Database system with original and public databases and data exploitation support apparatus for displaying response to inquiry of database system

Abstract

The data, as read out from a trunk database, and the read-out data, as processed, are stored in a public database. A setup unit and an operations support unit manage the stored data of the public database and the attribute data of the stored data by a dictionary. In accordance with a demand of a user, an inquiry unit processes and displays the data on the basis of the data stored in the public database and the attribute data.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A database system comprising:

a trunk database for storing master data and transaction data of a trunk system;

a public database extracted from said trunk database and subjected to a predetermined processing for an information system;

a dictionary for storing data containing consistency definition data for defining data setup jobs for assuring consistency of database data of at least one of said trunk database and said public database and restricting conditions for executing said data setup jobs;

setup means for recording/managing the consistency definition data for defining the data setup job for assuring the consistency of the database data of at least one of the master data and the transaction data, which are extracted from said trunk database, and the restricting conditions for executing said data setup jobs, by said dictionary;

operations support means for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate a public database, and for executing the data setup jobs for assuring the consistency of said database data by monitoring statuses of said public database and changing data environments and by referring to said consistency definition data of said dictionary; and

inquiry means for processing/outputting the data of said public database, which have been processed by said setup means and said operations support means, in accordance with a demand of a user.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said operations support means includes time consistency means for compensating the time inconsistency of the transaction data collected from said original database, by executing said data setup job based on said consistency definition data.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said operations support means includes edition consistency means for compensating the edition inconsistency of master data corresponding to transaction data collected from said original database, by executing said data setup job based on said consistency definition data.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said operations support means includes processing consistency means for preventing the inconsistency of secondary processed data corresponding to the interchange of transaction data collected from said original database, by executing said data setup job based on said consistency definition data.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said dictionary stores calendar data for operating/managing said system, said setup means records/manages the timing data for executing said data setup job by said calendar data, and said operations support means executes said data setup job in accordance with said timing data.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said operations support means includes hold means for holding the publication of data within a corresponding predetermined range, if the consistency cannot be assured by the execution of said data setup job.

7. A database data exploitation support apparatus comprising:

setup means for recording/managing consistency definition data for defining data setup jobs for assuring consistency of database data of at least master data and transaction data, which are extracted from a trunk database of a trunk system, and restricting conditions for executing said data setup jobs, by a dictionary for storing the data containing said consistency definition data;

operations support means for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate public database, and for executing data setup jobs for assuring assurance of said database data, by monitoring status of said public database and changing data environments and by referring to said consistency definition data of said dictionary; and

inquiry means for processing/outputting the data of said public database, which have been processed by said setup means and said operations support means, in accordance with a demand of a user.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said operations support means includes time consistency means for compensating the time inconsistency of the transaction data collected from said original database, by executing said data setup job based on said consistency definition data.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said operations support means includes edition consistency means for compensating the edition inconsistency of master data corresponding to transaction data collected from said original database, by executing said data setup job based on said consistency definition data.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said operations support means includes processing consistency means for preventing the inconsistency of secondary processed data corresponding to the interchange of transaction data collected from said original database, by executing said data setup job based on said consistency definition data.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said dictionary stores calendar data for operating/managing said system, said setup means records/manages the timing data for executing said data setup job by said calendar data, and said operations support means executes said data setup job in accordance with said timing data.

12. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said operations support means includes hold means for holding the publication of data within a corresponding predetermined range, if the consistency cannot be assured by the execution of said data setup job.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a database system and, more particularly, to a database system for effectively performing the setup, exploitation and operations management of database data, and to a database data exploitation support apparatus for effecting the setup, exploitation and operations management of the database data by supporting the exploitations of the database data.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the database system, the data to be utilized for exploiting the data in the various branches of business can be coarsely divided into the data to be managed and stored in a trunk business system for production and sales managements, the data intrinsic to branches, as occur in the individual branches, and the data such as the market data, as occur at the outside.

The data to be managed/stored in the trunk business system are exemplified by the master data such as the product master or the customer master, and the transaction data for recording the daily transactions and these data are exploited by their combinations while assuring their time consistency.

At the data exploiting time, the types of data to be finally fetched are frequently used by accumulating the values of the data items of the master data of commodities, customers and shops. In this case, the objects to be accumulated such as the data items or the sorting references have to be specifically instructed in addition to the arrangement of the data items from a terminal screen. Therefore, the data exploiter is required to understand the functions and operating methods of the software for supporting the data exploitations and to be conscious of the correspondence between the values of the data items opened in the database and the sorting method intended by the data exploiter. Moreover, the sales of new commodities and the stop of commodity sales may change the references for regulating the sorting method. Therefore, the system for recording/managing the sorting references independently of the master data finds it difficult to follow the change in the master data and is liable to have an inconsistency or mismatch of the data so that it cannot avoid a danger of fetching the erroneous data.

In the prior art, there has been realized a technique for managing the data items of the database by making a dictionary corresponding to the database. However, the dictionary is provided for the individual objects in the forms such as a data storing medium for managing the names and types of data items for establishing the productivity of a program for the database in a manner to correspond to the program, a medium for storing the data of the meaning and use of the data items for the data exploiter, or a medium for storing the definition data for fetching the multidimensional database data while aiming at facilitating the data exploitations.

The dictionary of the prior art does not perform the data managements of the entire system, as centered by the data setup, the data exploitation and the data operations managements, so that it cannot drastically solve the operability and reliability of the data exploiter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a database system and a database data exploitation support apparatus, which are enabled to drastically improve the reliability of database data and the productivity of data exploitations by managing in a corresponding manner the stored data of a public database made of the data extracted and processed from original data and their attribute data thereby to realize the data management and exploitation system based upon the attribute data.

In the database system according to the present invention: the data read out from an original database and the data processed from the read-out data are stored in a public database; the stored data of the public database and their attribute data are managed in a corresponding manner by a data management unit; and data are processed/displayed by an inquiry unit in accordance with a demand of a user and on the basis of the data stored in the public database and the attribute data.

Specifically, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first database system comprising:

an original database;

a public database for storing the data read out from said original database and the data processed from the read-out data;

a data management unit for managing the data stored in said public database and the attribute data of the stored data in a corresponding manner; and

an inquiry unit for processing and displaying data on the basis of the data stored in said public database and said attribute data in accordance with a demand of a user.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second database system comprising:

a database for storing data containing master data and transaction data;

a dictionary for storing the management point data corresponding to the data items of at least one of the master data of the transaction data of said database, and the data containing definition data for the references of managements and evaluations;

a setup unit for recording/managing the management points corresponding to the references of managements and evaluations for data exploitations in connection with said data items by said dictionary;

an operations support unit for monitoring the statuses of the master data and the transaction data of said database and for changing the data environments; and

an inquiry unit for processing/outputting the data of said database, which have been processed by said setup unit and said operations support unit, on the basis of said management points in accordance with a demand of a user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first database data exploitation support apparatus comprising:

a setup unit for storing the management points corresponding to references of managements and evaluations for data exploitations, as the data containing management point data and definition data for the references of the managements and evaluations, in a dictionary in a manner to correspond to the data items stored in a database containing master data and transaction data, to record/manage said management points;

an operations support unit for monitoring the statuses of the master data and the transaction data of said database and for changing the data environments; and

an inquiry unit for processing/outputting the data of said database, which have been processed by said setup unit and said operations support unit, on the basis of said management points in accordance with a demand of a user.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a third database system comprising:

a trunk database for storing the master data and the transaction data of a trunk system;

a public database extracted from said trunk database and subjected to a predetermined processing for an information system;

a dictionary for storing the data containing time series definition data to regulating a grouping type for making time series data from the data which are sent out from said trunk database to said public database;

a setup unit for recording/managing the time series definition data for making the time series data from the data of said transaction data, which are extracted from said trunk database, in connection with data items by said dictionary;

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database on the basis of the setting of said setup unit to generate a public database, and for making time series data from the data which are extracted from said trunk database, by monitoring the statuses of said public database and changing the data environments and by referring to said time series definition data; and

an inquiry unit for processing said time series data with reference to said time series definition data and for processing/outputting the data of said public database, which have been processed by said setup unit and said operations support unit, in accordance with a demand of a user.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a second database data exploitation support apparatus comprising:

a setup unit for storing the time series definition data for regulating the grouping type to make times series data from the transaction data to be stored in the trunk database of a trunk system, in a dictionary in a manner to correspond to the data items of said transaction data and the master data to be stored in the trunk database of said trunk system, to record/manage said time series definition data;

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database on the basis of the setting of said setup unit to generate public database, and for making time series data from the data which are extracted from said trunk database, by monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments and by referring to said time series definition data; and

an inquiry unit for processing said time series data with reference to said time series definition data and for processing/outputting the data of said public database, which have been processed by said setup unit and said operations support unit, in accordance with a demand of a user.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fourth database system comprising:

a trunk database for storing the master data and the transaction data of a trunk system;

a public database extracted from said trunk database and subjected to a predetermined processing for an information system;

a dictionary for storing the data containing consistency definition data for defining data setup jobs for assuring the consistency of the database data of at least one of said trunk database and said public database and the restricting conditions for executing said data setup jobs;

a setup unit for recording/managing the consistency definition data for defining the data setup job for assuring the consistency of the database data of at least one of the master data and the transaction data, which are extracted from said trunk database, and the restricting conditions for executing said data setup jobs, by said dictionary;

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate a public database, and for executing the data setup jobs for assuring the consistency of said database data by monitoring the statuses of said public database and changing the data environments and by referring to said consistency definition data of said dictionary; and

an inquiry unit for processing/outputting the data of said public database, which have been processed by said setup unit and said operations support unit, in accordance with a demand of a user.

