Utility for cross platform database query

• US 20020103790A1
• Filed: 01/30/2001
• Published: 08/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hansen, Lynda Arnold, Shi, San-Ju Lin, Wang, Shirley S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,643,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2477 Temporal data queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

The present invention provides a utility for cross platform database query. In a preferred embodiment, the utility resides at an object server in a data system. The utility obtains a set of data items from a library server in the data system; places the set of data items from the library server in a temporary table at the object server; obtains each data item from the temporary table and the base object table; and converts each data item from the temporary table and the base object table, if a conversion is required, such that each data item from the temporary table and the base object table may be compared. Because the utility, the temporary table, and the base object table all reside at the same server, the utility knows whether or not to convert the data items so that a conflict free comparison is performed. In this manner, the utility need not actually know what platform is used by the library server, yet, data at the library server and the object server can be properly compared.

Claims

1. A method for cross platform database query in a data system, the data system including a library server and an object server, the object server including a base object table containing data items, comprising the steps of:

(a) obtaining a set of data items from the library server;

(b) placing the set of data items from the library server in a temporary table at the object server;

(c) obtaining each data item from the temporary table and the base object table; and

(d) converting each data item from the temporary table and the base object table, if a conversion is required, such that each data item from the temporary table and the base object table may be compared.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining step (a) comprises:

(a1) sending a Structured Query Language (SQL) query to the library server; and

(a2) receiving the set of data item from the library server in response to the SQL query.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting step (d) comprises:

(d1) determining if the object server is using a platform compatible with the standard; and

(d2) converting each data item from the temporary table and the base object table, such that each data from the temporary table and the base object table are sorted in the manner compatible with the standard.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

(e) comparing each data item from the temporary table and the base object table.

5. A computer readable medium with program instructions for cross platform database query in a data system, the data system including a library server and an object server, the object server including a base object table containing data items, the instructions for:

(a) obtaining a set of data items from the library server;

(b) placing the set of data items from the library server in a temporary table at the object server;

(c) obtaining each data item from the temporary table and the base object table; and

(d) converting each data item from the temporary table and the base object table, if a conversion is required, such that each data item from the temporary table and the base object table may be compared.

6. The medium of claim 5, wherein the obtaining instruction (a) comprises instructions for:

(a1) sending a SQL query to the library server; and

(a2) receiving the set of data items from the library server in response to the SQL query.

7. The medium of claim 5, wherein the converting instruction (d) comprises instructions for:

(d1) determining if the object server is using a platform compatible with the standard; and

(d2) converting each data item from the temporary table and the base object table, such that each data item from the temporary table and the base object table are sorted in the manner compatible with the standard.

8. The medium of claim 5, further comprising instructions for:

(e) comparing each data item from the temporary table and the base object table.

9. A system, comprising:

a library server; and

an object server, wherein the object server comprises a utility for cross platform database query, a temporary table, and a base object table.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the utility:

(a) obtains a set of data items from the library server;

(b) places the set of data items from the library server in the temporary table at the object server;

(c) obtains each data item from the temporary table and the base object table; and

(d) converting each data item from the temporary table and the base object table, if a conversion is required, such that each data item from the temporary table and the base object table may be compared.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the utility:

(a) obtaining a set of data items from the library server;

(b) placing the set of data items from the library server in the temporary table at the object server;

(c) obtaining each data item from the temporary table and the base object table;

(d) determining if the object server is using a platform compatible with a standard;

(e) converting each data item from the temporary table and the base object table, such that each data item from the temporary table and the base object table are sorted in a manner compatible with the standard; and

(f) comparing each data item from the temporary table and the base object table.