Invocation of web services from a database

• US 20030093436A1
• Filed: 09/28/2001
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wolfson, Charles Daniel, Reinwald, Berthold, Schwarz, Peter M., Kleewein, James C., Brown, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24553 of query operations

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, system and program product for integrating a service external to a database into a database such that the service may be easily invoked from the database. Preferably, the service is a web service available over the internet The service may be invoked from any of a number of invoking mechanisms of the database. In a first specific embodiment, the mechanism comprises a user-defined function within an SQL statement. In a second specific embodiment, the mechanism comprises a virtual table. In a third specific embodiment, the mechanism comprises a stored procedure. In a fourth specific embodiment, the mechanism comprises a trigger. In a fifth specific embodiment, the mechanism comprises a federated table accessed via a nickname and implemented using a wrapper.

Claims

1. A method for integrating a service external to the database into the database, comprising the step of:

Invoking the a service with an invoking mechanism of the database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service further comprises a web service.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanism further comprises a virtual table.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanism further comprises a user-defined function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanism further comprises a stored procedure.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanism further comprises a trigger function.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanism further comprises a federated wrapper created around the web service.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of invoking the service using a query language.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the database further comprises a relational database.

10. A method for invoking an external service from a database, comprising the step of:

Invoking the service from a database query.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the query further comprises SQL.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the service further comprises a web service.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the query further comprises a virtual table representing the service.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the query further comprises a user-defined function for invoking the service.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the query is in a stored procedure.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the query is in a trigger function.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the database further comprises a relational database.

18. A program product containing instructions executable by a computer, the instructions embodying a method for integrating a service external to the database into the database, comprising the step of:

Invoking a service external to a database with an invoking mechanism of the database.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the service further comprises a web service.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the mechanism further comprises a virtual table.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the mechanism further comprises a user-defined function.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the mechanism further comprises a stored procedure.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the mechanism further comprises a trigger function.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the mechanism further comprises a federated wrapper created around the web service.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of invoking the service using a query language.

26. The method of claim 18, wherein the database further comprises a relational database.

27. A program product containing instructions executable by a computer, the instructions embodying a method for invoking an external service from a database, comprising the step of:

Invoking the service from a database query.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the query further comprises SQL.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the service further comprises a web service.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the query further comprises a virtual table representing the service.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the query further comprises a user-defined function for invoking the service.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the query is in a stored procedure.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the query is in a trigger function.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the database further comprises a relational database.

35. A system for integrating a web service into a database, comprising:

a database; and

an invoking mechanism for invoking a service external to the database.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the service further comprises a web service.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein the mechanism further comprises a virtual table.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein the mechanism further comprises a user-defined function.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein the mechanism further comprises a stored procedure.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein the mechanism further comprises a trigger function.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein the mechanism further comprises a federated wrapper created around the web service.

42. The system of claim 35, further comprising the step of invoking the service using a query language.

43. The system of claim 35, wherein the database further comprises a relational database.

44. A system for invoking an external service from a database, comprising the step of:

Invoking the service from a database query.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the query further comprises SQL.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the service further comprises a web service.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the query further comprises a virtual table representing the service.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein the query further comprises a user-defined function for invoking the service.

49. The system of claim 44, wherein the query is in a stored procedure.

50. The system of claim 44, wherein the query is in a trigger function.

51. The system of claim 44, wherein the database further comprises a relational database.