According a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a third database data exploitation support apparatus comprising:

a setup unit for recording/managing the consistency definition data for defining the data setup jobs for assuring the consistency of the database data of at least the master data and the transaction data, which are extracted from a trunk database of a trunk system, and the restricting conditions for executing said data setup jobs, by a dictionary for storing the data containing said consistency definition data;

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate public database, and for executing the data setup jobs for assuring the assurance of said database data, by monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments and by referring to said consistency definition data of said dictionary; and

an inquiry unit for processing/outputting the data of said public database, which have been processed by said setup unit and said operations support unit, in accordance with a demand of a user.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fifth database system comprising:

a trunk database for storing the master data and the transaction data of a trunk system;

a public database extracted from said trunk database and subjected to a predetermined processing for an information system;

a dictionary for storing the data containing the management point data corresponding to the database data of said public database, the definition data for references of managements and evaluations, and the statistic data of the corresponding data items;

a setup unit for recording/managing the management points corresponding to the references of the managements and the evaluations for data exploitations, together with said definition data and said statistic data by said dictionary in a manner to correspond to the data items of the database data of said public database;

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate a public database, and for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments; and

an inquiry unit for graphing the data of said public database, which have been processed by said setup unit and said operations support unit, with reference to said management points by using said management points as at least one axis, to present the graph to a user and for processing/outputting said data in accordance with the inquiry condition which has been determined by the user on the basis of the graphed data.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fourth database data exploitation support apparatus comprising:

a setup unit for storing the management points corresponding to the references of managements and evaluations for data exploitations, as the data containing said management point data, the definition data for the reference of the managements and evaluations, and the statistic data of the corresponding data items, in a dictionary in a manner to correspond to the data items of the database data of a public database, to record/manage said management points;

an operations support unit for extracting master data and transaction data from the trunk database of a trunk system to generate said public database on the basis of the setting of said setup unit, and for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments; and

an inquiry unit for graphing the data of said public database, which have been processed by said setup unit and said operations support unit, with reference to said management points by using said management points as at least one axis, to present the graph to a user and for processing/outputting said data in accordance with the inquiry condition which has been determined by the user on the basis of the graphed data.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sixth database system comprising:

a trunk database for storing the master data and the transaction data of a trunk system;

a public database extracted from said trunk database and subjected to a predetermined processing for an information system;

a dictionary for storing the data containing the management point data corresponding to the database data of said public database and the definition data for references of managements and evaluations;

a setup unit for recording/managing the management points corresponding to the references of the managements and the evaluations for data exploitations by said dictionary in a manner to correspond to the data items of the database data of said public database;

an inquiry unit for subjecting the data of said public database to a predetermined processing in accordance with a demand of a user and with reference to said management points to process/output the same and for collecting claim data indicating a claim to a disadvantage from the user; and

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate a public database, and for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments and for preparing the database data based upon the notice of said claim to a manager and the operations of said manager on the basis of said collected claim data.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fifth database data exploitation support apparatus comprising:

a setup unit for storing the management points corresponding to the references of managements and evaluations for data exploitations, as the data containing said management point data and the definition data for the reference of the managements and evaluations, in a dictionary in a manner to correspond to the data items of the database data of a public database, to record/manage said management points;

an inquiry unit for subjecting the data of said public database to a predetermined processing in accordance with a demand of a user and with reference to said management points to process/output the same and for collecting claim data indicating a claim to a disadvantage from the user; and

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from a trunk database to generate said public database, and for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments and for preparing the database data based upon the notice of said claim to a manager and the operations of said manager on the basis of said collected claim data.

According to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a seventh database system comprising:

a trunk database for storing the master data and the transaction data of a trunk system;

a public database extracted from said trunk database and subjected to a predetermined processing for an information system;

a dictionary for storing the data containing secondary table definition data for defining a job for generating a processed secondary table, in said public database in a manner to correspond to database data;

a setup unit for recording/managing the data items of the database data of said public database and the management points corresponding to references of managements and evaluations for data exploitations, by said dictionary in a corresponding manner and for re cording/managing said secondary table definition data by said dictionary;

an inquiry unit for fetching the data of the final type, which have been subjected to a predetermined processing, in accordance with a demand of a user and for acquiring an operation log indicating the operation history of the user; and

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate a public database, for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments, and for making/arranging the processed secondary table on said public database on the basis of said operation log and with reference to the secondary table definition data of said dictionary.

According to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a sixth database data exploitation support apparatus comprising:

a setup unit for storing and recording/managing the secondary table data definition data for defining the management points corresponding references of managements and evaluations for data exploitations and the jobs for generating a secondary table processed in a public database, as the data containing said management point data, the definition data for the references of the managements and evaluations, and said secondary table definition data, by a dictionary in a manner to correspond to the data items of the database data stored in said public database;

an inquiry unit for fetching the data of the final type, which have been subjected to a predetermined processing, in accordance with a demand of a user and with reference to said dictionary and for acquiring an operation log indicating the operation history of the user; and

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from the trunk database of a trunk system to generate said public database, for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments, and for making/arranging the processed secondary table on said public database on the basis of said operation log and with reference to the secondary table definition data of said dictionary.

According to a fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a database system comprising:

a trunk database for storing the master data and the transaction data of a trunk system;

a public database extracted from said trunk data base and having been subjected to a predetermined processing for a data system;

a dictionary for storing the data containing at least any of calendar data intrinsic to a branch and a business and common to the entirety, as corresponds to the database data of at least one of said trunk database and said public database;

a setup unit for recording/managing said calendar data by said dictionary in a manner to correspond to said database data;

an inquiry unit for fetching the data of the final type, which have been subjected to a predetermined processing, in accordance with a demand of a user and on the basis of the calendar data stored in said dictionary; and

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate said public database and for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments.

According to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a seventh database data exploitation support apparatus comprising:

a setup unit for recording/managing the data containing at least any of calendar data intrinsic to a branch and a business and common to the entirety, as corresponds to the database data of at least one of a trunk database and a public database, in a manner to correspond to said database data by a dictionary for storing the data containing said calendar data;

an inquiry unit for fetching the data of the final type, which have been subjected to a predetermined processing, in accordance with a demand of a user and on the basis of the calendar data stored in said dictionary; and

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate said public database and for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments.

According to a sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ninth database system comprising:

a trunk database for storing the master data and the transaction data of a trunk system;

a public database extracted from said trunk database and having been subjected to a predetermined processing for a data system;

a dictionary for storing the data containing the unit data as the attributes of the data items of the database data of the database data of at least one of said trunk database and said public database;

a setup unit for recording/managing said unit data by said dictionary in a manner to correspond to the data items of said database data;

an inquiry unit for fetching the data of the final type, which have been subjected to a predetermined processing, in accordance with a demand of a user and for generating the data of the final type of said data items by calculating the unit based upon said unit data, with reference to the unit data stored in said dictionary; and

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate said public database and for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments.

According to a seventeenth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an eighth database data exploitation support apparatus comprising:

a setup unit for recording/managing the data containing the unit data as the attributes of the data items of at least one of the trunk database of a trunk system and the public database, which is extracted from said trunk database, by a dictionary in a manner to correspond to said data items;

an inquiry unit for fetching the data of the final type, which have been subjected to a predetermined processing, in accordance with a demand of a user and for generating the data of the final type of said data items by referring to the unit data stored in said dictionary and by calculating the unit based upon said unit data; and

an operations support unit for extracting master data and transaction data from said trunk database to generate said public database and for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments.

According to an eighteenth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tenth database system comprising:

a trunk database for storing the master data and the transaction data of a trunk system;

a public database extracted from said trunk database and having been subjected to a predetermined processing for a data system;

a dictionary for storing the data containing the management point data corresponding to at least one of said trunk database and said public database, and the definition data for references of managements and evaluations;

a setup unit for recording/managing the management point data corresponding to the references of the managements and the evaluations for data exploitations, by said dictionary in a manner to correspond to the data items of said database data;

an inquiry unit for fetching the data of the final type, which have been subjected to a predetermined processing, as a layout based upon said management points in accordance with a demand of a user; and

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate said public database and for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments.

