Data analysis system using virtual databases
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A data processing apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of query operators, each of said query operators configured to receive a first virtual data base having a schema, for processing data in said virtual database, and for outputting a second virtual database reflecting said processing and having said schema; and
means for combining at least two of said query operators to create an application.
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Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
A data processing apparatus and method for creating data analysis applications using reusable software operators . An initial operator is provided for converting source information into a virtual database format. Query operators are provided for receiving data in a virtual database format, processing the data in the virtual database, and outputting the results of the processing in another virtual database which has the same schema as the received virtual database. A plurality of query operators may be combined in order to customize the processing of the virtual database data. A terminal operator is provided for converting data in a virtual database into an external format which may then be further processed by an external operator. By combining initial, query, terminal, and external operators, users may create customizable data processing applications. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, operators are provided for analyzing the difference between a first document and a second document. An initial operator converts the documents into a virtual database format containing information about the structure of the documents. A differencing operator compares the virtual databases and creates a virtual database containing difference information. Terminal and external operators are provided for converting the difference information into a directed graph layout which graphically represents the difference information and which is displayed through a graphical interface. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, additional difference analysis processing may be initiated through the graphical interface.
78 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A data processing apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of query operators, each of said query operators configured to receive a first virtual data base having a schema, for processing data in said virtual database, and for outputting a second virtual database reflecting said processing and having said schema; and means for combining at least two of said query operators to create an application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A data processing apparatus comprising:
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a first software operator for receiving a first virtual database having a first schema, for processing data in said first virtual database, and for outputting a second virtual database having said first schema; and a second software operator for receiving said second virtual database, for processing data in said second virtual database, and for outputting a third virtual database having said first schema. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for processing source information comprising:
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an initial operator for receiving said source information in an external format, for processing said source information, and for outputting a first virtual database having a first schema; at least one query operator for receiving from said initial operator the first virtual database having the first schema, for processing information in said virtual database received from said initial operator, and for outputting a second virtual database having the same schema as said first virtual database received from said initial operator; and a terminal operator for receiving the second virtual database from said query operator, for processing information in said second virtual database received from said query operator, and for outputting information reflecting said processing in an external format. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for processing information comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of software operators each configured to receive a virtual database having a first schema, for processing information contained in said virtual database, and for outputting a virtual database having said first schema; and combining at least two of said software operators to create an application. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for analyzing the differences between a first document and a second document, each of said documents comprising entities, the apparatus comprising:
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an abstractor operator for converting said first and second documents into a first virtual database and a second virtual database respectively, each of said virtual databases containing information describing entities and relationships between entities; a difference operator for comparing said first and second virtual databases and for creating a third virtual database containing difference information. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for analyzing the difference between a first document and a second document comprising the steps of:
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a) applying an initial operator to said first document to produce a first virtual database containing information describing entities in said first document and relationships between entities; b) applying an initial operator to said second document to produce a second virtual database containing information describing entities in said second document and relationships between entities; c) applying a differencing operator to said first and second virtual databases and creating a third virtual database, said third database containing difference information. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for graphically analyzing the difference between a first document and a second document, each of said documents comprising entities, wherein the structure of said documents defines relationships between said entities, the apparatus comprising:
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a document comparator for comparing said first document and said second document and for generating difference data which represents the difference between the entities and relationships of said first document and said second document; and a layout operator responsive to said difference data for generating a directed graph layout, said directed graph layout including nodes and edges connecting said nodes, wherein said nodes represent entities and said edges represent relationships between entities. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for graphically analyzing the difference between a first document and a second document, each of said documents comprising entities, wherein the structure of said documents defines relationships between said entities, the apparatus comprising:
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a document comparator for comparing said first document and said second document and for generating difference data which represents the difference between the entities and relationships of said first document and said second document; an interactive display operator responsive to said difference data for displaying a directed graph on a display screen and for initiating a query in response to user interaction with said directed graph, said directed graph including nodes and edges connecting said nodes, wherein said nodes represent entities and said edges represent relationships between entities. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A method for graphically analyzing the difference between a first document and a second document, each of said documents comprising entities, wherein the structure of said documents defines relationships between said entities, the method comprising the steps of:
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comparing said first document and said second document and generating difference data which represents the difference between the entities and relationships of said first document and said second document; converting said difference data into a directed graph layout, said directed graph layout including nodes and edges connecting said nodes, wherein said nodes represent entities and said edges represent relationships between entities. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification