Patent ID: 8713036

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: providing a data abstraction layer comprising a set of logical fields used to compose an abstract query, each logical field providing an access method specifying how to access a respective physical data source, wherein the physical data source specified for at least one access method comprises an abstract derived entity specifying to aggregate physical data in one or more physical databases, the abstract derived entity comprising a data object stored in the data abstraction layer and that is referenced by other data objects in the data abstraction layer as though the abstract derived entity is a relational table stored in the one or more physical databases, wherein the at least one logical field is defined based on a markup language and via a field entry having an access method entry and at least one of a field name entry, a queryable entry, and a displayable entry; receiving, from a requesting entity, an abstract query specifying at least one logical field that provides an access method referencing the abstract derived entity, and not specifying any physical fields of the one or more physical databases, wherein a definition is retrieved for the abstract derived entity referenced by the at least one logical field; and generating, by operation of one or more computer processors and when the abstract query is converted to a concrete query, a derived table sub-query that queries a derived relational table defined by the abstract derived entity and stored in the one or more physical databases and not in the abstraction layer, wherein the derived relational table is generated by aggregating values stored in a column of a first database table, joining the aggregated values with non-aggregated values stored in a column of a second database table, and filtering based on a parametric condition that facilitates the abstract derived entity serving as a template for a set of distinct abstract derived entities, each corresponding to a distinct value of the parametric condition, wherein the columns of the first and second database tables are identified in the abstract derived entity, wherein the concrete query specifies to join the derived relational table with at least one non-derived relational table in the one or more physical databases and does not specify any logical fields of the data abstraction layer, whereby the data abstraction layer supports aggregating physical data without requiring any view aggregating the physical data to be created or maintained in the one or more physical databases.