According to a nineteenth embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a ninth database data exploitation support apparatus comprising:

a dictionary for storing the data containing the management point data corresponding to at least one of said trunk database and said public database, and the definition data for references of managements and evaluations;

a setup unit for recording/managing the management point data corresponding to the database data of at least one of a trunk database and a public database, and definition data for references of the managements and the evaluations, by a dictionary to be stored with said management points and said definition data, in a manner to correspond to the data items of said database data;

an inquiry unit for fetching the data of the final type, which have been subjected to a predetermined processing, as a layout based upon said management points in accordance with a demand of a user; and

an operations support unit for extracting said master data and said transaction data from said trunk database to generate said public database and for monitoring the status of said public database and changing the data environments.

In the database system according to the present invention: the data read out from the original database and the data processed from the read-out data are stored in the public database; the stored data of the public database and their attribute data are managed in a corresponding manner by the data management unit; and data are processed/displayed by the inquiry unit in accordance with a demand of a user and on the basis of the data stored in the public database and the attribute data.

More specifically, the database system and its data exploitation support apparatus according to the present invention realizes the easy and highly reliable data exploitations by extracting the data items, to which the references for managements and evaluations common in the entire system or intrinsic to the business correspond, as the management point for the attribute data while noting the relations between the master data and the transaction data, and by adding the definition data for the references of the managements and the evaluations.

The data items common in the whole system are exemplified by the data items which are common in the whole company in the aspect of operations/managements such as the productions or sales, and the definition data for the references of the managements and the evaluations are exemplified by the definition data for regulating the bundle of commodities in terms of commodity codes or for regulating the evaluation references of customers in terms of the volume of transactions.

In the database system and its data exploitation support apparatus, moreover, it is processed around a dictionary while realizing the integration of data: to record/manage the management points arbitrarily in relation to the data items in connection with the extractions of the master data and the transaction data; to add new management points by processing the data items of the master data or adding the data; to fetch the data of the proper final type by interpreting the intention of the data exploiter while referring the management points; and to support the smooth operations and the reliability maintenance of the dictionary for recording/managing the data containing the management points associated with the database.

The management points are recorded/managed by the dictionary in relation to the data items composing the master data. For example, the data to be sent out from the trunk business system are separated into the master data and the transaction data. The management points are set while confirming the data items composing the master data in a terminal display. After the data items for setting the management points have been selected, the definitions for regulating the sorting system can be hierarchically in a signifying manner to the values of the data items.

For the data exploitations, on the basis of the minimum instruction of the user, the system can refer to the management points of the dictionary to deduce the accumulating/processing method of the data thereby to determine the final data fetching method. In this case, the minimum instruction of the user is effected by selecting/instructing the necessary item from the list of data items which are displayed in the screen of the terminal unit, for example. The definition data to be added to the management points are so devised that the system can automatically determine the accumulating/processing method or the data layout method. This determination is made depending upon whether or not the data item selected in the terminal screen is defined as the management point or which location the selected data item is allocated to the layout screen of the terminal screen.

According to the database system and its data exploitation support apparatus of the present invention, as described above: the data read out from the original database and the data processed from the read-out data are stored in the public database; the stored data of the public database and their attribute data are managed in a corresponding manner by the data management unit; and data are processed/displayed by the inquiry unit in accordance with a demand of a user and on the basis of the data stored in the public database and the attribute data. As a result, it is possible to drastically improve the reliability of the database data and the productivity of the database exploitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the following discussion in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a basic entire construction of a database system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of a setup unit of the database system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of an inquiry unit of the database system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of an operations support unit of the database system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the display screen of an initial menu of the operations management for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the extracted job data recording area of the dictionary of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the extracted job data recording area for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a display screen of an extracted job attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an extracted table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a data item selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining an extracted job of the extracted job data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an extraction condition table screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display screen of an extraction condition setting worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an extraction condition table screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram for explaining an extracted job in the extracted job recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram for explaining the extracted data recording area and the extracted job recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an extracted job selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an extracted job selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an extracted job execution confirming screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram for explaining a datable management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram for explaining a data item recording area and a date item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an extracted job selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing a display screen of the initial menu of a setup processing for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a table segment selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a data item selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram for explaining a data item recording area and a data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the display screen of a data item attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing the display screen of a data item attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing the display screen of a data item attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing the display screen of a data item attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 32 is a diagram for explaining the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing the display screen of the initial menu of a table defining processing for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 34 is a schematic diagram for explaining the table management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing a table segment selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing the selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 38 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 39 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 40 is a schematic diagram for explaining the table management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 41 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 42 is a schematic diagram for explaining the table management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 43 is a diagram showing a table segment selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 44 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 45 is a diagram showing a link key item selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 46 is a diagram showing a display screen of a table link defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 47 is a diagram for explaining a linking method in a table link management data table of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 48 is a schematic diagram for explaining the table link management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 49 is a schematic diagram for explaining the table management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 50 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data item recording area and data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 51 is a diagram showing a table segment selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 52 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 53 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 54 is a diagram showing the display screen of an operation/process defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 55 is a diagram showing a data item attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 56 is a diagram showing the display screen of the operation/process defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 57 is a schematic diagram for explaining a data item recording area and a data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 58 is a schematic diagram for explaining a data item recording area and a data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 59 is a schematic diagram for explaining a data item grouping definition data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 60 is a diagram showing a representative name selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 61 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of grouping data items for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 62 is a diagram showing the display screen of a representative name defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 63 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of grouping data items for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 64 is a diagram showing a table segment selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 65 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 66 is a diagram showing a data item selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 67 is a schematic diagram for explaining a sales data item recording area and a data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 68 is a schematic diagram for explaining a data item grouping definition data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 69 is a diagram showing a representative name selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 70 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of grouping data items for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 71 is a schematic diagram for explaining a management point recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 72 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of management points for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 73 is a diagram showing the display screen of a management point defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 74 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 75 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of management points for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 76 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area and the segment data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 77 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of segment definitions for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 78 is a diagram showing a table segment selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 79 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 80 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 81 is a database system showing a confirmation screen of a segment defining method for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 82 is a diagram showing the display screen of a segment attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 83 is a diagram showing the display screen of a segment attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 84 is a diagram showing the confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 85 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area, the segment data recording area and the segment specification recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 86 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of segment definitions for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 87 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of management points for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 88 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of segment definitions for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 89 is a diagram showing the display screen of a layout determination worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 90 is a diagram showing the display screen of a layout determination worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 91 is a diagram showing the display screen of a layout determination worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 92 is a diagram showing the display screen of an extracted job processing menu for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 93 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of extracted jobs for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 94 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of extracted jobs for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 95 is a diagram showing a mismatch warning screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 96 is a diagram showing a mismatch warning screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 97 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area, the segment data recording area and the segment specification recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 98 is a diagram showing the display screen of segment data changes for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 99 is a diagram showing the display screen of the segment data changes for explaining the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 100 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area, the segment data recording area and the segment specification recording area of the database system of FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 101 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of a setup unit of a database system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 102 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of an inquiry unit of the database system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 103 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of an operations support unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 104 is a diagram showing the display screen of the initial menu of the operations management for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 105 is a diagram showing a table extraction selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 106 is a diagram showing a key item selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 107 is a diagram showing a display screen of a time series key item data determining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 108 is a diagram showing a display screen of the table of data items to be extracted for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 109 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of the data items to be extracted for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 110 is a diagram showing the display screen of a retrieving condition setting worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 111 is a schematic diagram for explaining the extracted job data recording area and the extracted job recording area of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 112 is a diagram showing the extracted job selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 113 is a schematic diagram for explaining the extracted job data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 114 is a diagram showing the confirmation screen of the finish of an extracted job for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 115 is a schematic diagram for explaining the table management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 116 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 117 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 118 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 119 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area and the segment data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 120 is a diagram showing a layout determining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 121 is a diagram showing the display screen of a layout determining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 122 is a diagram showing the display screen of a layout determining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 123 is a diagram showing the display screen of a layout determining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 124 is a diagram showing the display screen of a layout determining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 125 is a diagram showing the display screen of a layout determining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 126 is a schematic diagram for explaining the extracted job data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 127 is a schematic diagram for explaining the attribute data of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 128 is a schematic diagram for explaining quasi-date data of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 129 is a schematic diagram for explaining date data of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 130 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method for storing time series data of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 131 is a schematic diagram for explaining the time series data storing method of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 132 is a schematic diagram for explaining the time series data storing method of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 133 is a schematic diagram for explaining the time series data storing method of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 134 is a schematic diagram for explaining the time series data storing method of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 135 is a schematic diagram for explaining the time series data storing method of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 136 is a schematic diagram for explaining an edition for the time series data of the database system of FIGS. 101 to 103;

