Patent ID: 8041712

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of prioritizing a predefined set of electronic data sources, the method comprising the steps of: providing a database containing metadata related to the predefined set of electronic data sources, the metadata comprising, for each electronic data source, one or more source fields, each source field comprising a source data item or a source dimension; electronically receiving first signals at a processor, the first signals related to a query for a data value; electronically identifying a query data item and one or more query dimensions based on the query; electronically determining the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item; electronically and dynamically ranking the data sources in which at least one of the one or more source fields is the same as the query data item based on at least an ability of the data sources to provide data at the one or more query dimensions and an extent of aggregation necessary to provide the data; electronically identifying one or more of the data sources having the highest rank as preferred data sources for locating the data value; wherein the metadata further comprises information regarding whether a relationship exists between one or more of the source dimensions of the data sources and the one or more query dimensions; wherein, if it is determined that a relationship exists between the source dimensions and the one or more query dimensions, the metadata further comprises information regarding whether the relationship is a direct feed relationship or an indirect feed relationship; wherein the ability of the data source to provide data corresponding to the one or more query dimensions is determined based on whether the data source includes one or more source dimensions that are related to the one or more query dimensions; and wherein, if the data source includes one or more source dimensions that are in a direct feed relationship to the one or more query dimensions, the data source is ranked higher than the data sources that include one or more source dimensions that are in an indirect feed relationship with the one or more query dimensions.