomas G. (Department: 2771)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205447
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to database management systems performed by computers, and in particular, to the use of a relational database management system that supports on-line analytical processing.
2. Description of Related Art
Relational DataBase Management System (RDBMS) software using a Structured Query Language (SQL) interface is well known in the art. The SQL interface has evolved into a standard language for RDBMS software and has been adopted as such by both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Standards Organization (ISO).
RDBMS software has typically been used with databases comprised of traditional data types that are easily structured into tables. However, RDBMS products do have limitations with respect to providing users with specific views of data. Thus, “front-ends” have been developed for RDBMS products so that data retrieved from the RDBMS can be aggregated, summarized, consolidated, summed, viewed, and analyzed. However, even these “front-ends” do not easily provide the ability to consolidate, view, and analyze data in the manner of “multi-dimensional data analysis.” This type of functionality is also known as on-line analytical processing (OLAP).
OLAP generally comprises numerous, speculative “what-if” and/or “why” data model scenarios executed by a computer. Within these scenarios, the values of key variables or parameters are changed, often repeatedly, to reflect potential variances in measured data. Additional data is then synthesized through animation of the data model. This often includes the consolidation of projected and actual data according to more than one consolidation path or dimension.
Data consolidation is the process of synthesizing data into essential knowledge. The highest level in a data consolidation path is referred to as that data's dimension. A given data dimension represents a specific perspective of the data included in its associated consolidation path. There are typically a number of different dimensions from which a given pool of data can be analyzed. This plural perspective, or Multi-Dimensional Conceptual View, appears to be the way most business persons naturally view their enterprise. Each of these perspectives is considered to be a complementary data dimension. Simultaneous analysis of multiple data dimensions is referred to as multi-dimensional data analysis.
OLAP functionality is characterized by dynamic multi-dimensional analysis of consolidated data supporting end user analytical and navigational activities including:
calculations and modeling applied across
dimensions, through hierarchies and/or across
members;
trend analysis over sequential time periods;
slicing subsets for on-screen viewing;
drill-down to deeper levels of consolidation;
reach-through to underlying detail data; and
rotation to new dimensional comparisons in the
viewing area.
OLAP is often implemented in a multi-user client/server mode and attempts to offer consistently rapid response to database access, regardless of database size and complexity. While some vendors have proposed and offered OLAP systems that use RDBMS products as storage managers, to date these offerings have been unsuccessful for a variety of reasons. As a result, there is a need in the art for an enhanced technique for using RDBMS products as storage managers for OLAP systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the limitations in the prior art described above, and to overcome other limitations that will become apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for using a relational database management system to support on-line analytical processing (OLAP) systems.
According to the present invention, a multi-dimensional database is defined using an outline that contains one or more dimensions. Each dimension has a list of one or more members. Then a relational schema is defined based on the defined multi-dimensional database. Next, a relational database is created based on the defined relational schema. The relational database is accessed using access mechanisms provided by the multi-dimensional database and the relational database.
An object of the present invention is to emulate a multi-dimensional database using a relational database. Another object of the present invention is to provide a relational database implementation of a multi-dimensional database using a relational schema. Yet another object of the present invention is to map data between the multi-dimensional database and the relational database.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5359724 (1994-10-01), Earle
patent: 5706495 (1998-01-01), Chadha et al.
patent: 5724573 (1998-03-01), Agrawal et al.
patent: 5761652 (1998-06-01), Wu et al.
patent: 5765028 (1998-06-01), Gladden
patent: 5848408 (1998-12-01), Jakobsson et al.
patent: 5903882 (1999-05-01), Asay et al.
patent: 5905985 (1999-05-01), Malloy et al.
patent: 5926818 (1999-07-01), Malloy et al.
patent: 5937408 (1999-08-01), Shoup et al.
patent: 5940818 (1999-08-01), Malloy et al.
patent: 5943668 (1999-08-01), Malloy et al.
patent: 5978788 (1999-11-01), Castelli et al.
patent: 6003036 (1999-12-01), Martin
patent: 6122636 (2000-09-01), Malloy
“Arbor Software and Showcase Corporation Team to Deliver AS/400 Data Warehousing Solution”, Business Wire pp. 07310130, Jul. 1996.*
“One Database for All: Oracle Universal Server Accessses Many Data Types Releases Universal Server with Oracle 7.3 as Relational-Database Component and Web Server Software”, CommunicationsWeek, pp. 15, Mar. 1996.*
“Information Builders Intros “Fusion” MDDS Warehouse”, Newsbytes, May 1996.*
IBM Turns to Arbor Software for Online Analytical Processing and Puts Its Up on Relational Databases, Computergram International, Feb. 1997.*
“Oracle Trumpets New Databases To Introduce Multidimensional Database Later in 1994”, Abstract, Computing Canada, pp. 1, Feb. 1994.*
“Data Begins Journey to a Multidimension”, Computerworld, pp. 57, Jul. 1996.*
Methaphor Business Series, “Examining Corporate and Syndicated Data”, Chapter 3: “Reporter Workshop”, 1990, pp. 3-1 through 3-66.
Archer Decision Sciences, Inc., Internet article, http://www.strategy.com/dwf/raden/str101.htm, 1995-1996 (entire document).
Kimball, Ralph, “The Data Warehouse Toolkit: Practical Techniques for Building Dimensional Data Warehouses”, Appendix D: “User's Guide for Star Tracker™”, published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996, pp. 321-366.
Black Thomas G.
International Business Machines - Corporation
Pretty & Schroeder, P.C.
Rones Charles L.
LandOfFree
Relational database management of multi-dimensional data does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Relational database management of multi-dimensional data, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Relational database management of multi-dimensional data will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2545364