An Architecture for Modular On-Line Analytical Processing Systems: 
           Supporting Distributed and Parallel Query Processing 
                    Using Co-operating CORBA Objects

                  Andreas Rauber and Philipp Tomsich 
                   Institute of Software Technology
              Vienna University of Technology, Austria
                     {andi,phil}@ifs.tuwien.ac.at


Abstract:

During the last few years, On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) has
emerged as a valuable tool for the analysis, navigation and reporting
of hierarchically organized data from data warehouses. 
Still, it remains a challenging task to implement and deploy an OLAP
system, since no standardized architecture exists, which
describes the common components and functionality of OLAP
systems. Additionally, the formal models in use disregard the need for
easily implemented and clearly defined interfaces between these
components.  This paper presents a model for OLAP engines, which
permits the development of modular systems based on a simple
data-representation using sets and vectors. The functional units of
the query processor are implemented in CORBA as independent modules
with firm interfaces and exchange data and messages communicate across
a software bus.



This work is supported by the European Union under 
Esprit/INCO grant no.977071 - GOAL