Patent ID: 8452804

Claim:
A database management system comprising: a relational data store configured to store fact data; a non-relational data store configured to store aggregated fact data; a communication interface operably connected between the relational data store and the non-relational data store for the communication of fact data from the relational data store to the non-relational data store and for the communication of aggregated fact data from the non-relational data store to the relational data store; and a computer system comprising computer hardware, the computer system programmed to implement: a query servicing mechanism configured to service one or more natural language queries from a user, the query servicing mechanism comprising: a query processing mechanism configured to process a given natural language query using operations to: determine whether servicing the given natural language query needs data stored in the relational data store or in the non-relational data store; upon determining that servicing the given natural language query needs data stored in the relational data store, automatically route the given natural language query to the relational data store, so that data is accessed from the relational data store and forwarded to the query processing mechanism for use in servicing the given natural language query, in a manner transparent to the user; and wherein upon determining that servicing the given natural language query needs data stored in the non-relational data store, automatically route the given natural language query to the non-relational data store, so that data can be accessed and forwarded to the query processing mechanism for use in servicing the given natural language query, in a manner transparent to the user.