Expressing OLAP operators with the TAX XML algebra

TL;DR

This paper introduces a formal framework using the TAX XML algebra to express a wide range of OLAP operators for XML data warehouses, enabling more effective analytical queries over XML data.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach to formalize OLAP operators within the TAX XML algebra, expanding beyond existing relational-based models.

Findings

Expressed a broad set of OLAP operators using TAX XML algebra

Facilitates formal analysis and optimization of XOLAP queries

Enhances support for XML data warehouses in decision-support applications

Abstract

With the rise of XML as a standard for representing business data, XML data warehouses appear as suitable solutions for Web-based decision-support applications. In this context, it is necessary to allow OLAP analyses over XML data cubes (XOLAP). Thus, XQuery extensions are needed. To help define a formal framework and allow much-needed performance optimizations on analytical queries expressed in XQuery, having an algebra at one's disposal is desirable. However, XOLAP approaches and algebras from the literature still largely rely on the relational model and/or only feature a small number of OLAP operators. In opposition, we propose in this paper to express a broad set of OLAP operators with the TAX XML algebra.