Data Source Descriptor Management for Unified Repository Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Consolidating data from multiple sources with different structures and temporal versions poses challenges in maintaining a unified data repository, as existing systems struggle to track sources and determine which data to modify or delete.
Innovation Solution
A data management system that accesses multiple data sources, uses descriptors to identify data sources for each element, and processes rules to determine if elements in the storage system can be changed, allowing for data source management and conflict resolution through maintenance plans and owner permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the system consolidates data from multiple sources with different structures and temporal versions, then the system provides a unified view of data, but the complexity of tracking sources and determining which data to modify increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data tracking by introducing descriptors that identify specific data sources for specific data elements. Each data element can have its own source descriptor, allowing the system to track which source provided which piece of data independently, thereby managing complexity while maintaining unified view capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces descriptors as intermediary structures between data elements and data sources. These descriptors act as mediators that store source identification information, enabling the system to track origins without directly managing complex relationships between multiple sources and elements.
2Reliability
If the system stores descriptors identifying data sources for each element, then the system can determine which source data to use for modifications, but the storage requirements and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by storing source identification descriptors only where needed - specifically attached to individual data elements that have source tracking requirements. This selective approach ensures reliable tracking for critical data while minimizing unnecessary storage overhead for data elements that don't require source tracking.
3Reliability
If the system processes rules to determine if elements are allowed to be changed, then data integrity is maintained, but the processing time and system response time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining and pre-processing modification rules before data changes occur. The system maintains a rule set that specifies under what conditions data elements can be modified, and these rules are evaluated in advance to determine permitted changes, reducing real-time processing delays while ensuring data integrity.
Data Source
AI summary
Maintaining data in a data management system including at least one processor and a storage system includes accessing a first data source providing one or more source elements of data; accessing a storage system storing one or more subsets of data, each subset including at least one element of data, and storing one or more descriptors identifying a data source for a subset and identifying a data source for each of one or more elements of the subset; and processing rules that determine if, according to the descriptors, an element in the storage system is allowed to be changed.