Automatic Query System via Metadata Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Analysts face inefficiencies and inaccuracies when building search queries across multiple tables and databases, due to cryptic data sources and unstructured institutional knowledge, requiring extensive trial and error and months of training.

Innovation Solution

An automatic query system that allows users to select tables, columns, and value filters using meta-data from data set registrations, enabling the execution of customized join queries without requiring detailed knowledge of the underlying data tables.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If analysts manually identify data sources and build search queries using traditional methods, then they can access data in various tables, but the process is inefficient and requires extensive training due to cryptic formatting and unstructured institutional knowledge

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequery creation efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the user and the database system. This intermediary automatically translates natural language queries into SQL queries by accessing registered data sets and their metadata, eliminating the need for users to manually navigate complex table structures and cryptic formatting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-registering data sets with their schemas, metadata, and relationships before query execution. This preliminary registration creates a structured catalog that enables automatic query translation, reducing the complexity of real-time query processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If analysts rely on unstructured institutional knowledge and trial and error techniques to locate data, then they can eventually find the required information, but the process is inaccurate and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata location accuracyVSAvoidtime to locate data

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the automatic query translation process learns from registered data sets and their metadata. The system provides feedback to users about available data sets and their structures, enabling accurate data location without trial and error approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates structured copies of unstructured institutional knowledge by registering data sets with standardized schemas and metadata. This copying process transforms cryptic formatting into organized, queryable structures that can be efficiently searched and accessed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If users need detailed knowledge of underlying data tables to build queries, then they can construct accurate search queries, but extensive training is required which reduces accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequery accuracyVSAvoiduser accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically translating user intent into accurate SQL queries without requiring users to have detailed knowledge of underlying data tables. The automatic query translation handles the complexity of table relationships and column mappings, making the system accessible to non-experts while maintaining query accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Ease of operation

If the system provides a user-friendly interface for selecting data sets, then ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases due to the need for metadata management and automatic query translation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface usabilityVSAvoidsystem architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system into distinct functional modules: data set registration, metadata management, natural language processing, SQL query generation, and result delivery. This segmentation allows the complex automatic query translation functionality to be managed through separate, well-defined components, making the system more maintainable despite its increased capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12242480B1Automatic querying through selection of registered data sets

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)

AI summary

Methods and systems described herein are directed to creating customized queries on data sets via selection of search elements based on meta-data from data set registrations. In some implementations, an automatic query system can register database elements with associated meta-data by receiving programming data objects, corresponding to database elements, with meta-data and adding the programming objects as selectable values for a user interface (UI). Each data object can define one or more elements for a table and/or column(s) within a table in a database. The automatic query system can provide the UI to a user to receive table and column selections. The automatic query system can select a root table to join the selected tables into, and generate a join query for the root table by inserting search string snippets, corresponding to selected tables and columns, into a query template.