Resource Property Aggregation in a Multi-Provider System

Abstract

The present invention provides for resource property aggregation. A set of new instances is received from one or more providers. For each new instance in the set of new instances, a determination is made as to whether the new instance represents a same resource as at least one other instance. Responsive to determining that the new instance represents the same resource as another instance, a set of properties associated with the new instance and with the at least one other instance are identified. Each property from the new instance is compared to an associated property in the at least one other instance using a set of precedence rules. At least one property value is identified from either the new instance or the at least one other instance. An aggregate instance is then generated that represents the resource using the identified property values.

1 . A method, in a data processing system, for resource property aggregation, the method comprising:
 receiving a set of new instances from one or more providers;   for each new instance in the set of new instances, determining if the new instance represents a same resource as at least one other instance;   responsive to determining that the new instance represents the same resource as the another instance, identifying a set of properties associated with the new instance and a set of properties associated with the at least one other instance;   for each property in the set of properties associated with the new instance, comparing the property to an associated property in the set of properties associated with the at least one other instance using a set of precedence rules;   based on the set of precedence rules, identifying at least one property value from either the set of properties associated with the new instance or the set of properties associated with the at least one other instance to be used as at least one aggregate value for an aggregate instance that represents the resource; and   generating the aggregate instance that represents the resource.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregate instance is stored in a result instance repository. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aggregate instance is sent to a user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other instance is already stored as at least one result instance in a result instance repository. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one other instance is in the set of new instances. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to determining that the new instance fails to represent the same resource as the at least one other instance, storing the new instance in its entirety in a result instance repository.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 responsive to determining that the new instance fails to represent the same resource as the at least one other instance, sending the new instance to a user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of precedence rules are predetermined by a user. 
     
     
         9 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A computer program product comprising a computer recordable medium having a computer readable program recorded thereon, wherein the computer readable program, when executed on a computing device, causes the computing device to:
 receive a set of new instances from one or more providers;   for each new instance in the set of new instances, determine if the new instance represents a same resource as at least one other instance;   responsive to determining that the new instance represents the same resource as the another instance, identify a set of properties associated with the new instance and a set of properties associated with the at least one other instance;   for each property in the set of properties associated with the new instance, compare the property to an associated property in the set of properties associated with the at least one other instance using a set of precedence rules;   based on the set of precedence rules, identify at least one property value from either the set of properties associated with the new instance or the set of properties associated with the at least one other instance to be used as at least one aggregate value for an aggregate instance that represents the resource; and   generate the aggregate instance that represents the resource.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the aggregate instance is either stored in a result instance repository or sent to a user. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one other instance is either already stored as at least one result instance in a result instance repository or is in the set of new instances. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the computer readable program further causes the computing device to:
 responsive to determining that the new instance fails to represent the same resource as the at least one other instance, either store the new instance in its entirety in a result instance repository or send the new instance to a user.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the set of precedence rules are predetermined by a user. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:   receive a set of new instances from one or more providers;   for each new instance in the set of new instances, determine if the new instance represents a same resource as at least one other instance;   responsive to determining that the new instance represents the same resource as the another instance, identify a set of properties associated with the new instance and a set of properties associated with the at least one other instance;   for each property in the set of properties associated with the new instance, compare the property to an associated property in the set of properties associated with the at least one other instance using a set of precedence rules;   based on the set of precedence rules, identify at least one property value from either the set of properties associated with the new instance or the set of properties associated with the at least one other instance to be used as at least one aggregate value for an aggregate instance that represents the resource; and   generate the aggregate instance that represents the resource.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the aggregate instance is either stored in a result instance repository or sent to a user. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the at least one other instance is either already stored as at least one result instance in a result instance repository or is in the set of new instances. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
 responsive to determining that the new instance fails to represent the same resource as the at least one other instance, either store the new instance in its entirety in a result instance repository or send the new instance to a user.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the set of precedence rules are predetermined by a user.