Method and means for lineage tracing of a spatial information processing and database system

Abstract

A lineage information processor enables a user to obtain information concerning the various data layers in a spatial data base which contributed to any particular data layer of interest. The component software parses input commands and determines if those commands to the spatial data processing and information systems are valid. The lineage information processor also creates a knowledge representation of the spatial database comprising a meta-database consisting of a semantic network that describes the various data layers in the spatial database and the relationships among these layers. The semantic network consists of parent and child links symbolizing the relationship among data layers, nodes describing the data layers in the spatial database, frames comprising attributes that describe the input data layers, the commands and command modifiers acting on those data layers, and characteristics of the final products. By means of rule-based processing, the lineage information processor does not permit combinations of data layers that are incompatible, and creates commands that can alter incompatible data layers so that the layers can be combined in the desired fashion. A query capability is also provided that enables a user to query in a flexible fashion, the lineage information processor concerning the lineage of data layers in the spatial database.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.