Collaborative Graph Schema Editor for Business Data Modeling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Business users face challenges in accessing business data directly using their own terminology, relying on IT for data warehousing and schema creation, which often disconnects business terminology from the data models and integration processes.

Innovation Solution

A collaborative graph schema editor system that allows business users and IT professionals to model business knowledge using their own terminologies, map it to physical databases, and access data without requiring a data warehouse, enabling incremental changes and real-time collaborative editing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If IT professionals create enterprise database schemas using data modeling tools, then data storage and management are improved, but business terminology becomes disconnected from the data models

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage and managementVSAvoidbusiness terminology connection
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a terminology service as an intermediary layer between the enterprise database schema and business users. This service maintains a mapping between business terminology and technical database terms, allowing business users to query data using their own terminology while the system translates these queries to the underlying database schema. The terminology service thus preserves the connection between business terminology and data models without requiring IT professionals to redesign the database schema.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If business users depend on IT for data warehouse setup, then data access control is improved, but business user autonomy and efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access controlVSAvoidbusiness user autonomy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables business users to directly access and query enterprise data through a web-based interface without requiring IT intervention for each query. Business users can define their own queries using business terminology, and the system automatically handles the translation and execution against the data warehouse. This self-service capability empowers business users to independently generate reports and analyze data while the system maintains access control policies defined by IT administrators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If enterprise database schema is changed to include new data, then data completeness is improved, but the schema becomes disconnected from the original model

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata completenessVSAvoidschema-model consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic terminology mapping system that can adapt to schema changes without requiring complete redesign. When new data elements are added to the enterprise database schema, the terminology service dynamically updates its mappings to incorporate these new elements while maintaining compatibility with existing business terminology. This allows the schema to evolve to include new data while preserving the connection to the original business model through the flexible mapping layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Adaptability or versatility

If multiple tools are used for data modeling and terminology management, then functional capabilities are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional capabilitiesVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple previously separate functions into a unified web-based platform. The system integrates data querying, report generation, terminology management, and schema evolution capabilities into a single accessible interface. Business users can perform all these functions through one system without needing to switch between multiple specialized tools, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive functional capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11442988B2Method and system for editing and maintaining a graph schema
Publication Date: 2022.09.13 SERVICENOW INC
  • US11442988B2 patent drawing
  • US11442988B2 patent drawing
  • US11442988B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A system and method for creating and editing graph schema data structures in a collaborative, real time graphical editing environment is disclosed. The system and method further operates to integrate external sources of data as components of the graph schema. The system and method outputs definition files for the graph schema data structure and mapping files.that enable the population of a graph database.