ETL Diagram Interface for Hierarchical Data Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ETL processes require users to have detailed knowledge of underlying engine technologies, making it complex for users to build, review, or modify ETL processes, especially when dealing with diverse data sources and formats across multiple departments and applications.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented system and method that represents the ETL process through a hierarchy of levels, allowing users to build, review, or modify ETL processes using ETL diagrams without knowing specific details of the underlying engine technology, by encapsulating behaviors and allowing navigation among different levels using ETL progression data structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If users directly interact with underlying engine technology details, then processing precision and control are improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the ETL process into distinct hierarchical levels (high-level workflow diagrams and low-level engine technology details). Users can work at the high level without being exposed to complex engine details, while the system maintains processing precision by handling engine interactions at the appropriate lower level. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating user interaction from engine complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the ETL diagram interface and progression data structures) that mediates between user actions and underlying engine technology. This intermediary allows users to specify ETL processes through intuitive diagrams without directly interacting with complex engine details, maintaining both ease of operation and processing precision through the mediating interface.
2Reliability
If users directly interact with underlying engine technology details, then processing control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments ETL process specification into hierarchical levels where high-level workflow diagrams provide ease of operation while lower-level engine details maintain processing control. Users interact with intuitive diagrams at the high level, while the system translates these into controlled engine operations, resolving the contradiction between ease of use and control precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The ETL diagram interface and progression data structures serve as intermediaries that translate user-friendly diagram specifications into reliable engine-level operations. This intermediary layer ensures that users can easily specify processes while the system maintains reliable control over the actual data processing operations.
3Ease of operation
If ETL processes are simplified for user interaction, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of information about underlying technology increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a nested structure where high-level ETL diagrams contain references to and can be expanded into lower-level engine details. This nesting allows users to work with simplified diagrams while the ability to access underlying technology information remains preserved within the nested structure, resolving the contradiction between simplification and information retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a hierarchical dimension to the ETL interface, allowing users to navigate between high-level workflow views and low-level engine details. This dimensional approach enables simplified operation at the high level while preserving access to underlying technology information through hierarchical navigation, rather than losing information through simplification.
4Ease of operation
If hierarchical levels are introduced to represent ETL process, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the ETL interface into hierarchical levels that organize complexity in a structured manner. High-level workflow diagrams provide ease of operation by presenting only relevant information at each level, while the hierarchical structure manages overall system complexity through organized segmentation rather than monolithic complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer-implemented systems and methods are disclosed for specifying an Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) process. For example, systems and methods are provided for specifying the ETL process through ETL diagrams, and allowing ETL diagrams with different components to be easily traversed. Behaviors of underlying engine technology of the ETL process may be encapsulated so that users may build a job or data flow of the ETL process without knowing specific details of the underlying engine technology.