FIG. 137 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of a setup unit of a database system according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 138 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of an operations support unit of a database system according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 139 is a schematic diagram for explaining an extracted job data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 140 is a diagram showing an extracted job selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 141 is a diagram showing the display screen of an extracted job attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 142 is a diagram showing an extracted table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 143 is a diagram showing a data item selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 144 is a schematic diagram for explaining an extracted job recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 145 is a diagram showing a display screen of an extraction condition table for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 146 is a diagram showing the display screen of an extraction condition setting worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 147 is a diagram showing a display screen of the extraction condition table for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 148 is a schematic diagram for explaining the extracted job recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 149 is a schematic diagram for explaining the extracted job data recording area and the extracted job recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 150 is a diagram showing an extracted job selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 151 is a diagram showing a preceding extracted job selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 152 is a diagram showing an extracted job order defining screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 153 is a diagram showing the extracted job order defining screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 154 is a diagram showing the extracted job order defining screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 155 is a schematic diagram for explaining the extracted job data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 156 is a diagram showing an extracted job selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 157 is a diagram showing the extracted job selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 158 is a diagram showing a succeeding job confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 159 is a diagram showing an extracted job execution confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 160 is a diagram showing a use limit setting confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 161 is a diagram showing a use limit setting confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 162 is a schematic diagram for explaining an extracted job data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 163 is a schematic diagram for explaining a table management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 164 is a diagram showing a display screen of the initial menu of an operations support process for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 165 is a schematic diagram for explaining an extraction source table management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 166 is a diagram showing a table selection screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 167 is a schematic diagram for explaining an extracted job data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 168 is a schematic diagram for explaining the table management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 169 is a diagram showing an edition number matching confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 170 is a diagram showing the edition number matching confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 171 is a schematic diagram for explaining the table management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 172 is a schematic diagram for explaining the extracted job recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 173 is a schematic diagram for explaining the table management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 174 is a diagram showing the table segment selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 175 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 176 is a diagram showing a link key item selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 177 is a diagram showing a display screen of a table link defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 178 is a diagram showing an edition number check confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 179 is a schematic diagram for explaining the table link management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 180 is a schematic diagram for explaining the table management data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 181 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 182 is a diagram showing a table segment selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 183 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 184 is a diagram showing the display screen of an operation/process defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 185 is a diagram showing the display screen of a data item attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 186 is a diagram showing the display screen of the operation/process defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 187 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 188 is a diagram showing a table segment selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 189 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 190 is a diagram showing the operation/process defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 191 is a diagram showing a display screen of an operation/process defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 192 is a diagram showing a display screen of a data item attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 193 is a schematic diagram for explaining the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 194 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 195 is a diagram showing a display screen of the table of management points for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 196 is a diagram showing the display screen of a management point defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 197 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 198 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of management points for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 199 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area and the segment data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 200 is a diagram showing a segment definition confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 201 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area, the segment data recording area and the segment specification recording area of the database system of FIGS. 137 and 138;

FIG. 202 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of a setup unit of a database system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 203 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of an inquiry unit of the database system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 204 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of an operations support unit of the database system according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 205 is a schematic diagram for explaining a management point recording area of the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 206 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of management points for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 207 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area and the segment data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 208 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of segment definitions for explaining of the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 209 is a diagram showing a table segment selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 210 is a diagram showing a table selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 211 is a diagram showing a data item selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 212 is a diagram showing a segment defining method confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 213 is a diagram showing the display screen of a segment attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 214 is a diagram showing the display screen of a tentative graph display for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 215 is a diagram showing the display screen of a segment attribute defining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 216 is a diagram showing a segment definition confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 217 is a diagram showing the display screen of a decision histogram display for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 218 is a diagram showing a management point selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 219 is a diagram showing a segment definition selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 220 is a diagram showing the display screen of a three-dimensional graph display for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 221 is a diagram showing a graph registration confirmation screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 222 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area, the segment data recording area, the segment specification recording area and the management point graph data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 223 is a schematic diagram for explaining the graph attribute data of the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 224 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of segment definitions for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 225 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of management points for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 226 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area, the segment data recording area, the segment specification recording area and the management point graph data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 227 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of management points for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 228 is a diagram showing the display screen of a three-dimensional graph display for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 229 is a diagram showing the display screen of a layout determining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 230 is a diagram showing the graph display screen of a layout determining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 231 is a diagram showing the range selecting screen of a layout determining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 232 is a diagram showing the display screen of a layout determining worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 233 is a diagram showing an extracted job selecting screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 234 is a diagram showing a mismatch warning screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 235 is a diagram showing a mismatch warning screen for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 236 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area, the segment data recording area, the segment specification recording area and the management point graph data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 237 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of the segment definitions for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 238 is a diagram showing the display screen of the segment definitions changing worksheet for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 239 is a schematic diagram for explaining the management point recording area, the segment data recording area, the segment specification recording area and the management point graph data recording area of the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 240 is a diagram showing the confirmation screen of a graph update for explaining the database system of FIGS. 202 to 204;

FIG. 241 is a block diagram showing the functional construction of a claim settlement of a database system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 242 is a schematic diagram for explaining a claim recording area of the database system of FIG. 241;

FIG. 243 is a schematic diagram for explaining an attached material recording area of the database system of FIG. 241;

FIG. 244 is a flow chart for explaining the claim settlement of the database system of FIG. 241;

FIG. 245 is a schematic diagram for explaining the claim recording area and the attached material recording area of the database system of FIG. 241;

FIG. 246 is a flow chart for explaining the claim storage of the database system of FIG. 241;

FIG. 247 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of claim states for explaining the database system of FIG. 241;

FIG. 248 is a diagram showing the display screen of the table of undefined management points for explaining the database system of FIG. 241; and

FIG. 249 is a diagram showing a notification screen of the finish of a claim settlement for explaining the database system of FIG. 241.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the accompanying drawings, here will be described an embodiment of a database system which is equipped with a data exploitation support unit of a database according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a basic construction of the database system which is common among the individual embodiments of the present invention.

The database system of FIG. 1 is constructed to include a trunk database 1, a public database 2, a dictionary 3, a setup unit 4, an operations support unit 5, an inquiry unit 6 and data files 7.

This database system has its database composed of the original database or the trunk database 1 and the public database 2. The trunk database 1 stores the master data and the transaction data of the trunk system. The public database 2 is composed of the data which are extracted from the trunk database 1 and subjected to a predetermined processing.

The dictionary 3 stores both the management point data, which are related to the master data of the trunk database 1, and the definition data for management and evaluation references, as its attribute data. The dictionary 3 may store other data as its attribute data.

The setup unit 4, the operations support unit 5 and the inquiry unit 6 are the functions to be realized mainly by the softwares for handling the stored data of the trunk database 1, the public database 2, the dictionary 3 and the data files 7, which have memories stored with the data. The setup unit 4 and the operations support unit 5 construct the data management unit.

The setup unit 4 records and manages the management points, which correspond to the management and evaluation references for exploiting the data, in the dictionary 3 in relation to the data items of the master data. The setup unit 4 records and manages the management points in relation to the data items in accordance with the extraction of at least one of the master data and the transaction data of the trunk database to the public database 2.

The operations support unit 5 monitors the states of and changes the data environment of the aforementioned master data and transaction data based upon the setting by the setup unit 4.

The inquiry unit 6 refers to the management points on the basis of the business dealing operations to extract the data of the final format, that are processed by the setup unit 4 and the operations support unit 5, in a usable mode.

The data files 7 store a variety of data to be used in association with the operations of the system and its individual portions.

<<Embodiment 1>>

The first embodiment of the present invention is characterized by the functional constructions of the setup unit 4, the inquiry unit 6 and the operations support unit 5, which makes the basic construction of the database system, as shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 show the individual details of the functional constructions of the setup unit 4, the inquiry unit 6 and the operations support unit 5 in the database system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the setup unit 4 is composed of a data setup main controller 11, a data item definer 12, a table data definer 13, a table sorter 14, a table combination definer 15, an operated data item definer 16, a function parameter definer 17, a data item grouping definer 18, a management point definer 19, a sorting data definer 20, a data item management support 22 and a point management support 23.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inquiry unit 6 is composed of a data exploiting main controller 31, a layout determinator 32, a sorting data selection optimizer 33, a grouping data item selector 34, a data fetch driver 35, a retriever 36, a function processor 37, a media transformer 38 and a data display linker 39.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operations support unit 5 is composed of an operations management supporting main controller 41, an extracted job definer 42, a data extractor 43, a sorted data consistency assurer 44 and a database tuner 45.

