Knowledge catalysts

A unified data integration system, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• a memory;
• and
• one or more programs, where the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the programs including instructions for:
• detecting data sets hosted in a plurality of heterogeneous databases that are coupled through a distributed network;
• extracting schema data from the plurality heterogeneous databases;
• generating profiles and histogram distributions of a random sample of data sampled from the plurality of heterogeneous databases;
• generating schema-level hypotheses that makes content connections between data sources accessed from at least two of the plurality heterogeneous databases;
• and
• validating at least some of the schema-level hypotheses through a user interface.

A method for analyzing a large data set from disparate sources using a computer, the method comprising:

• building a virtual schema of the data set in a memory of the computer;
• linking potential data elements;
• and
• displaying the data set visually on a monitor of the computer as an interconnected plurality of databases and tables.