Method and apparatus for converting heterogeneous databases into standardized homogeneous databases

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and a system for configuring, designing, and/or implementing database tables are detailed that provides a framework into which a remainder of database tables is developed. Also detailed is a method to develop this framework of database tables. This so developed framework provides a platform for converting multiple independent heterogeneous databases into standardized homogeneous databases.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a computer processor; and   a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a first database stored therein and having instructions stored therein for programming the computer processor to form a first summary database table that is derived from a first database table of a first plurality of database tables and stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium; and   wherein the first database is comprised of the first plurality of database tables and a first plurality of foreign key constraints;   wherein a second database table of the first plurality of database tables contains a first unique index;   wherein the second database table of the first plurality of database tables contains a first plurality of data records that represent a first level of data granularity for the second database table;   wherein the second database table of the first plurality of database tables also contains a second plurality of data records that represent a second level of data granularity for the second database table;   wherein the first database table of the first plurality of database tables contains a third plurality of data records that contain transactional data;   wherein the first database table of the first plurality of database tables contains a first foreign non-unique index that relates a first foreign key constraint from the first plurality of foreign key constraints with the first unique index of the second database table of the first plurality of database tables;   wherein the first foreign key constraint references only the first plurality of data records that represent a first level of data granularity in the second database table of the first plurality of database tables;   wherein the first summary database table contains a fourth plurality of data records that are mathematically derived from the third plurality of data records that contain transactional data from the first database table of the first plurality of database tables;   wherein the first summary database table contains a second foreign non-unique index that relates a second foreign key constraint from the first plurality of foreign key constraints with the first unique index of the second database table of the first plurality of database tables;   wherein the second foreign key constraint references only the second plurality of data records that represent a second level of data granularity in the second database table of the first plurality of database tables.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 one or more data records of the first plurality of data records from the second database table of the first plurality of database tables are related to one and only one data record of the second plurality of data records from the second database table of the first plurality of database tables. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 wherein the second database table of the first plurality of database tables also contains a fifth plurality of data records that represent a third level of data granularity for the second database table of the first plurality of database tables; 
 wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has instructions stored therein for programming the computer processor to form a second summary database table that is derived from the first database table of the first plurality of database tables and stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium; and 
 wherein the second summary database table contains a sixth plurality of data records that are mathematically derived from the third plurality of data records that contain transactional data from the first database table of the first plurality of database tables; 
 wherein the second summary database table contains a third foreign non-unique index that relates a third foreign key constraint from the first plurality of foreign key constraints with the first unique index of the second database table of the first plurality of database tables; 
 wherein the third foreign key constraint references only the fifth plurality of data records of the second database table of the first plurality of database tables and no other data records. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein
 one or more data records of the first plurality of data records from the second database table of the first plurality of database tables are related to one and only one data record of the fifth plurality of data records from the second database table of the first plurality of database tables. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 wherein the second database table of the first plurality of database tables also contains a fifth plurality of data records that represent a third level of data granularity for the second database table of the first plurality of database tables; 
 wherein the non-transitory computer-readable medium has instructions stored therein for programming the computer processor to form a second summary database table that is derived from the first summary database table and stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium; and 
 wherein the second summary database table contains a sixth plurality of data records that are mathematically derived from the fourth plurality of data records from the first summary database table; 
 wherein the second summary database table contains a third foreign non-unique index that relates a third foreign key constraint from the first plurality of foreign key constraints with the first unique index of the second database table of the first plurality of database tables; and 
 wherein the third foreign key constraint references only the fifth plurality of data records of the second database table of the first plurality of database tables and no other data records. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein
 one or more data records of the second plurality of data records from the second database table of the first plurality of database tables are related to one and only one data record of the fifth plurality of data records from the second database table of the first plurality of database tables. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the non-transitory computer-readable medium has a second database stored therein; 
 the second database is comprised of a second plurality of database tables and a second plurality of foreign key constraints; 
 wherein a first database table of the second plurality of database tables is a copy of the second database table of the first plurality of database tables; 
 wherein the first database table of the second plurality of database tables contains a first unique index which is a copy of the first unique index of the second database table of the first plurality of database tables; 
 wherein the first database table of the second plurality of database tables contains the first plurality of data records that represent a first level of data granularity for the first database table of the second plurality of database tables; 
 wherein a first database bridge is formed between the first unique index of the second database table of the first plurality of database tables and the first unique index of the first database table of the second plurality of database tables; and 
 wherein the first database bridge provides a bidirectional inter-database access path that allows for the combination of a first data set retrieved from the first database with a second data set retrieved from the second database.