The data extractor 43 outputs the data, which is sent out from the trunk database 1 of the trunk business system and extracted from sent database 1A, to the public database 2. The database tuner 45 refers to a use log file 7A contained in the aforementioned data files 7.

Next, the functions and operations of the aforementioned individual units will be described in more detail in connection with the specific operations and processings.

(1-1) Generation of Extracted Job from Trunk Database to Public Database

The operations support unit 5 has functions to generate or create (at the extracted job definer 42) an extracted job (or extracted procedure) for fetching the database data (1A) from the trunk database 1 of the trunk business system into the public database 2, to execute (at the data extractor 43) the extracted job, and to tune (at the database tuner 45), and supports the smooth operations of the database. This operations support unit 5 is controlled in its entirety by the operations management supporting main controller 41.

In order to start a predetermined processing, the operations management supporting main controller 41 displays an initial menu for the operations management, as shown in FIG. 5, in the display screen of a terminal unit. When the terminal operator selects a menu item corresponding to the extracted job definition, for example, from the menu of FIG. 5 by making use of a mouse or the like, the extracted job definer 42 is controlled to define the extracted job of the trunk database data.

Incidentally, at the time of fetching the data from the trunk database 1 to the public database 2, an extraction intrinsic to time series data may be executed for the time series data. This extraction intrinsic to the time series data will be described in connection with a second embodiment of the present invention.

When a menu item corresponding to the database tuning is selected from the aforementioned menu, the database tuner 45 is controlled so that the database may be tuned for improving the processing efficiency on the basis of the use log data to be recorded with the hysteresis data of using the database.

In order to assure consistency or matching the database information, the order of executing the extracted jobs in association may be regulated, or the restricting conditions for executing the extracted jobs may be defined. The detail of this consistency of the database data will be described in connection a third embodiment of the present invention.

The extracted job definer 42 of the trunk data base data generates and stores in the dictionary 3 the extracted job for fetching the database data of the trunk database 1 from the trunk business system into the public database 2. This extracted job definer 42 also has a function to change or delete the job which is generated and stored in the dictionary 3.

The extracted job definer 42 of the trunk database data tabulates the extracted job data, as recorded/managed by the dictionary 3, in the display screen of the terminal unit.

Specifically, the extracted job data recording area of the dictionary 3 is stored, as shown in FIG. 6, with extracted job data D1, which contain existence data D2 indicating the existence of the extracted job or an execution format program, and the extracted job D3 itself is stored in the extracted job recording area of the dictionary 3.

At the time of the extracted job selection, there are displayed the table of the aforementioned extracted job data and the buttons "END", "ADD", "CHANGE" and "DELETE", as shown in FIG. 7.

By selecting the "ADD" button by the mouse or the like, an extracted job can be newly defined. If, on the other hand, the "CHANGE" button is selected after a certain extracted job has been selected by the mouse or the like, it is possible to change the content of the defined extracted job, as selected. If, on the other hand, the "DELETE" button is selected after a certain extracted job has been selected, it is possible to delete the defined extracted job, as selected.

The definitions of the extracted job are executed by effecting the selection of a table to be extracted from the trunk database 1 of the trunk business system, the selection of a data item and the indication of a retrieving condition and are based by generating as the extracted job the procedure of extracting/registering the desired data as a table in the public database 2. In this case, moreover, a program, as described in a program language such as COBOL, can be allocated as the extracted job.

By selecting the "ADD" button, as described above, it is possible to define the extracted job. In this case, the worksheet for defining the attributes of the extracted job, as shown in FIG. 8, is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit so that the attributes of the extracted job such as the extracted job name, the extraction source schema name, the extraction destination schema name, the table name and the creator can be defined by inputting through a keyboard or the like. The screen, as shown in FIG. 8, displays the "OK" and "DELETE" buttons in addition to the attribute defining worksheet.

With the attributes being defined in the worksheet of FIG. 8, the generation of an extracted job is started when the "OK" button is selected.

For generating the extracted job, the database data, as sent out from the trunk database 1 of the trunk business system, are tabulated at first at the unit of table in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 9, so that the extracted table can be selected by the mouse or the like. In the screen of FIG. 9, the "END" and "OK" buttons are also displayed.

The table to be extracted is selected in the screen of FIG. 9, and the "OK" button is selected. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the data items composing the selected table are tabulated in the screen of the terminal unit so that the data item to be extracted can be selected by using the mouse or the like. In the screen of FIG. 10, there are also displayed the "OK", "DELETE" and "OPERATION/PROCESS" buttons.

In case a plurality of tables are selected from the screen of FIG. 9, the table of the data items composing those tables is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit, as corresponds to the screen of FIG. 10, and the linking conditions among those tables are automatically generated by selecting the data items associatively.

By selecting the "OPERATION/PROCESS" button in the screen of FIG. 10 by the mouse or the like, on the other hand, the result of the operation/process between the data items can be extracted. When the "OPERATION/PROCESS" button is selected, the worksheet for defining the operation/process formula is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit so that the desired operation/process formula can be defined by selecting a data item from the table of data items and an operand from the table of operands by using the mouse or the like and by attaching the selected ones to the worksheet.

When the generation of the fundamental procedure is completed, an extraction condition table screen for setting the extraction conditions is then displayed on the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 12. The "OK", "ADD" and "DELETE" buttons are also displayed in the screen of FIG. 12. By selecting the "ADD" button by the mouse or the like, the worksheet for setting the individual extraction conditions is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 13, so that the extraction conditions can be defined. The "OK" and "DELETE" buttons are also displayed in the screen of FIG. 13.

Specifically, by selecting a data item for setting the conditions by the mouse or the like from the table of the lefthand data items of the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 13, the data item names are transferred to the righthand worksheet of FIG. 13. In case the data items are composed of characters, operation parts for setting the character type conditions are displayed in the lower rows of the worksheet so that they can be used for the selection to complete the conditional formulas.

Specifically, in FIG. 13, after the data item "a" has been selected from the lefthand side of the screen, and a comparison character row "1" is inputted, and the "FRONT MATCH" is selected to generate "aLIKE`1%`".

When the definition of the conditional formula is completed, the "OK" button is selected in the screen of FIG. 13. Then, the screen of the extraction condition table, as shown in FIG. 14, is restored. Substantially as in the screen of FIG. 12, the above-defined conditional formula is additionally displayed in the table in FIG. 14. In the screen of FIG. 14, there are also displayed the "OK", "ADD", "CHANGE" and "DELETE" buttons.

After the conditional formula has been selected in the screen of FIG. 14 by using the mouse or the like, the "CHANGE" button is selected. Then, the extraction condition setting worksheet, as shown in FIG. 13, is displayed again in the screen of the terminal unit so that the preset conditional formula can be changed. Moreover, the designated conditional formula can be deleted by selecting the "DELETE" button after the conditional formula has been selected.

When the definitions of all extraction conditions are completed, the "OK" is selected. Then, the definitions of the series extraction conditions are completed so that the extracted jobs, as shown in FIG. 11, are changed to those shown in FIG. 15. As to the extracted jobs thus generated, as shown in FIG. 16, the extracted Job data are written in the extracted job data recording area of the dictionary 3, and the extracted jobs are stored in the extracted job recording area of the dictionary 3.

When the write of the extracted job in the dictionary 3 is completed, the extracted job selecting screen, as shown in FIG. 17, is restored. In the extracted job selecting screen of FIG. 17, the extracted job "EXTRACT1" of the series extracted jobs, as added in their definitions, is further added to the table screen of the extracted job selections of FIG. 7.

(1-2) Fetch to Public Database of Trunk Database

The operations management supporting main controller 41 controlling the entirety of the operations support unit 5 displays the initial menu for starting a predetermined processing, as shown in FIG. 5, in the screen of the terminal unit at the start and at the end of another processing (e.g., the aforementioned extracted job definition). The control is transferred to the data extractor 43 to start the extracted job when the terminal operator selects such a menu item by the mouse or the like as corresponds to the extracted job execution for extracting the data from the trunk database 1 to the public database 2.

The data extractor 43 of the trunk database data starts the extracted job which is generated extracted job definer 42 of the trunk database data and extracts predetermined database data from the database 1A, as sent out from the trunk database 1 of the trunk business system, to the public database 2.

At the start of the extracted job, the table of the extracted job data, as recorded/managed by the dictionary 3, is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 18, by the control of the data extractor 43 so that an arbitrary extracted job can be started when the terminal operator selects the arbitrary extracted job by operating the mouse or the like. In the screen of FIG. 18, there are also displayed the "OK", "NARROW" and "END" buttons. If the "NARROW" button is selected by the mouse or the like, on the other hand, the narrowing worksheet is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit so that the narrowing condition for narrowing the job executing day to a designated date and after can be designated for the worksheet.

