User driven business data aggregation and cross mapping framework

1. A method of aggregating business data, the method comprising the steps of:

a computer receiving, from a user, columns, attributes of the columns, and keys of a dataset of a database, the keys being unique identifiers of records in the dataset, and the dataset not being initially cross-linked to any dataset included in a central hub of a plurality of datasets, each dataset including data that is independently and locally maintained within an enterprise and that is initially not shareable to a population of users in the enterprise;

based on the received columns, attributes, and keys of the dataset, the computer registering the dataset so that the dataset is included in the central hub;

the computer loading initial data or updated data into the dataset in the central hub;

the computer determining and displaying other datasets included in the central hub that include columns, attributes, or keys that match the received columns, attributes, or keys, respectively;

the computer receiving from the user a selection of one or more of the displayed datasets;

in response to the step of receiving the selection, the computer automatically generating cross-links between the dataset and each of the one or more datasets selected from the displayed datasets, the cross-links based at least in part on the columns, attributes, or keys of the displayed datasets that match the received columns, attributes or keys, and the cross-links providing an aggregation of business data in the dataset and the one or more datasets, which causes the dataset and the one or more datasets to be shareable with the population of users in the enterprise;

the computer displaying the cross-links between the dataset and each of the one or more datasets, and in response, receiving from the user or another user a selection of one of the displayed cross-links;

the computer receiving from the user or the other user a modification of the cross-link whose selection was received;

the computer storing the modification of the cross-link in association with the cross-link; and

based on the modification of the cross-link being stored in association with the cross-link and in response to an interaction with the central hub by a second user, the computer displaying (1) the modification of the cross-link instead of the cross-link and (2) cross-link(s) other than the cross-link whose selection was received as a potential selection by the second user, the second user being different from the user.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of the computer receiving a selection of visibility of the dataset, which indicates that the dataset has (1) public visibility to all users of the central hub or (2) private visibility to a predetermined group of users that is a proper subset of all users of the central hub.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:

the computer determining the selected visibility of the dataset indicates the dataset has private visibility;

the computer determining the other user is attempting to access the dataset via the central hub;

the computer determining the other user is included in the predetermined group of users;

based on the other user being included in the predetermined group of users, the computer providing the other user with access to the dataset and to the cross-links between the dataset and each of the one or more datasets selected from the displayed datasets; and

responsive to a request by the other user, the computer generating an analysis of data in the dataset by utilizing the access of the other user to the dataset and to the cross-links.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of the computer receiving from the user a selection of foreign key(s) of the one or more datasets selected from the displayed datasets, wherein the step of automatically generating the cross-links is based in part on the received selection of the foreign key(s).

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of the computer receiving the modification of the cross-link includes receiving an additional record or a pruned record to modify the cross-link.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable program code in the computer, the program code being executed by a processor of the computer to implement the steps of receiving the columns, attributes, and keys, registering the dataset, loading the initial or updated data, determining and displaying the other datasets, receiving the selection, generating the cross-links, displaying the cross-links, receiving the selection of one of the displayed cross-links, receiving the modification of the cross-link, storing the modification of the cross-link, and displaying the modification of the cross-link and the cross-link(s) other than the cross-link whose selection was received as the potential selection by the second user.

7. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable storage device; and

a computer-readable program code stored in the computer-readable storage device, the computer-readable program code containing instructions that are executed by a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to implement a method of aggregating business data, the method comprising the steps of:

the computer system receiving from a user columns, attributes of the columns, and keys of a dataset of a database, the keys being unique identifiers of records in the dataset, and the dataset not being initially cross-linked to any dataset included in a central hub of a plurality of datasets, each dataset including data that is independently and locally maintained within an enterprise and that is initially not shareable to a population of users in the enterprise;

based on the received columns, attributes, and keys of the dataset, the computer system registering the dataset so that the dataset is included in the central hub;

the computer system loading initial data or updated data into the dataset in the central hub;

the computer system determining and displaying other datasets included in the central hub that include columns, attributes, or keys that match the received columns, attributes, or keys, respectively;

the computer system receiving from the user a selection of one or more of the displayed datasets;

in response to the step of receiving the selection, the computer system automatically generating cross-links between the dataset and each of the one or more datasets selected from the displayed datasets, the cross-links based at least in part on the columns, attributes, or keys of the displayed datasets that match the received columns, attributes or keys, and the cross-links providing an aggregation of business data in the dataset and the one or more datasets, which causes the dataset and the one or more datasets to be shareable with the population of users in the enterprise;

