A framework for object-oriented on-line analytic processing

Although data warehouses are viewed as organized, summarized repositories of time-oriented data conceptually, the physical implementation determines the speed, efficiency, scalability, and extensibility of this view. Two major physical implementations exist today: data warehouses built upon relational database management systems (ROLAP) and warehouses built upon proprietary multi-dimensional databases (MOLAP). Both ROLAP and MOLAP have their own advantages and disadvantages due to their physical implementation. This paper presents another physical implementation using an object-oriented database or persistent objects— Object Oriented On-line Analytic Processing (O3LAP)— as a possible alternative, compares the O3LAP model with the current models, suggests possible extensions to the current OLAP models, defines the elements involved in the mapping of a logical model to the physical one, illustrates queries based on the O3LAP model, and discusses areas for future research.