System, method, and computer program products for modeling complex hierarchical metadata with multi-generational terms

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product is provided for modeling business terms based on attributes and characteristics of a data source. The method includes determining principal terms representing at least one first attribute of a payment processing system, generating a plurality of complex terms including a principal term and representing at least one second attribute of a payment processing system, generating a logical model of principal terms and complex terms, and comprising relations between multiple generations of complex terms arranged in a hierarchical data structure, linking the logical model by mapping each physical data field of a plurality of physical data fields to at least one of a principal term and a complex term in the logical model as metadata, and automatically generating an interactive data dictionary for the payment processing system based on each physical data field and corresponding attributes for metadata of physical data fields.