the computer system displaying the cross-links between the dataset and each of the one or more datasets, and in response, receiving from the user or another user a selection of one of the displayed cross-links;

the computer system receiving from the user or the other user a modification of the cross-link whose selection was received;

the computer system storing the modification of the cross-link in association with the cross-link; and

based on the modification of the cross-link being stored in association with the cross-link and in response to an interaction with the central hub by a second user, the computer system displaying (1) the modification of the cross-link instead of the cross-link and (2) cross-link(s) other than the cross-link whose selection was received as a potential selection by the second user, the second user being different from the user.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises the step of the computer system receiving a selection of visibility of the dataset, which indicates that the dataset has (1) public visibility to all users of the central hub or (2) private visibility to a predetermined group of users that is a proper subset of all users of the central hub.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

the computer system determining the selected visibility of the dataset indicates the dataset has private visibility;

the computer system determining the other user is attempting to access the dataset via the central hub;

the computer system determining the other user is included in the predetermined group of users;

based on the other user being included in the predetermined group of users, the computer system providing the other user with access to the dataset and to the cross-links between the dataset and each of the one or more datasets selected from the displayed datasets; and

responsive to a request by the other user, the computer system generating an analysis of data in the dataset by utilizing the access of the other user to the dataset and to the cross-links.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises the step of the computer system receiving from the user a selection of foreign key(s) of the one or more datasets selected from the displayed datasets, wherein the step of automatically generating the cross-links is based in part on the received selection of the foreign key(s).

11. The computer program product of claim 7 , wherein the step of the computer system receiving the modification of the cross-link includes receiving an additional record or a pruned record to modify the cross-link.

12. A computer system comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU);

a memory coupled to the CPU; and

a computer-readable storage device coupled to the CPU, the storage device containing instructions that are executed by the CPU via the memory to implement a method of aggregating business data, the method comprising the steps of:

the computer system receiving from a user columns, attributes of the columns, and keys of a dataset of a database, the keys being unique identifiers of records in the dataset, and the dataset not being initially cross-linked to any dataset included in a central hub of a plurality of datasets, each dataset including data that is independently and locally maintained within an enterprise and that is initially not shareable to a population of users in the enterprise;

based on the received columns, attributes, and keys of the dataset, the computer system registering the dataset so that the dataset is included in the central hub;

the computer system loading initial data or updated data into the dataset in the central hub;

the computer system determining and displaying other datasets included in the central hub that include columns, attributes, or keys that match the received columns, attributes, or keys, respectively;

the computer system receiving from the user a selection of one or more of the displayed datasets;

in response to the step of receiving the selection, the computer system automatically generating cross-links between the dataset and each of the one or more datasets selected from the displayed datasets, the cross-links based at least in part on the columns, attributes, or keys of the displayed datasets that match the received columns, attributes or keys, and the cross-links providing an aggregation of business data in the dataset and the one or more datasets, which causes the dataset and the one or more datasets to be shareable with the population of users in the enterprise;

the computer system displaying the cross-links between the dataset and each of the one or more datasets, and in response, receiving from the user or another user a selection of one of the displayed cross-links;

the computer system receiving from the user or the other user a modification of the cross-link whose selection was received;

the computer system storing the modification of the cross-link in association with the cross-link; and

based on the modification of the cross-link being stored in association with the cross-link and in response to an interaction with the central hub by a second user, the computer system displaying (1) the modification of the cross-link instead of the cross-link and (2) cross-link(s) other than the cross-link whose selection was received as a potential selection by the second user, the second user being different from the user.

13. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises the step of the computer system receiving a selection of visibility of the dataset, which indicates that the dataset has (1) public visibility to all users of the central hub or (2) private visibility to a predetermined group of users that is a proper subset of all users of the central hub.

14. The computer system of claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

the computer system determining the selected visibility of the dataset indicates the dataset has private visibility;

the computer system determining the other user is attempting to access the dataset via the central hub;

the computer system determining the other user is included in the predetermined group of users;

based on the other user being included in the predetermined group of users, the computer system providing the other user with access to the dataset and to the cross-links between the dataset and each of the one or more datasets selected from the displayed datasets; and

responsive to a request by the other user, the computer system generating an analysis of data in the dataset by utilizing the access of the other user to the dataset and to the cross-links.

15. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises the step of the computer system receiving from the user a selection of foreign key(s) of the one or more datasets selected from the displayed datasets, wherein the step of automatically generating the cross-links is based in part on the received selection of the foreign key(s).

16. The computer system of claim 12 , wherein the step of the computer system receiving the modification of the cross-link includes receiving an additional record or a pruned record to modify the cross-link.