By selecting a desired extracted job from the table of FIG. 18 and the "OK" button, the selected job is executed so that the message indicating the result of execution is outputted to the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 19.

By executing the extracted job, the table is extracted/registered in the public database 2 so that the job execution date of the extracted job data recording area of the dictionary 3 is updated at that date.

In case the blank of the basic data, as recorded/managed in the extracted job recording area, is "NOT FINISHED", as shown in FIG. 16, the fetch (i.e., the creation/update of the data item attribute data) of the basic data of the data item is executed if it is instructed by the terminal operator.

The basic data of the data item are recorded/managed together the table management data in the dictionary 3. FIG. 20 shows a recording format of the table management data of the table management data recording area in the dictionary 3, and FIG. 21 shows a recording format of the data item of the data item recording area and the data item attribute (including the basic data).

When the extracted job is executed, its execution date is written in the extracted job table of the extracted job selecting screen, as shown in FIG. 22.

(1-3) Definition of Data Items

The setup unit 4 has functions to define the tables existing in the trunk database 1 and the public database 2 and the various attributes of the data items composing the tables (e.g., the data item definer 12, the table data definer 13, the table sorter 14, the table combination definer 15, the data item management support 21 and the table management support 22) and to define the management points (e.g., the management point definer 19, the sorting data definer 20 and the point management support 23), and sets up the various data to be recorded/managed in the dictionary 3 (e.g., the operated data item definer 16, the function parameter definer 17 and the data item grouping definer 18) so as to facilitate the exploitation of the database data and to enhance the reliability. This setup unit 4 is controlled in its entirety by the data setup main controller 11.

The data setup main controller 11 for controlling the entirety of the setup unit 4 displays the initial menu of the setup processing, as shown in FIG. 23, in the screen of the terminal unit so as to start a predetermined processing relating to the setup. When the terminal operator selects the menu item corresponding to the definition of the data item, for example, from the menu of FIG. 23 by the mouse or the like, the control is transferred to the data item definer 12.

In order to select the data item for defining/changing the attribute data, the data item definer 12 can display the table of the table segments in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 24, to select the table segments by using the mouse or the like. The example of FIG. 24 shows the state in which the table segment of the master is selected.

When the table segment is selected, the table belonging to the selected table segment is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 25, so that the table can be selected by the terminal operator using the mouse or the like. In FIG. 25, the table belonging to the table segment of the master is displayed so that the table name "out" (or the business office master) is selected.

The data items selected from and composing the aforementioned table are tabulated in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 26, so that the data items to have their attributes defined/changed can be selected.

The data items composing the table are generated in the dictionary 3 with reference to the data item recording data which are recorded/managed, as shown in FIG. 27. FIG. 27 shows one example of the behavior of the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the dictionary 3.

In this case, in the table of the data items of FIG. 26, the name "a" of the data item, for example, is selected by operating the mouse or the like.

When the data item is thus selected, the worksheet for defining/updating a portion (i.e., extended data) of the attribute data of the data item can be displayed at the righthand side of the screen of the terminal unit and defined/inputted by using the keyboard or the like, as shown in FIG. 28.

At this time, the attribute data (or the extended data) to be defined/changed are exemplified by the header to be used as a first clue for selecting the data items from the table or as the header for fetching the database data finally, and the units of numerical data.

These units can be utilized in the automatic operations which are based upon the units and the arithmetic rules added to the database data. On the other hand, the calendar can be utilized for exploiting the database data to which each target calendar is applied.

A correlation may exist between the aforementioned data items, e.g., between the business office code item "a" and the business office name item "b". In this case, the items "a" and "b" can be defined as an integral data item by defining the segment "a" with the code, the segment "b" with the label, and the application with "a". Thus, at the time of selecting the data items which are required at the stage of exploiting the database data, the label "b" is excluded from the table of the data items displayed in the screen of the terminal unit, and only the business office or the representative name defined in the application blank "a" is displayed to improve the recognizability of the table display and to allow the system to automatically use the code and the label separately for the application. As a result, the exploiter of the database data need not use the code and the label separately.

If the selection of the segment is the "CODE" at the time of defining/updating the extended data of the attributes of the data items, the input blank for the name of the integral data item, i.e., the integral name is additionally displayed in the worksheet, as shown in FIG. 29. In FIG. 29, the "BUSINESS OFFICE" is defined as the integral name.

Into the worksheet, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, the terminal operator inputs the attribute data by using the keyboard or the like and selects the "OK" button by using the mouse or the like. Then, the completion of the definition of one data item is recognized to update the corresponding blank of the data item attribute recording area (as shown in FIG. 27) of the dictionary 3. When this updating operation is effected, the worksheet can be deleted from the display screen to select a subsequent data item.

If, on the other hand, the selection of the segment is set to the "LABEL" at the time of defining/updating the extended data of the attribute data of the aforementioned data item, the input blank of the corresponding code is additionally displayed in the worksheet, as shown in FIG. 30. The corresponding code can be selected from the data item table at the lefthand side of the screen by using the mouse or the like. In FIG. 30, the data item "a" is defined as the code corresponding to the data item "b" or the label.

The extended data of the data item recording area the data item attribute recording area of the dictionary at the completion stage of the definition of all the data items "a" to "o" of the table "out", as shown in FIG. 31, take the state, as shown in FIG. 32.

(1-4) Definition of Table Data

(Segments of Table)

By the control of the data setup main controller 11 of the setup unit 4, the initial menu of the setup operation, as shown in FIG. 23, for starting a predetermined operation for the setup is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit. When the terminal operator selects a menu item corresponding to the definition of the table data, i.e., to the table definition from the menu of FIG. 23 by the mouse or the like, the control is transferred to the table data definer 13.

The table data definer 13 defines the table segment (or meaningful sorting) for facilitating the set up operation of the table, the linking condition between the tables, and the application of the calendar to the table. For these operations, the table data definer 13 displays the menus for starting the individual defining functions of the table segment, the table linking definition and the calendar application, as shown in FIG. 33, in the screen of the terminal unit. When the terminal operator selects a menu item corresponding to the segment of the table in this menu by using the mouse or the like, the table data definer 13 transfers the control to the table sorter 14. As a result of the calendar application to the table, the database data, to which each target calendar is applied, can be exploited on the basis of the calendar.

The table sorter 14 sorts the tables which are registered/managed by the public database 2. The tables, as registered/managed by the public database 2, can be sorted into the master data, the processed master data, the transaction data, the processed transaction data, the time series data, the secondary table, and so on.

The table sorter 14 sorts and lists the tables in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 35, with reference to the table management data which are recorded/managed by the table management data recording area of the dictionary 3, as shown in FIG. 34. In FIG. 35, there is shown the case in which the "MASTER" button is selected from the lefthand table of the screen, and the "OK" button is then selected.

When the "OK" button is selected, there is displayed the table which belongs to the righthand segments of the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 36. The list display of this table makes it possible to know the tables of every segments. By selecting the "DELETE" button in the screen of FIG. 36, the list display of the tables is deleted from the screen of the terminal unit and restores the state for selecting the table segments of FIG. 35.

From the table number of the "UNSEGMENTED TABLES" in the list of the table segments, as displayed in the selecting screen of the table segments of FIG. 35, it is found that there is one unsegmented table.

When the "OK" button is selected after the "UNSEGMENTED TABLE", the list of unsegmented tables is displayed at the righthand side of the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 37. In FIG. 37, it is displayed that the table having the name "out" exists as the unsegmented table.

In this state, the segment can be set/changed by selecting the unsegmented table in the list of the un segmented tables at the righthand side of the screen of the terminal unit and by attaching it to the location of the segment corresponding to the list of the table segments at the lefthand side. FIG. 38 schematically shows the case in which the table "out" is sorted to the table segment "MASTER".

In the list of the table segments, the display of tables is moved according to the aforementioned setting, and the table segment columns of the table management data area on the dictionary 3 are updated by the codes corresponding to the set table segments.

Specifically, by the attaching operation, the segment of the table is decided, and this table is erased from the list of the unsegmented tables at the righthand side of the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 39, so that the number of tables in the list of the table segments at the lefthand side of the screen is changed. In FIG. 39, the table number of the table segments "MASTER" is changed from "2" to "3", and the table number of the "UNSEGMENTED TABLES" is changed from "1" to "0". Simultaneously with this change of display, the table segment column of the table management data recording area of the dictionary 3 is also rewritten, as shown in FIG. 40.

At this time, by displaying the table list of the table segments "MASTER", as shown in FIG. 41, it can be confirmed that the unsegmented table "out" has been segmented as the "MASTER".

