Uniform Data Model for Distributed Source Querying
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems face challenges in managing and accessing distributed, heterogeneous data sources due to the lack of a uniform data model and single-entry access, making it difficult for personnel to have an overview of processes across different information systems and databases.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a computer-implemented method that uses a uniform data model, such as an ontology, to query distributed data sources by identifying relevant elements, mapping adapters to data sources, transforming data into a unified format, and storing results in a temporary data store, enabling homogenous access and retrieval of data from disparate sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If data is stored across distributed systems with different information systems and databases, then data can be stored in its native format and structure, but it becomes difficult to access and query data uniformly across all sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer consisting of adapters and a unified data model that mediates between the querying application and distributed data sources. The adapters translate queries from the unified data model into data source-specific queries, enabling uniform access to heterogeneous databases while preserving their native structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the data access architecture into distinct components: a unified data model layer, adapter layer, and data source layer. Each adapter handles specific data sources independently, allowing the system to manage complexity through modular segmentation while providing unified access.
2Ease of operation
If a uniform data model is implemented to access distributed data sources, then data access becomes simplified and unified, but the complexity of the system architecture increases due to adapters and mapping requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The unified data model serves as an intermediary abstraction layer that simplifies data access for applications while isolating the complexity of data source variations. The model defines a standardized structure that applications interact with, hiding the underlying architectural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual copy of the distributed data sources in the unified data model, allowing applications to query a simplified representation rather than dealing with the complexity of multiple actual data sources directly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adapters are used to query each data source specifically, then data can be retrieved from heterogeneous sources, but the time and resources required to query and transform data increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining the unified data model structure and adapter mappings before actual queries are executed. Adapters are pre-configured with knowledge of their data sources' structures, allowing them to efficiently translate and execute queries without runtime discovery overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by transforming data between different formats and structures through the unified model. The adapter layer dynamically adjusts query parameters and data formats based on the target data source, enabling efficient retrieval while maintaining a consistent interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media include actions of receiving a query, identifying, based on the query, one or more relevant elements from an overall data model, identifying, using an adapter mapping, one or more adapters based on the one or more relevant elements, the adapter mapping associating each relevant element with a particular adapter, querying, using the one or more adapters, one or more data elements in data sources of a plurality of disparate data sources, each adapter being specific to a data source of the plurality of data sources, receiving, at the one or more adapters, one or more data results, transforming each data result of the one or more data results into a unified data format to provide respective one or more transformed data results, storing the one or more transformed data results in a temporary data store and querying the temporary data store to generate a result.