Hybrid File-Relational Database for Measurement Data Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data management systems for measurement data are inconvenient to use, as they lack efficient access and organization of data, particularly in handling structured and unstructured information.
Innovation Solution
A system that combines a file database for storing measurement data as unstructured files with a relational database for structuring and linking data items, allowing intuitive access and retrieval of specific information through a processing unit that extracts and restructures data into relational form, enabling both file-based and relational data management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If measurement data is stored only in a file database as unstructured files, then storage simplicity is maintained, but data access and retrieval efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments data storage into two distinct databases: a file database for unstructured files and a relational database for structured data. This segmentation allows each database to optimize for its specific purpose, maintaining storage simplicity in the file database while enabling efficient data access through the relational database's structured organization and indexing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adds a new dimension to data storage by introducing a relational database layer alongside the traditional file database. This dimensional addition transforms unstructured file storage into a hybrid system where data can be accessed both as complete files and as structured, queryable records, thereby improving access efficiency without sacrificing storage simplicity.
2Productivity
If measurement data is stored only in a relational database with structured format, then data organization and retrieval efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the data management functionality into two separate databases with distinct roles: the file database handles unstructured file storage, while the relational database handles structured data organization. This segmentation reduces the complexity of each individual database component while maintaining high retrieval efficiency through the relational database's structured format.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a processing unit as an intermediary that automatically extracts structured data from unstructured files and populates the relational database. This intermediary component handles the complexity of data transformation, allowing the database system to maintain high retrieval efficiency without requiring users to directly manage the complex extraction and structuring processes.
3Ease of operation
If a processing unit extracts and restructures data from files to relational format, then data access convenience is improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The processing unit performs preliminary extraction and structuring of data from files when the data is initially stored or updated. By performing this processing action in advance, the system prepares the relational database with ready-to-query structured data, thereby improving data access convenience without requiring processing time during actual data retrieval operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copied and structured version of the data in the relational database that mirrors the essential information from the unstructured files. This copying process allows users to access conveniently structured data for analysis while the original files remain intact for complete record-keeping, thereby improving access convenience without requiring repeated processing of the original files.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for managing a plurality of measurement data, each measurement data representing a value of a physical parameter, the device comprising a file database adapted for storing the plurality of measurement data in the form of data files each of which being assigned to a specific measurement, a relational database adapted for storing at least a part of the plurality of measurement data in the form of relational data being structured in accordance with individual measurement parameters assigned to different measurements, and a processing unit adapted for extracting the relational data from the data files.