Schema mapping and data transformation on the basis of a conceptual model

1. A computer-implemented method for schema mapping and data transformation, the method comprising the following steps performed by a processor:

obtaining information associated with a conceptual model, wherein the conceptual model comprises at least one conceptual object;

identifying a source model corresponding to a source schema and at least one source instance;

receiving first mapping data for mapping a source attribute of the source model to a conceptual attribute of the conceptual model;

generating, based on the first mapping data, a first mapping formula for transforming values associated with the source attribute into at least one value associated with the conceptual attribute;

identifying a target model corresponding to a target schema and at least one target instance; and

generating second mapping data for mapping the conceptual attribute of the conceptual model to a target attribute of the target model, based on the first mapping data and the first mapping formula, wherein:

the source attribute values comprise a plurality of duplicate values;

generating the first mapping formula comprises generating a formula to perform a common operation on the duplicate values; and

the method further comprises generating, based on the second mapping data and the first mapping formula, a second mapping formula for transforming the conceptual attribute value into at least one value associated with the target attribute, the second mapping formula comprising an inverse of the transformation of the first mapping formula.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing, to a user, an indication of a suggested mapping between a first attribute of the source model and a second attribute of the conceptual model, based on at least the first mapping data.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the providing comprises:

providing the indication of suggested mapping based on a user-specified level of probability.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

creating a conceptual layout for the conceptual model;

creating a source layout for the source model;

displaying the source model to a user in accordance to the conceptual layout; and

displaying the conceptual model to the user in accordance to the conceptual layout, wherein the source model and the conceptual model are juxtaposed.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

modifying at least one of the conceptual layout and the source layout; and

storing the modified layout.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

creating a target layout for the target model;

displaying the conceptual model to the user in accordance to the conceptual layout; and

displaying the target model to the user in accordance to the target layout, wherein the conceptual model and the target model are juxtaposed.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing a list of unmapped attributes in the conceptual model to a user; and

providing an indication to the user that an attribute in the list of unmapped attributes does not need to be mapped.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

providing a list of unmapped target attributes in the target model to the user; and

providing an indication to the user that a target attribute in the list of unmapped target attributes does not need to be mapped.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the source model comprises:

obtaining the source schema and the source instance; and

converting the source schema and the source instance into the source model.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the target model comprises:

obtaining the target schema and the target instance; and

converting the target schema and the target instance into the target model.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the first mapping formula comprises generating a formula to convert the source attribute values into corresponding values of the conceptual attribute.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the first mapping formula comprises generating a formula to merge the source attribute values to generate the conceptual attribute values.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the source model, the target model, or the conceptual model are associated with a business object.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

receiving information indicative of a triggering incident associated with the business object; and

in response to the triggering incident, at least one of (i) mapping the source attribute to the conceptual attribute using the first mapping data, or (ii) mapping the conceptual attribute to the target attribute using the second mapping data.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the triggering incident comprises an initiation of a batch job.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the triggering incident comprises a request from a user.

17. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing, when executed by a processor, a method for schema mapping and data transformation, the method comprising:

obtaining information associated with a conceptual model, wherein the conceptual model comprises at least one conceptual object;

identifying a source model corresponding to a source schema and at least one source instance;

receiving first mapping data for mapping a source attribute of the source model to a conceptual attribute of the conceptual model;

generating, based on the first mapping data, a first mapping formula for transforming values associated with the source attribute into at least one value associated with the conceptual attribute;

identifying a target model corresponding to a target schema and at least one target instance; and

generating second mapping data for mapping the conceptual attribute of the conceptual model to a target attribute of the target model, based on the first mapping data and the first mapping formula, wherein:

the source attribute values comprise a plurality of duplicate values;

generating the first mapping formula comprises generating a formula to perform a common operation on the duplicate values; and

the method further comprises generating, based on the second mapping data and the first mapping formula, a second mapping formula for transforming the conceptual attribute value into at least one value associated with the target attribute, the second mapping formula comprising an inverse of the transformation of the first mapping formula.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:

providing, to a user, an indication of a suggested mapping between a first attribute of the source model and a second attribute of the conceptual model based on the at least one forward mapping.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises:

providing a list of unmapped attributes in the conceptual model to a user; and

providing an indication to the user that an attribute in the list of unmapped attributes does not need to be mapped.

20. A system for schema mapping and data transformation, the system comprising:

a memory having program instructions; and

a processor executing the program instructions to perform the steps of:

obtaining information associated with a conceptual model, wherein the conceptual model comprises at least one conceptual object;

identifying a source model corresponding to a source schema and at least one source instance;

receiving first mapping data for mapping a source attribute of the source model to a conceptual attribute of the conceptual model;

generating, based on the first mapping data, a first mapping formula for transforming values associated with the source attribute into at least one value associated with the conceptual attribute;

identifying a target model corresponding to a target schema and at least one target instance; and

generating second mapping data for mapping the conceptual attribute of the conceptual model to a target attribute of the target model, based on the first mapping data and the first mapping formula, wherein:

the source attribute values comprise a plurality of duplicate values;

generating the first mapping formula comprises generating a formula to perform a common operation on the duplicate values; and

the a processor further executes the program instructions to generate, based on the second mapping data and the first mapping formula, a second mapping formula for transforming the conceptual attribute value into at least one value associated with the target attribute, the second mapping formula comprising an inverse of the transformation of the first mapping formula.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the steps further comprise:

providing an indication, to a user, of a suggested mapping between a first attribute of the source model and a second attribute of the conceptual model based on the at least one forward mapping.

22. The system of claim 21 , wherein the steps further comprise:

providing the indication of the suggested mapping based on a user-specified level of probability.

23. The system of claim 20 , wherein the steps further comprise:

creating a conceptual layout for the conceptual model;

creating a source layout for the source model;

displaying the source model in accordance to the conceptual layout to a user; and

displaying the conceptual model in accordance to the conceptual layout to the user, wherein the source model and the conceptual model are juxtaposed.

24. The system of claim 23 , wherein the steps further comprise:

modifying at least one of the conceptual layout and the source layout; and

storing the modified layout.

25. The system of claim 23 , wherein the steps further comprise:

creating a target layout for the target model;

displaying the conceptual model in accordance to the conceptual layout; and

displaying the target model to the user in accordance to the target layout, wherein the conceptual model and the target model are juxtaposed.

26. The system of claim 20 , wherein the steps further comprise:

providing a list of unmapped attributes in the conceptual model to a user; and

providing an indication to the user that an attribute in the list of unmapped attributes does not need to be mapped.

27. The system of claim 26 , wherein the steps further comprise:

providing a list of unmapped target attributes in the target model to the user; and

providing an indication to the user that a target attribute in the list of unmapped target attributes does not need to be mapped.