Patent ID: 8359297

Claim:
A method of managing data received from a plurality of sources, the method comprising: obtaining a multi-dimensional set of data from each of the plurality of sources, each multi-dimensional set of data including a common data element; and generating a main multi-dimensional set of data based on a combination of the sets of data, the generating including: obtaining a data value for the data element from each of the sets of data obtained from the plurality of sources; determining whether a conflict exists between the obtained data values; using a conflict rule to determine a main data value for the data element in the main multi-dimensional set of data when the conflict exists; storing a derivation record for the main data value for the data element in the main multi-dimensional set of data, the derivation record including: the main data value, the data value received from each of the plurality of sources, and the conflict rule; obtaining the stored derivation record; modifying the conflict rule, which is stored in the derivation record; and determining a new main data value using the modified conflict rule.