# US 7,412,457 B2 · Mapping data from multiple data sources into a single or multiple reusable software components > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,412,457 B2 - Document ID: US7412457B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/983,842 - Filed: 2004-11-06 - Published: 2005-06-02 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2001-01-17 - Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation - Inventors: Cynthia Maro Saracco; Charles Daniel Wolfson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7412457B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/256: {in federated or virtual databases} - Y10S 707/99944: Object-oriented database structure - Y10S 707/99945: Object-oriented database structure processing - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A method, apparatus and program storage device for mapping data objects, residing in multiple data sources or generated dynamically, into a single or multiple reusable software components, for integrated information access to multiple disparate data sources, residing on or generating the data dynamically on different hardware systems and possibly in different data formats. A user identifies selected data objects from multiple data sources and registers them with an information integration software facility, in order to create at least one virtual data object having at least one attribute from the selected registered data objects, and to wrap access to the at least one virtual data object into a reusable software component, as though it was a single real data object, accessible directly from software applications. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for mapping disparate data objects from multiple data sources into a single, or multiple; reusable software components accessible to a software application performed by a computer, for integrated access to the disparate data objects generated dynamically by or contained in the multiple data sources stored in at least one electronic storage device coupled to the computer, the method comprising the following steps: (a) for a software application, identifying the disparate data objects for mapping; (b) employing an information integration software facility for registering the data objects; (c) using the information integration software facility for creating at least one virtual data object having at least one attribute from the selected registered data objects; and (d) wrapping access to the at least one virtual data object into the reusable software component accessible directly from the software application. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the information integration software facility having access to the multiple data sources, being chosen from a group comprising databases, files and spreadsheets, containing or dynamically generating data from different hardware systems and possibly storing the data in different formats. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the information integration software facility being chosen from a group comprising a multi-database server, a federated data server and an information integration server. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the software application accessing the reusable software component within a single unit of work. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual data object being mapped into an entity bean having attributes spanning the multiple data sources. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the entity bean being a container-managed persistence entity bean. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the software application including an Enterprise JavaBean (EJB) application. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the virtual data object being accessed from a group comprising Java servlets, Java Server Pages (JSPs), Web Services, Service Data Objects (SDO) and persistence frameworks. ### Claim 9 Art apparatus for mapping disparate data objects from multiple data sources into a single, or multiple reusable software components accessible to a software application performed by a computer, comprising: the computer coupled to at least one electronic storage device for integrated access to the disparate data objects generated dynamically by or contained in the multiple data sources; programming means, performed by the computer, for identifying the disparate data objects for mapping; an information integration software facility for registering the data objects; means, performed by the computer, for using the information integration software facility for creating at least one virtual data object having at least one attribute from the selected registered data objects; and means, performed by the computer, for wrapping access to the at least one virtual data object into the reusable software component accessible directly from the software application. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information integration software facility having access to the multiple data sources, being chosen from a group comprising databases, files and spreadsheets, containing or dynamically generating data from different hardware systems and possibly storing the data in different formats. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the information integration software facility being chosen from a group comprising a multi-database server, a federated data server and an information integration server. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the software application accessing the reusable software component within a single unit of work. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the virtual data object being mapped into an entity bean having attributes spanning the multiple data sources. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the entity bean being a container-managed persistence entity bean. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the software application including an Enterprise JavaBean (EJB) application. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the virtual data object being accessed from a group comprising Java servlets, Java Server Pages (JSPs), Web Services, Service Data Objects (SDO) and persistence frameworks. ### Claim 17 A program storage device usable by a computer tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for mapping disparate data objects from multiple data sources into a single, or multiple, reusable software components accessible to a software application performed by a computer, for integrated access to the disparate data objects generated dynamically by or contained in the multiple data sources stored in at least one electronic storage device coupled to the computer, the method comprising the following steps: (a) for a software application, identifying the disparate data objects for mapping; (b) employing an information integration software facility for registering the data objects; (c) using the information integration software facility for creating at least one virtual data object having at least one attribute from the selected registered data objects; and (d) wrapping access to the at least one virtual data object into the reusable software component accessible directly from the software application. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the information integration software facility having access to the multiple data sources, being chosen from a group comprising databases, files and spreadsheets, containing or dynamically generating data from different hardware systems and possibly storing the data in different formats. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the information integration software facility being chosen from a group comprising a multi-database server, a federated data server and an information integration server. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the software application accessing the reusable software component within a single unit of work. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the virtual data object being mapped into an entity bean having attributes spanning the multiple data sources. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method according to claim 21, wherein the entity bean being a container-managed persistence entity bean. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the software application including an Enterprise JavaBean (EJB) application. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the virtual data object being accessed from a group comprising Java servlets, Java Server Pages (JSPs), Web Services, Service Data Objects (SDO) and persistence frameworks.