Method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for generating a multi-dimensional record structure foundation

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein said step (a) further includes the steps of: identifying records in said first set of records that include a dimension value in said set of N dimension, wherein said dimension value is identified by a variable name dimension -- value n wherein n is an integer in a range of 1 to N; and generating a dimension index record, wherein said dimension index record is identified by a variable name dimension-index-record n , wherein said dimension -- index -- record n identifies said identified records that include said dimension -- value n .

Claim 4

The method of claim 2, wherein said step of identifying records that include said dimension -- value , and said step of generating a dimension index records are each performed N number of times with n being equal to a different value in said range of 1 to N each of said N number of times.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2, wherein said dimension -- index -- record n identifies a dimension from said D dimensions that is associated with said dimension -- value n .

Claim 6

The method of claim 1, wherein said set of dimensions in said D dimensions includes all dimensions in said D dimensions that are associated with said query.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1, wherein said set of measures in said M measures includes all measures in said set of M measures that are associated with said query.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1, wherein said set of query map records includes a query map record for each query in said first set of queries.

Claim 9

The method of claim 1, further including the step of: (c) following said step (a) and said step (b), updating said index for a second set of records retrieved in response to a second set of queries, wherein a set of B dimension values are represented throughout said second set of records and a set of X measures are represented throughout said second set of record sets, wherein each one of said B dimension values is associated with at least one of Y dimensions, and wherein B, X, and Y are all integers.

Claim 10

The method of claim 8, wherein said step (c) includes the steps of: identifying records in said second set of records that include a dimension value in said set of B dimension values, wherein said dimension value is identified by a variable name dimension -- value b , wherein b is an integer in a range of 1 to B; and generating a dimension index record b, wherein said dimension index record is identified by a variable name dimension -- index -- record b , wherein said dimension -- index -- record b identifies said identified records that include said dimension -- value b , if said dimension -- value b is not already included in a dimension index record in said index; and updating an existing dimension index record for said dimension -- index -- record b to identify said identified records that include said dimension -- value b , if said dimension -- value b is already included in a dimension index record in said index.

Claim 11

The method of claim 9, wherein said step of identifying, said step of generating a dimension -- index -- record b , and said step of updating are each performed B number of times with b being equal to a different integer value in said range of 1 to B each of said B times.

Claim 12

The method of claim 8, further including the step of: (d) following said step (a) and said step (b), updating said set of query map records, so that each query map record in said set of query map records identifies a query from a combination set of queries, a set of dimensions called for by said query from said combination set of queries, and a set of measures called for by said query from said combination set of queries, wherein said combination set of queries includes said first set of queries and said second set of queries.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12, wherein said supplemental mapping contains information indicating that it is mapping to said second set of data records.

Claim 16

A computer readable medium having a set of instructions stored therein for enabling a computer to generate a record structure foundation, said set of instructions including: a first set of instructions, which when executed by the computer caused the computer to generate an index for a first set of records retrieved in response to a first set of queries, wherein a set of N dimension values are represented throughout said first set of records and a set of M measures are represented throughout said first set of records, wherein each one of said N dimension values is associated with at least one of D dimensions, and wherein M, N, and D are all integers; and a second set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to generate a set of query map records, wherein each query map record in said set of query map records identifies a query from said first set of queries, a set of dimensions in said D dimensions that are called for by said query, and a set of measures in said set of M measures that are called for by said query.

Claim 17

A computer readable medium having a set of instructions stored therein for enabling a computer to generate a record structure foundation, said set of instructions including: a first set of instructions, which when executed by the computer caused the computer to generate an index for a first set of records retrieved in response to a first set of queries, wherein a set of N dimension values are represented throughout said first set of records and a set of M measures are represented throughout said first set of records, wherein each one of said N dimension values is associated with at least one of D dimensions, and wherein M, N, and D are all integers; and a second set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to generate a set of query map records, wherein each query map record in said set of query map records identifies a query from said first set of queries, a set of dimensions in said D dimensions that are called for by said query, and a set of measures in said set of M measures that are called for by said query.

Claim 18

The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said first set of instructions includes: a third set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to identify records in said first set of records that include a dimension value in said set of N dimensions, wherein said dimension value is identified by a variable name dimension -- value n , wherein n is an integer in a range of 1-N; and a fourth set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to gene rate a dimension index record wherein said dimension index record is identified by a variable name dimension -- index -- record n , wherein said dimension -- index -- record n identifies said identified records that includes said dimension -- value n .

Claim 19

The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said first set of instructions further includes: a fifth set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to execute said third set of instructions and said fourth set of instructions N number of times with n being equal to a different value in said range of 1 to N each of said N number of times.

Claim 20

The computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein said dimension -- index -- record n identifies a dimension from said D dimensions that is associated with said dimension -- value n .

Claim 21

The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said set of dimensions in said D dimensions includes all dimensions in said D dimensions that are associated with said query, and wherein said set of measures in said M measures includes all measures in said set of M measures that are associated with said query.

Claim 22

The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said set of query map records includes a query map record for each query in said first set of queries.

Claim 23

The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said set of instructions further includes: a sixth set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to update said index for a second set of records retrieved in response to a second set of queries, wherein a set of B dimension values are represented throughout said set of records and a set of X measures are represented throughout said set of record sets, wherein each one of said B dimension values is associated with at least one of Y dimensions, and wherein B, X, and Y are all integers.

