The Management Of Metadata In OLAM (On Line Analytical Mining Processing)

Modern data warehouse environments integrate a large number of databases, file systems, tools and applications that are typically based on different data models and structural description formats. As the important technologies of Decision Support, OLAP and data mining which own their advantages and shortcomings individually while completing decision analytical tasks, but due to the reciprocity of their characteristics and functions, can cooperate and collaborate to finish the decisionanalytical processing. But in engineering environment, there exists some factors thatcumber the seamless integration of OLAP (On Line Analytical Processing, OLAP)and data mining, such as the differences of the technology backgrounds, the developing histories, the data basics, the analytical hierarchies, the customer groups. In order to lessen or discard these differences, J.W.Han brought forward the concept of OLAM, namely OLAP Mining, in 1997. Dr. Cao Jiguang extends the concept of OLAM and richens the meaning of OLAM (On Line Analytical Mining). OLAM is an approach that integrates data mining, data warehousing and OLAP technologies. Metadata is the core of the OLAM system, so a centralized and declarative management of metadata is essential for data warehouse administration, maintenance and usage.This paper analyzes the concept, function of metadata and about its management, especially on the issues of strategy, standardization. Based on the model of CWM, the whole structure and systemic frame about metadata in OLAM system are put forward. Furthermore, the design principle of metadata management system and the construction of metadata repository are introduced separately.