Claims
What is Claimed:
1. A method for improving data processing in connection with a database, said method
comprising:
defining a dimension comprising a plurality of attributes;
assigning each attribute to a respective column of said database; and
defining relationships between said attributes.
2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
accessing said database via said dimension.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:
defining at least one hierarchy comprising a sequence of said attributes.
4. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein each hierarchy defines a drill down path for accessing said database.
5. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein a hierarchy contains one attribute.

6. A method in accordance with claim 3, wherein said act of defining said at least one hierarchy is independent of said database.
7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said act of defining relationships between said attributes is independent of said database.
8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said database is a relational database.
9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said dimension is utilized with an on line analysis processing (OLAP) system.
161364-1An application programming interface (API) comprising means for performing the method of claim 1.
10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for improving data processing in connection with a database by performing acts comprising:
defining a dimension comprising a plurality of attributes;
assigning each attribute to a respective column of said database; and
defining relationships between said attributes.
12. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 11, further having computer-
executable instructions for accessing said database via said dimension.
13. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 11, further having computer-executable instructions for defining at least one hierarchy comprising a sequence of attributes.
14. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 13, wherein each hierarchy defines a drill down path for accessing said database.
15. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 13, wherein a hierarchy contains one attribute.
16. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 13, wherein said act of defining said at least one hierarchy is independent of said database.
17. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 11, wherein said act of defining relationships between said attributes is independent of said database.
18. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 11, wherein said database is a relational database.
19. A computer-readable medium in accordance with claim 11, wherein said dimension is utilized with an on line analysis processing (OLAP) system.
20. A system for accessing a database, said system comprising:
a processor coupled to a storage device, said storage device comprising said database;
a first definition component for defining a dimension comprising a plurality of attributes;
an assignment component for assigning each attribute to a respective column of said database;
a second definition component for defining relationships between said attributes; and
an access component for allowing access to said database via said dimension.
21. A system in accordance with claim 20, further comprising:
a third definition component for defining at least one hierarchy within each dimension, each hierarchy comprising a sequence of attributes.
22. A system in accordance with claim 21, wherein each hierarchy defines a drill doAvn path for said access component.
23. A system in accordance with claim 21, wherein a hierarchy contains one attribute.
24. A system in accordance with claim 21, wherein said third definition component defines said at least one hierarchy independent of said database.
25. A system in accordance with claim 20, wherein said second definition component defines relationships between said attributes independent of said database.
26. A system in accordance with claim 20, wherein said system is utilized with an on line analysis processing (OLAP) system.
27. A system for accessing a database, said system comprising:
means for defining a dimension comprising a plurality of attributes;
means for assigning each attribute to a respective column of said database;
means for defining relationships between said attributes;
means for accessing said database via said dimension; and
means for defining at least one hierarchy comprising a sequence of said attributes.
28. A system in accordance with claim 27, wherein said relationships between said attributes are defined independent of said database.
29. A system in accordance with claim 27, wherein said at least one hierarchy is defined independent of said database.
30. A system in accordance with claim 27, wherein said system is an on line analysis processing (OLAP) system.
31. A system in accordance with claim 27, wherein said means for defining a dimension, means for assigning, means for defining relationships, means for accessing and means for defining at least one hierarchy comprise at least one application programming interface (API).
32. A data structure embodied by at least one computer readable medium, comprising:
a dimension comprising a plurality of attributes, wherein each attribute is bound to a column in a database; and
a logical structure indicative of relationships between said plurality of attributes.
33. A data structure in accordance with claim 32, said data structure further comprising at least one hierarchy comprising a sequence of attributes.
34. A data structure in accordance with claim 33, wherein each hierarchy provides a drill down path for accessing said database.
35. A data structure in accordance with claim 33, wherein a hierarchy contains a single attribute.
36. A data structure in accordance with claim 33, wherein each sequence is defined independent of restrictions associated with said database.
37. A data structure in accordance with claim 32, wherein said logical structure is defined independent of restrictions associated with said database.
38. A data structure in accordance with claim 32, wherein said database is a relational database.
39. A data structure in accordance with claim 32, wherein said database is capable of being utilized with an online analytical processing (OLAP) system.
40. A method for retrieving data from a database, said method comprising:
receiving a data retrieval request including a dimension, wherein: said dimension includes a plurality of attributes; each attribute is assigned to a respective column of said database; and relationships between said attributes are defined; and
retrieving said data from said database via said dimension.
41. A method in accordance with claim 40, further comprising:
providing said retrieved data in response to said data retrieval request.
42. A method in accordance with claim 40, said data retrieval request further including at least hierarchy comprising a sequence of said attributes.
43. A method in accordance with claim 42, wherein each hierarchy provides a drill down path for accessing said database.
44. A method in accordance with claim 42, wherein a hierarchy contains a single attribute.
45. A method in accordance with claim 42, wherein each sequence is defined independent of restrictions associated with said database.
46. A method in accordance with claim 40, wherein said relationships between said attributes are defined independent of restrictions associated with said database.
47. A method in accordance with claim 40, wherein said database is a relational database.
48. A method in accordance with claim 40, wherein said database is capable of being utilized with an online analytical processing (OLAP) system.
49. A method for improving data processing in connection with a database
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
50. A computer-readable medium substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.