A method and system for correlating input data that includes configuration data. The configuration data describes at least one hierarchy including a first hierarchy. Each hierarchy includes at least two nodes. Each node includes a value and is designated as an ontology and point consisting of a unique positive integer. For each hierarchy, a unique relationship number RN is stored in a medium for each pair of parent-child nodes of each hierarchy. RN is a function of X and Y which respectively denote the ontology end point of the parent and child node of each pair of parent-child nodes. Responsive to a query that identifies a measure of correlation between the first hierarchy and other information, the measure of correlation is computed by retrieving and utilizing each stored relationship number of the first hierarchy. Information relating to the measure of correlation is outputted.