Apparatus and method for compound on-line analytical processing in databases
AssigneeCrystal Decisions, Inc.
InventorAnthony Charles Proctor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method executed by a computer under the control of a program includes the establishing of a compound structure in the form of a virtual unit of multi-dimensional storage. The compound structure includes a rack with a horizontal arrangement of target structures linked by an alias backbone representing a dimension of information. The horizontal arrangement of target structures selectively includes further compound structures and base structures containing data, in any combination. The compound structure is referenced to obtain information. The method is particularly useful in On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP).
Claims21
A method executed by a computer under the control of a program, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a view of a compound structure in the form of a virtual unit of multi-dimensional storage, said compound structure including a rack with a horizontal arrangement of target structures linked by an alias backbone representing a dimension of information, wherein said horizontal arrangement of target structures selectively includes further compound structures and base structures containing data, in any combination, said compound structure presenting viewed information within said virtual unit of multi-dimensional storage without storing said viewed information;
- and
- referencing said compound structure to obtain information associated therewith.
A computer readable memory to direct a computer to function in a specified manner, comprising:
- a first module to provide a view of a compound structure in the form of a virtual unit of multi-dimensional storage, said compound structure including a rack with a horizontal arrangement of target structures linked by an alias backbone representing a dimension of information, wherein said horizontal arrangement of target structures selectively includes further compound structures and base structures containing data, in any combination, said compound structure presenting viewed information within said virtual unit of multi-dimensional storage without storing said viewed information;
- and
- a second module to reference said compound structure to obtain information associated therewith.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.