Techniques for facilitating the joining of datasets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11200248-B2
Application number	US-201916731850-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 31, 2019
Priority date	Sep 15, 2016
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for a system that provides an intuitive way for merging or joining data from different datasets. The system may provide graphical interfaces to enable a user to combine or join datasets identified as having a relationship. In at least one embodiment, the system can determine options for joining datasets, such as by a left join, right join, or outer join. A graphical interface may display a visual representation (e.g., a “Glenn Diagram”) illustrate options for joining datasets based on identifying a relationship between the data sets. The representation may further illustrate one or more types of joins and information about the data, such as rows where data may be joined based on the type of join function for the relationship by columns. The visual representation may indicate where the datasets can be joined, such that they are not overlapping.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising, at a computer system:
generating first profile metadata for each column of a first plurality of columns in a first dataset stored a first data source;
generating second profile metadata for each column of a second plurality of columns in a second dataset stored a second data source;
identifying, based on the first profile metadata and the second profile metadata, a plurality of column pairs between the first dataset and the second dataset, wherein columns in each of the plurality of column pairs have a relationship;
determining one or more recommendations for blending each of one or more column pairs of the plurality of column pairs that have the relationship;
determining one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs based on the one or more recommendations for blending each of the one or more column pairs; and
generating a first graphical interface to display each of the one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs that have the relationship, wherein the first graphical interface is configured to receive a selection of the one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs that have the relationship.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more types of join functions are displayed showing a diagram of a type of join function for joining the first dataset with the second dataset by columns in a different column pair of the plurality of column pairs, and wherein the diagram of the type of join function displayed for the type of join function is displayed with a visual appearance where columns in a first column pair are joined between the first dataset and the second dataset.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a first input corresponding to selection of a first type of join function of the one or more types of join functions; and
generating a second graphical interface to display a third dataset based on joining, according to the first type of join function, the first dataset at a first column within a first column pair with the second dataset at a second column in the first column pair, wherein the third dataset is displayed with a visual appearance that indicates columns in the first column pair where the first dataset and the second dataset are joined to form the third dataset.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
generating the third dataset based on joining, according to the first type of join function, the first dataset at the first column within the first column pair with the second dataset at the second column in the first column pair.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving a second input corresponding to a selection of a second type of join function of the one or more types of join functions; and
updating the second graphical interface to display a fourth third dataset based on joining, according to the second type of join function, the first dataset at a first column within a second column pair with the second dataset at a second column in the second column pair.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more types of join functions includes a left join, a right join, or an outer join.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first graphical interface presents each of the identified column pairs with one of the one or more types of join functions.

8. A system comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory accessible to the one or more processors, the memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
generate first profile metadata for each column of a first plurality of columns in a first dataset stored a first data source;
generate second profile metadata for each column of a second plurality of columns in a second dataset stored a second data source;
identify, based on the first profile metadata and the second profile metadata, a plurality of column pairs between the first dataset and the second dataset, wherein columns in each of the plurality of column pairs have a relationship;
determining one or more recommendations for blending each of one or more column pairs of the plurality of column pairs that have the relationship;
determine one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs based on the one or more recommendations for blending each of the one or more column pairs; and
generate a first graphical interface to display each of the one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs that have the relationship, wherein the first graphical interface is configured to receive a selection of the one or more types of join functions that can be applied to each of the one or more column pairs that have the relationship.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more types of join functions are displayed showing a diagram of a type of join function for joining the first dataset with the second dataset by columns in a different column pair of the plurality of column pairs, and wherein the diagram of the type of join function displayed for the type of join function is displayed with a visual appearance where columns in a first column pair are joined between the first dataset and the second dataset.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising, causing the one or more processors to:
receive a first input corresponding to selection of a first type of join function of the one or more types of join functions; and
generate a second graphical interface to display a third dataset based on joining, according to a first type of join function, the first dataset at a first column within a first column pair with the second dataset at a second column in the first column pair, wherein the third dataset is displayed with an visual appearance that indicates columns in the first column pair where the first dataset and the second dataset are joined to form the third dataset.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
generate the third dataset based on joining, according to the first type of join function, the first dataset at the first column within the first column pair with the second dataset at the second column in the first column pair.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
receive a second input corresponding to a selection of a second type of join function of the one or more types of join functions; and
update the second graphical interface to display a fourth third dataset based on joining, according to the second type of join function, the first dataset at a first column within a second column pair with the second dataset at a second column in the second column pair.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more types of join functions includes a left join, a right join, or an outer join.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing one or more instructions that are executable by one or more processors to cause the one or more processors to:
generate first profile metadata for each column of a first plurality of columns in a first dataset stored a first data source;
generate second profile metadata for each column of a second plurality of columns in a second dataset stored a second data source;
identify, based on the first profile metadata and the secon

Assignees

• Oracle Int Corp

Inventors

• Murray Glenn Allen
• Rivas Luis E

Classifications

• G06F16/2456 Primary

  Join operations · CPC title

• G06F16/248 Primary

  Presentation of query results · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• G06F3/0482

  Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus · CPC title