Mapping data from multiple data sources into a single software component
| Title: | Mapping data from multiple data sources into a single software component |
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| Patent Number: | 6,901,409 |
| Publication Date: | May 31, 2005 |
| Appl. No: | 10/644483 |
| Application Filed: | August 20, 2003 |
| Abstract: | A method, apparatus and article of manufacture is provided for mapping data objects residing in multiple data sources, or generated dynamically, into a single, reusable software component, for integrated information access to multiple disparate data sources, residing on or generating the data dynamically on different hardware systems and possibly in different data formats. The method has steps for identifying data objects in multiple data sources, employing an information integration software facility for connecting to the data sources containing the data objects, and registering the data objects with the software facility, creating a single virtual data object consolidating multiple attributes from the registered data objects, and establishing a connection to the software facility for referencing the virtual data object as though it was a single real data object. It also has a step for wrapping this virtual data object as a reusable software component accessible directly from applications. |
| Inventors: | Dessloch, Stefan (Kaiserlanteru, DE); Saracco, Cynthia Maro (San Jose, CA, US); Wolfson, Charles Daniel (Austin, TX, US) |
| Assignees: | International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY, US) |
| Claim: | 1. A method for mapping disparate data objects from multiple data sources into a single, reusable software component accessible to a software application performed by a computer, for integrated access to the disparate data objects generated dynamically by or contained in multiple data sources stored in at least one electronic storage device coupled to the computer, the method comprising the following steps: (a) for a software application, identifying data objects for mapping; (b) employing an information integration software facility for connecting to data sources of the data objects and registering the data objects with the information integration software facility; (c) using the information integration software facility for creating a single virtual data object consolidating multiple attributes from the registered data objects; (d) for the software application, establishing a connection to the information integration software facility for referencing the virtual data object; and (e) wrapping access to the virtual data object into a reusable software component accessible directly from the software application. |
| Claim: | 2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the information integration software facility having access to multiple data sources, being chosen from a group comprising databases, files and spreadsheets, containing or dynamically generating data from different hardware systems and possibly storing data in different formats. |
| Claim: | 3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the information integration software facility being chosen from a group comprising a multi-database server, a federated data server and an information integration server. |
| Claim: | 4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the software application accessing the reusable software component within a single unit of work. |
| Claim: | 5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual data object being mapped into an entity bean having attributes spanning multiple data sources. |
| Claim: | 6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the entity bean being a container-managed persistence entity bean. |
| Claim: | 7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the software application including an Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) application. |
| Claim: | 8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual data object being accessed from a group comprising Java servlets, Java Server Pages (JSPs) and Web Services. |
| Claim: | 9. An apparatus for mapping disparate data objects from multiple data sources into a single, reusable software component accessible to a software application performed by a computer, comprising: a computer coupled to at least one electronic storage device for integrated access to disparate data objects generated dynamically by or contained in multiple data sources; programming means, performed by the computer, for identifying data objects for mapping; an information integration software facility for connecting to data sources of the data objects and registering the data objects with the information integration software facility; means, performed by the computer, for using the information integration software facility for creating a single virtual data object consolidating multiple attributes from the registered data objects; means, performed by the computer, for establishing a connection to the information integration software facility for referencing the virtual data object; and means, performed by the computer, for wrapping access to the virtual data object into a reusable software component accessible directly from the software application. |
| Claim: | 10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the information integration software facility having access to multiple data sources, being chosen from a group comprising databases, files and spreadsheets, containing or dynamically generating data from different hardware systems and possibly storing data in different formats. |
| Claim: | 11. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the information integration software facility being chosen from a group comprising a multi-database server, a federated data server and an information integration server. |
| Claim: | 12. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the software application accessing the reusable software component within a single unit of work. |
| Claim: | 13. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the virtual data object being mapped into an entity bean having attributes spanning multiple data sources. |
| Claim: | 14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the entity bean being a container-managed persistence entity bean. |
| Claim: | 15. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the software application including an Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) application. |
| Claim: | 16. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the virtual data object being accessed from a group comprising Java servlets, Java Server Pages (JSPs) and Web Services. |
| Claim: | 17. A program storage device readable by a computer tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for mapping disparate data objects from multiple data sources into a single, reusable software component accessible to a software application performed by a computer, for integrated access to the disparate data objects generated dynamically by or contained in multiple data sources stored in at least one electronic storage device coupled to the computer, the method comprising the following steps: (a) for a software application, identifying data objects for mapping; (b) employing an information integration software facility for connecting to data sources of the data objects and registering the data objects with the information integration software facility; (c) using the information integration software facility for creating a single virtual data object consolidating multiple attributes from the registered data objects; (d) for the software application, establishing a connection to the information integration software facility for referencing the virtual data object; and (e) wrapping access to the virtual data object into a reusable software component accessible directly from the software application. |
| Claim: | 18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the information integration software facility having access to multiple data sources, being chosen from a group comprising databases, files and spreadsheets, containing or dynamically generating data from different hardware systems and possibly storing data in different formats. |
| Claim: | 19. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the information integration software facility being chosen from a group comprising a multi-database server, a federated data server and an information integration server. |
| Claim: | 20. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the software application accessing the reusable software component within a single unit of work. |
| Claim: | 21. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the virtual data object being mapped into an entity bean having attributes spanning multiple data sources. |
| Claim: | 22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the entity bean being a container-managed persistence entity bean. |
| Claim: | 23. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the software application including an Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) application. |
| Claim: | 24. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the virtual data object being accessed from a group comprising Java servlets, Java Server Pages (JSPs) and Web Services. |
| Current U.S. Class: | 707/103Y |
| Patent References Cited: | 5426747 June 1995 Weinreb et al. 5627979 May 1997 Chang et al. 5729739 March 1998 Cantin et al. 5765161 June 1998 Blackman et al. 5794247 August 1998 Blackman et al. 6061515 May 2000 Chang et al. 2002/0138582 September 2002 Chandra et al. 2002/0165727 November 2002 Greene et al. 2002/0184401 December 2002 Kadel et al. 0690375 January 1996 3138734 May 1991 |
| Primary Examiner: | Kindred, Alford W. |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Parker, Esq., Sandra M. |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.06901409 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Language: | English |
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