Methods and apparatus for constructing and implementing a universal extension module for processing objects in a database
First Claim
1. A method of extending a functionality of an object-relational database engine, wherein one or more domain-specific extension modules are provided for use in association with the object-relational database engine, the one or more domain-specific extension modules providing one or more mechanisms for enabling the object-relational database engine to handle domain-specific data types, the method comprising the step of:
- operationally interposing at least one universal extension module between the object-relational database engine and at least one of the one or more domain-specific extension modules, the at least one universal extension module substantially facilitating one or more operations associated with the object-relational database engine and the at least one domain-specific extension module, and the at least one universal extension module substantially facilitating a subsequent addition of at least another domain-specific extension module.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing a multi-tier object-relational database architecture are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a multi-tier database architecture comprises an object-relational database engine as a top tier, one or more domain-specific extension modules as a bottom tier, and one or more universal extension modules as a middle tier. The individual extension modules of the bottom tier operationally connect with the one or more universal extension modules which, themselves, operationally connect with the database engine. The domain-specific extension modules preferably provide such functions as search, index, and retrieval services of images, video, audio, time series, web pages, text, XML, spatial data, etc. The domain-specific extension modules may include one or more IBM DB2 extenders, Oracle data cartridges and/or Informix datablades, although other domain-specific extension modules may be used.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of extending a functionality of an object-relational database engine, wherein one or more domain-specific extension modules are provided for use in association with the object-relational database engine, the one or more domain-specific extension modules providing one or more mechanisms for enabling the object-relational database engine to handle domain-specific data types, the method comprising the step of:
operationally interposing at least one universal extension module between the object-relational database engine and at least one of the one or more domain-specific extension modules, the at least one universal extension module substantially facilitating one or more operations associated with the object-relational database engine and the at least one domain-specific extension module, and the at least one universal extension module substantially facilitating a subsequent addition of at least another domain-specific extension module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27, 28)
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12. An object-relational database system having a multi-tier structure, the system comprising:
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an object-relational database engine serving as one tier of the structure;
one or more domain-specific extension modules, serving as another tier of the structure, for use in association with the object-relational database engine, the one or more domain-specific extension modules providing one or more mechanisms for enabling the object-relational database engine to handle domain-specific data types; and
at least one universal extension module, serving as yet another tier of the structure, operationally interposed between the object-relational database engine and at least one of the one or more domain-specific extension modules, the at least one universal extension module substantially facilitating one or more operations associated with the object-relational database engine and the at least one domain-specific extension module, and the at least one universal extension module substantially facilitating a subsequent addition of at least another domain-specific extension module.
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26. An article of manufacture for use in accordance with a database system, wherein the database system includes an object-relational database engine and one or more domain-specific extension modules for use in association with the object-relational database engine, the one or more domain-specific extension modules providing one or more mechanisms for enabling the database engine to handle domain-specific data types, the article comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the step of:
operationally interposing at least one universal extension module between the object-relational database engine and at least one of the one or more domain-specific extension modules, so as to substantially facilitate one or more operations associated with the object-relational database engine and the at least one domain-specific extension module, and so as to substantially facilitate a subsequent addition of at least another domain-specific extension module.
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29. In a client/server-based object-relational database system, wherein a client computer submits a query to at least one server computer with which the object-relational database system is associated, the at least one server computer processing the query in accordance with a multi-tier structure comprising:
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an object-relational database engine;
one or more domain-specific extension modules for use in association with the object-relational database engine, the one or more domain-specific extension modules providing one or more mechanisms for enabling the object-relational database engine to handle domain-specific data types; and
at least one universal extension module operationally interposed between the object-relational database engine and at least one of the one or more domain-specific extension modules, the at least one universal extension module substantially facilitating one or more operations associated with the object-relational database engine and the at least one domain-specific extension module, and the at least one universal extension module substantially facilitating a subsequent addition of at least another domain-specific extension module.
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Specification