(1-5) Definition of Table Data

(Link Definition of Tables)

Here will be described the definitions of the linking conditions between the tables for facilitating the setup operations of tables by the table data definer 13. This table definer 13 transfers the control to the table combination definer 15 when the terminal operator selects the menu item corresponding to the table linking definition from the menu shown in FIG. 33, for example.

The table combination definer 15 defines the table linkages which are registered/managed by the public database 2. By defining the table linkages, the user need not input the table linking conditions each time a data item covering a plurality of tables is selected at the stage of exploiting the database data.

Whether or not the tables are linked is recorded/managed by the table management data recording area of the dictionary 3, as shown in FIG. 42. Moreover, the linking conditions are recorded/managed by the table link management data table which contains the data items composed of codes to be used for physically linking the tables and the linking method, as will be described hereinafter. This table link management data table is stored in the table link management data area of the dictionary 3.

The table combination definer 15 displays two lists for selecting the table segments at the righthand and lefthand sides of the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 43, so as to facilitate the selection of the tables to be linked, so that the table segments can be selected by means of the mouse or the like.

In the aforementioned two lists, as shown in FIG. 43, it is assumed that the table segments such as the "MASTER" and "TRANSACTION" be selected.

As shown in FIG. 44, the tables, which individually belong to the selected table segments "MASTER (DATA)" and "TRANSACTION (DATA)", are tabulated at the righthand and lefthand sides of the screen of the terminal unit, and the terminal operator selects the table to be linked. In FIG. 44, the tables "BB" and "CC" are selected, for example.

When a table is thus selected, the data items composing each table are individually tabulated at the righthand and lefthand sides of the terminal unit so that the data items or the link keys can be selected. In this case, the data items are stepwise selected and displayed according to the instruction of the terminal operator.

In case there is displayed at first a data item, in which the segment column of the data item attribute recording area on the dictionary 3 is a link code or a code, but the desired link key is not displayed in this state, the remaining data items can be displayed by selecting the "DETAIL DISPLAY" button for displaying the data items in detail.

In FIG. 45, it is assumed that the item name keyx of the table "BB" and the item name keyx of the table "CC", for example, be selected as the link key.

If the "OK" button is selected after the link key has been selected from the righthand and lefthand lists of the screen, the worksheet for defining the linking method is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 46, so that the linking method can be defined.

The linking method is divided into four linking methods, as shown in FIG. 47, by which the codes corresponding to the jointing methods are recorded in the linking method columns in the table link management data tables of the table link management data ares to be recorded/managed by the dictionary 3, as shown in FIG. 48.

The selection of the linking methods is executed by selecting a desired linking method on the worksheet for selecting/defining the linking methods, as shown in FIG. 46. For example, FIG. 46 indicates that the "OK" button is selected after the "TRANSVERSE LINK OF EQUAL TABLES" has been selected as the linking method by using the mouse or the like.

By selecting the "OK" button, the link definitions of a group of tables are completed, and the corresponding columns of the table link management data, the table management data and the data item attribute data, which are recorded/managed by the dictionary 3, are individually updated, as shown in FIGS. 48, 49 and 50. In the data item attribute area of FIG. 50, for example, the code of the segment column is changed to the link key.

(1-6) Definitions of Operation/Process Data Items

By the control of the data setup main controller 11 of the setup unit 4, the initial menu of the setup operations, as shown in FIG. 23, for starting a predetermined operation for the setup is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit. When the terminal operator selects the menu item corresponding to the definition of the data item, for example, from the menu of FIG. 23 by the mouse or the like, the control is transferred to the operated data item definer 16.

This operated data item definer 16 defines the method of generating the data item which does not exist in the public database 2, by operating/processing the data item which exists in the public database 2. The data item, as defined by this operated data item definer 16, is recorded/managed like the existing data item by the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the dictionary 3.

This system can be given a function to execute the operations/processings by applying a calendar for each object/business.

In order to facilitate the selection of the data item for defining the operations/processings, the operated data item definer 16 displays the list of table segments in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 51, so that the table segments can be selected by using the mouse or the like. In this case, for example, the table segments "MASTER" and "TRANSACTION" are selected in FIG. 51.

Next, as shown in FIG. 52, the tables belonging to the table segments, as selected, are tabulated in the screen of the terminal unit so that the terminal operator can select the tables by using the mouse or the like. In this case, for example, the tables "out" and "CC" are selected in FIG. 52.

When a table is selected, the operated data item definer 16 refers to the data item recording area, which is recorded/managed by the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area (as shown in FIG. 53) of the dictionary 3, to display a list of the data items composing the selected table in the screen of the terminal unit and to display a worksheet for defining the operation/process formula at the righthand side of the screen.

In this worksheet for defining the operation/process formula, the operation/process formula can be generated by selecting the data items from the table list and by suitably repeating the selections of the operands (+, -, .times., .div.), the numerical values and the functions.

The operation/process formula can also be generated by quoting the function.

FIG. 54 shows the situation in which a formula for calculating the volume of sales for each person is defined by dividing the volume of sales or the existing data item by the number of business members.

The data items this defined are tabulated while including the data items existing at the stage of exploiting the database data, so that the operations can be automatically scheduled merely by selecting the corresponding data items to extract the desired data value. As a result, the database data user can receive the benefits of the improvement in the operability with a reduced frequency of considering the operations/processings. Moreover, the operated data items need not exist on the database so that the volume of the database can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 54, the data items to be tabulated at the lefthand side of the screen are stepwise selected/displayed by the instruction of the terminal operator. First of all, there are displayed the data items in which the segment columns of the data item attribute recording area on the dictionary 3 are data. In case the data item for defining the operations/processings cannot be found out, the remaining data items can be displayed by selecting the "DETAIL DISPLAY" button corresponding to the detail display of the data item by means of the mouse or the like.

By selecting the "OK" button in the worksheet of FIG. 54, moreover, the worksheet for defining the attribute data of the operated data items defined can be displayed, as shown in FIG. 55, to define the attribute data by using the keyboard or the like.

By selecting the "OK" button by the mouse or the like in the screen of the data item attribute defining worksheet of FIG. 55, the definitions of the operated data items are completed and additionally displayed in the list of the data items, as shown in FIG. 56, and the defined data items are added like the existing data items to the data item recording area and the data item attribute recording area of the dictionary 3, as shown in FIG. 57. Of the "DATA CLASS" of the data item recording area of FIG. 57, "1" implies the existing data item, and "2" implies the operated data item.

(1-7) Grouping Definitions of Data Items

By the control of the data setup main controller 11 of the setup unit 4, the initial menu, as shown in FIG. 23, for starting a predetermined processing for the setup is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit. When the terminal operator selects the menu item corresponding to the grouping of the data items from the menu of FIG. 23 by the mouse or the like, the control is transferred to the data item grouping definer 18.

This data item grouping definer 18 has a function to define the data items as a group in the sense of the exploiting stage of the database data. By this grouping, the data items to be tabulated at the time of exploiting the database data can be stepwise displayed to facilitate their retrieval. The data item grouping definition data are linked to the data item recording area in the dictionary 3, as shown in FIG. 58, and are recorded/managed by the data item grouping definition data recording area of FIG. 59. Of the "GROUPING" of the data item recording area of FIG. 58, "0" implies that the grouping data item is undefined, and "1" implies that the grouping data item is defined.

The data item grouping definer 18 refers to the data item grouping definition data recording area, as recorded/managed by the dictionary 3, to list up the representative names in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 60.

When a desired representative name is selected, the data items composing the group having the selected representative names are displayed in a list at the righthand side of the screen, as shown in FIG. 61. FIG. 61 shows that it is displayed by selecting the representative name "CUSTOMER" that the grouping data items of the representative name "CUSTOMER" are composed of the data items "CUSTOMER NAME", "ADDRESS" and so on.

In the screen of FIG. 61, the display of the list of the grouping data items is deleted to restore the representative name selecting screen of FIG. 60 by selecting the "DELETE" button in the screen of FIG. 61.

If the "ADD" button is selected in the screen of FIG. 60 without selecting the representative name, the data item grouping definer 18 can display the worksheet for defining the representative name at the righthand side of the terminal screen, as shown in FIG. 62, to define the representative name.

When the terminal operator inputs the representative name to the worksheet for defining the representative name at the righthand side of the terminal screen shown in FIG. 62 by using the keyboard or the like and selects the "OK" button by the mouse or the like, the data item grouping definer 18 displays the list of the grouping data items at the lefthand side of the screen of the terminal unit. In this case, however, the list of the data items is not displayed unlike FIG. 63, because of the novel definition.

By selecting the "ADD" button by the mouse or the like, the selecting screen of the table segments is displayed at the righthand side of the screen, as shown in FIG. 64, so that the selection of the listed data items is started.

Specifically, in order to facilitate the selection of the data items, the list for selecting the table segments is displayed in FIG. 64 at the righthand side of the screen of the terminal unit so that the table segments can be selected by using the mouse or the like. For example, the "TRANSACTION" is selected as the table segment.