Claim 24

The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein said sixth set of instructions includes: a seventh set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to identify records in said second set of records that include a dimension value in said set of B dimension values, wherein said dimension value is identified by a variable name dimension -- value b , wherein b is an integer in a range of 1 to B; and an eighth set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to generate a dimension index record, wherein said dimension index record is identified by a variable name dimension -- index -- record b , wherein said dimension -- index -- record b identifies said identified records that include said dimension -- value b , if said dimension -- value b is not already included in a dimension index record in said index; and a ninth set of instructions, which are executed by the computer cause the computer to update an existing dimension index record for said dimension -- index -- record b to identify said identified records that include said dimension -- value b , if said dimension -- value b is already included in a dimension index record in said index.

Claim 25

The computer readable medium of claim 21, wherein said sixth set of instructions further includes: a tenth set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to execute said seventh set of instructions, said eighth set of instructions, and said ninth set of instructions B number of times with b being equal to a different integer value in said range of 1 to B each of said B number of times.

Claim 26

The computer readable medium of claim 20, wherein said set of instructions further includes: an eleventh set of instructions, which when executed by the computer cause the computer to update said set of query map records, so that each query map record in said set of query map records identifies a query from a combination set of queries, a set of dimension s called for by said query from said combination set of queries, and a set of measures called for by said query from said combination set of queries, wherein said combination set of queries includes said first set of queries and said second set of queries.

Claim 27

A record management system for constructing a record structure foundation for a set of records, wherein said set of records includes a first set of records retrieved in response to a first set of queries, wherein a set of N dimension values are represented throughout said first set of records and a set of M measures are represented throughout said first set of records, wherein each one of said N dimension values is associated with at least one of D dimensions, wherein said set of records also includes a second set of records retrieved in response to a second set of queries, wherein a set of B dimension values are represented throughout said second set of records and a set of X measures are represented throughout said second set of records, wherein each one of said B dimension values is associated with at least one of Y dimensions, and wherein M, N, D, B, X and Y are all integers, said record management system comprising: a system bus; a master table storage unit coupled to said system bus for maintaining said set of records; a query map record storage unit coupled to said system bus; a master table index storage unit coupled to said system bus; and an index engine coupled to said system bus for generating said record structure foundation, said index engine including: a means for generating an index for said first set of records and said second set of records in said master table index storage unit, and a means for generating a set of query map records in said query map storage unit, wherein each query map record in said set of query map records identifies a query from a combination set of queries, a set of dimensions called for by said query from said combination set of queries, and a set of measures called for by said query from said combination set of measures, wherein said combination set of queries includes said first set of queries and said second set of queries.

Claim 28

A record management system for constructing a record structure foundation for a set of records, wherein said set of records includes a first set of records retrieved in response to a first set of queries, wherein a set of N dimension values are represented throughout said first set of records and a set of M measures are represented throughout said first set of records, wherein each one of said N dimension values is associated with at least one of D dimensions, wherein said set of records also includes a second set of records retrieved in response to a second set of queries, wherein a set of B dimension values are represented throughout said second set of records and a set of X measures are represented throughout said second set of records, wherein each one of said B dimension values is associated with at least one of Y dimensions, and wherein M, N, D, B, X and Y are all integers, said record management system comprising: a system bus; a master table storage unit coupled to said system bus for maintaining said set of records; a query map record storage unit coupled to said system bus; a master table index storage unit coupled to said system bus; and an index engine coupled to said system bus for generating said record structure foundation, said index engine including: a means for generating an index for said first set of records and said second set of records in said master table index storage unit, and a means for generating a set of query map records in said query map storage unit, wherein each query map record in said set of query map records identifies a query from a combination set of queries, a set of dimensions called for by said query from said combination set of queries, and a set of measures called for by said query from said combination set of measures, wherein said combination set of queries includes said first set of queries and said second set of queries.

Claim 29

The record management system of claim 24, wherein said means for generating an index includes: a means for identifying records in said first set of records that include a dimension value in said set of N dimensions, wherein said dimension value is identified by a variable name dimension -- value n , wherein n is an integer in a range of 1 to N; and a means for generating a dimension index record, wherein said dimension index record is identified by a variable name dimension -- index -- record n , wherein said dimension -- index -- record n , identifies said identified records that include said dimension -- value n .

Claim 30

The record management system of claim 25, wherein said means for generating an index further includes: a means for identifying records in said second set of records that include a dimension value in said set of B dimensions, wherein said dimension value is identified by a variable name dimension -- value b , wherein b is an integer in a range of 1 to B; a means for generating a dimension index record, wherein said dimension index record is identified by a variable name dimension -- index -- record b , wherein said dimension -- index -- record b identifies said identified records that include said dimension -- value b , if said dimension -- value b is not already included in a dimension index record in said index; and a means for updating an existing dimension index record for said dimension -- index -- record b to identify said identified records that include said dimension -- value b , if said dimension -- value b is already included in a dimension index record in said index.

Claim 31

The record management system of claim 26, wherein said dimension -- index -- record n identifies a dimension from said D dimensions that is associated with said dimension -- value n , and wherein said dimension -- index -- record b identifies a dimension from said Y dimensions that is associated with said dimension -- value b .

Claim 32

The record management system of claim 24, wherein said set of query map records includes a query map record for each query in said first set of queries and each query in said second set of queries.