Conceptual Multidimensional Data Model Based on MetaCube

In this paper, we propose a conceptual multidimensional data model that facilitates a precise rigorous conceptualization for OLAP. First, our approach has strong relation with mathematics by applying a new defined concept, i.e. H-set. Afterwards, the mathematic soundness provides a foundation to handle natural hierarchical relationships among data elements within dimensions with many levels of complexity in their structures. Hereafter, the multidimensional data model organizes data in the form of metacubes, the concept of which is a generalization of other cube models. In addition, a metacube is associated with a set of groups each of which contains a subset of the metacube domain, which is a H-set of data cells. Furthermore, metacube operators (e.g. jumping, rollingUp and drillingDown) are defined in a very elegant manner.