When a table segment is selected, the data item grouping definer 18 displays the table list of the selected table segment, as shown in FIG. 65, so that the table such as the "CC" can be selected by the terminal operator using the mouse or the like.

As to the selected table, the data item attribute data, as recorded/managed by the dictionary 3, are referred to list up the data items composing the selected table at the righthand side of the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 66, so that the data items can be selected by the terminal operator.

The listed data items can be selected by selecting the data item by the mouse or the like from the list of the data items at the righthand side of the screen of FIG. 66. In this case, for example, there are selected the "SALES OF THIS MONTH", "SALES OF MAIN COMMODITIES", "SALES OF OTHER COMMODITIES" and "SALES PER PERSON".

The data items are stepwise selected/displayed by the instruction of the terminal operator. First of all, there is displayed the data item in which the segment column of the data item attribute recording area on the dictionary 3 is the "DATA" or "OPERATION". If no data item defined as a list item is found out, the remaining data items can be displayed by selecting the "DETAIL DISPLAY" button by the mouse or the like.

By selecting the "NARROW" button, moreover, it is possible to restrict the data items to be displayed, for example, to the data items having "SALES" headers. In this case, the target data items are ".largecircle..largecircle. SALES", "SALES .largecircle..largecircle." and ".largecircle..largecircle. SALES .largecircle..largecircle.".

By selecting the "OK" button, the definition of the grouping data items is completed. Then, the corresponding grouping columns of the data item recording area, as recorded/managed by the dictionary 3, are changed from "0" to "1", as shown in FIG. 67, and the data relating to the grouping data item "SALES", as newly defined, are additionally written in the data item grouping definition data recording area, as shown in FIG. 68.

When this updating of the dictionary 3 is completed, the representative name selecting screen is restored, as shown in FIG. 69. In FIG. 69, the newly defined grouping data item "SALES" is additionally displayed in the list table.

If the representative name "SALES" is selected by using the mouse or the like in the screen of FIG. 69, the data items composing the grouping data items are displayed as a list table, as shown in FIG. 70.

(1-8) Definitions of Management Points

By the control of the data setup main controller 11 of the setup unit 4, the initial menu for the setup operation, as shown in FIG. 23, for starting a predetermined operation for the setup is displayed in the screen of the terminal unit. When the terminal operator selects the menu item corresponding to the definition of the management point from the menu of FIG. 23 by operating the mouse or the like, the control is transferred to the management point definer 19.

This management point definer 19 defines the points of management, i.e., the management points. By this management point definer 19, it is possible to add the management points, to change the defined management points and to delete the defined management points.

The management points are recorded/managed by the management point recording area of the dictionary 3, as shown in FIG. 71. The common management point is recorded/managed by the common dictionary, and the management point for each person or target is recorded/managed by the personal dictionary. The input/output to/from the dictionary are effected in relation to the layout determination of the database data to be fetched.

The management point definer 19 fetches the management points, as recorded/managed by the dictionary 3, from the dictionary and lists up them in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 72, in accordance with the predetermined display order.

The "WHEN (TIME)" of the management point is a management point to be automatically set by the system. The detail of the management points relating to the time will be described in the second embodiment of the present invention in connection with the storage/management of the time series data.

When the terminal operator selects the "ADD" button by the mouse or the like, the management point definer 19 displays the worksheet for defining the management points in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 73, to allow the terminal operator to define the management points through the keyboard or the like.

The terminal operator inputs the necessary data into the worksheet shown in FIG. 73 through the keyboard or the like and then selects the "OK" button by the mouse or the like. Then, the management point definer 19 inspects whether or not the definition is proper. If this answer is YES, the management point definer 19 additionally writes the data of the newly defined management point into the management point recording area of the dictionary, as shown in FIG. 74, and additionally displays the defined management point in the list screen.

On the other hand, if the terminal operator selects the "CHANGE" button after the management point by using the mouse or the like, the worksheet is displayed as in the "ADD" case in the screen of the terminal unit so that the attribute data can be changed. If the "DELETE" button is selected, on the other hand, it is possible to delete the corresponding management point. If the "DISPLAY ORDER CHANGE" is selected, it is possible to change the display of the list table. By selecting the "SUPPRESS PUBLICATION" or "OPEN" button, moreover, it is possible to suppress the use of the database data temporarily at the exploiting stage or to release the suppression.

(1-9) Definitions of Sorting Data

The management point definer 19 fetches the management points, as recorded/managed by the dictionary 3, from the dictionary 3 and lists up them in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 75, in accordance with a predetermined display order.

By selecting the management point to have the sorting data definition data or the sorting data attached thereto by the mouse or the like, as shown in FIG. 76, the sorting data, as hierarchized for the selected management point and relatively recorded/managed by the dictionary 3, are fetched and displayed in the list screen in accordance with the predetermined display order, as shown in FIG. 77.

Incidentally, the definition of the sorting data is effected in relation to the layout determination of the database data to be fetched.

By selecting the "ADD", "CHANGE", "DELETE" and "CHANGE ORDER" buttons by the mouse or the like, the control is transferred to the sorting data definer 20.

The sorting data definer 20 controls the addition, change, deletion and so on of the sorting data as a whole. In FIG. 77, for example, the management point "WHO (PERSON, ORGANIZATION, ENTERPRISE)" is selected to display a list of sorting data, and the "ADD" button is then selected.

By selecting the "ADD" button by the mouse or the like, the selection of the data item (segment key item) for setting the segmenting definition is started. In order to facilitate the selection of the segment key item, a list of table segments for narrowing the table containing the segment key items is displayed at first in the terminal screen, as shown in FIG. 78, so that the table segments can be selected.

The table segment such as "MASTER" is selected by the mouse or the like, and the "OK" button is selected. Then, the tables belonging to the selected segment such as "MASTER" can be listed up in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 79, to select the table in which the segment key items exist.

In the screen of FIG. 79, a desired table such as "CC (BUSINESS OFFICE MASTER)" is selected, and the "OK" button is selected. Then, the list of the data items composing that table can be displayed in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 80, to select the segment key items.

The data items to be displayed are those in which the date segments are data or codes. By selecting the "DETAIL DISPLAY" or "SUPPRESS DETAIL DISPLAY" button in the screen of FIG. 77, it is possible to switch whether or not the data items are to be displayed within a restricted range. By selecting the "NARROW" button in the screen of FIG. 80, it is possible to narrow the data items to be displayed according to a desired condition. In case this narrow is to be returned, the (not-shown) "RELEASE NARROW" button to be displayed at the narrowing time is selected.

If, moreover, the segment key item such as the "cssh5 (VOLUME OF TRANSACTIONS OF 1993)" is selected in the screen of FIG. 80, the worksheet for selecting the segmenting definition method can be displayed in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 81, to perform the selection by the mouse or the like.

After the segmenting definition method has thus been selected, the "OK" button is selected. Then, the control is transferred to the direct exploitation definer for exploiting the data values directly, the character data signifier for signifying character data or the numerical data signifier for signifying the numerical data, in accordance with the selected defining method. Incidentally, in case the "ADD MEANING TO DATA VALUE" is selected as the defining method, it is decided according to the type of the data of the segment key item which of the character data signifier or the numerical data signifier the control is to be transferred.

The direction exploitation definer and the character data signifier are used in relation to the layout determination of the database data to be fetched. The numerical data signifier displays the worksheet for defining the segmenting definition attributes in the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 82, so that the definitions can be made by the terminal operator through the keyboard or the like. With reference the data values of the segment key items from the database, statistical values such as the maximum, the minimum, the average and the most frequent value are calculated and displayed in the worksheet.

When the sorting method is selected, the worksheet for defining the specific segmentations at the righthand side of the screen of the terminal unit, as shown in FIG. 83, so that the terminal operator can define the segmenting specifications.

When the definitions in the screen of FIG. 83 are completed to select the "OK" button, there is displayed a screen for confirming the segmenting definitions, as shown in FIG. 84.

When the "GRAPH" button is selected in the screen of FIG. 83 or FIG. 84, the control is transferred to the (not-shown) management point visualizer for graphing the management points. This management point visualizer refers to the values of the data items, to which the segmenting definitions are to be added, from the database to display the distribution of data values in a histogram. As a result, the terminal operator can grasp the data distribution in advance. The graphing operations of the management points will be described in detail in connection with a fourth embodiment of the present invention with reference to the visualization making use of the management points of the database data.

By selecting the "OK" button in the screen of FIG. 84 by the mouse or the like, the addition of a series of segmenting definitions is completed to execute the change of the columns of the segment number of the management point recording area of the dictionary 3, the addition of the data to the sorting data recording area, and the addition of the data to the segmenting specification area.

When the write of the dictionary is completed, the screen is returned to that for the list of segmenting definitions, as