System and method to customize metadata for different users running on the same infrastructure

摘要

A metadata management system and method enables complex query searches by users, e.g., different users having different query needs, using the same infrastructure. For querying metadata, the metadata management system provides functionality for aggregating all the concepts (metadata items) and relationships of the metadata across one or more users in a common format; extracting concepts and storing them in a metadata store (e.g., a relational database); extracting relationships and modeling them in a standard semantic representation. The system and method further records users' different needs on relationships into user-specific configuration files. The system is configured for retrieving, in response to a user query, relevant data items by using the meta-data selectively. In one embodiment, a selection of meta-data used in the retrieving is determined according to captured context information.

主权项

1. A system for retrieving data comprising:
a memory storage device defining a meta-data repository that stores at least one meta-data item belonging to each of an element and a relationship type meta-data; a processor device in communications with the memory storage device, wherein the system is capable of performing a method comprising: storing, in the meta-data repository, at least one meta-data item belonging to each of an element type and a relationship type meta-data; storing at least one data item in a data repository; capturing a relationship between the at least one meta-data item and a data item including a context in which the relationship was generated; extracting, from data items stored in said data repository, said meta-data items; aggregating data and meta-data items and relationships thereof across one or more users in a structured file format; parsing the structured file format to extract data representing concepts, and to extract relationships; using a profile editor tool to permit a user, via a connected user device, to select relationships from the extracted relationships, the selected relationships being relationships that the user wants to consider during data queries; recording said user's selections as a profile for that user; and retrieving, in response to a user query comprising at least requested data items, relevant data items by parsing said user profile to dynamically determine kinds of relationships a user wants to consider, and obtaining relevant relationships based on said user profile and said requested data items, wherein a selection of meta-data used in the retrieving is determined according to said user profile and the captured context information; wherein the selection of meta-data further includes contextual information about the retrieval query; and wherein the contextual information about the retrieval query further includes a description of when the query was generated.