Version-enabled, multi-typed, multi-targeting referential integrity relational database system and methodology

• US 20030200219A1
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Published: 10/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, James J., Choy, David M., Liang, Lily L., Wang, Andy I-Shin
• Granted Patent: US 6,947,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A relational database is disclosed which includes a number of target tables each exhibiting a different type, such as a general contact table, a personal contact table and a department contact table. The relational database includes a super-column which is divided into a number of columns corresponding to the number of types of target tables. A respective column is allocated in the super-column for each of the types of the target tables. Valuable system memory space is consequently conserved. Multiple-typed tables and multi-targeted tables are supported, and multi-version data storage capabilities are provided.

Claims

1. A database system comprising:

a plurality of first target tables exhibiting different table types; and

a source table including a plurality of records, each record having a common super-column including a plurality of sub-columns, at least one of the sub-columns of a particular record referencing one of the table types of the plurality of first target tables.

2. The database system of claim 1 wherein one of the sub-columns of the super-column is a target table name sub-column.

3. The database system of claim 1 wherein one of the sub-columns of the super-column is a target row ID sub-column.

4. The database system of claim 1 wherein one of the sub-columns of the super-column is a referential integrity row ID.

5. The database system of claim 1 wherein one of the sub-columns of the super-column is a target version number.

6. A database system comprising:

a plurality of first target tables exhibiting different table types;

a plurality of second target tables exhibiting different table types; and

a linking source table including a plurality of records, each record having first and second super-columns, each super column including a plurality of sub-columns, at least one of the sub-columns of a record'"'"'s first super-column referencing one of the table types of the plurality of first target tables, at least one of the sub-columns of a record'"'"'s second super-column referencing one of the table types of the plurality of second target tables.

7. The database system of claim 6 wherein the first and second super-columns include respective first and second target table name sub-columns.

8. The database system of claim 6 wherein the first and second super-columns include respective first and second target row ID sub-columns.

9. The database system of claim 6 wherein the first and second super-columns include respective first and second referential integrity row ID sub-columns.

10. The database system of claim 6 wherein the first and second super-columns include respective first and second a target version number sub-columns.

11. A method of configuring a database system comprising:

providing a plurality of first target tables exhibiting different table types;

and

providing a source table including a plurality of records, each record having a common super-column including a plurality of sub-columns, at least one of the sub-columns of a particular record referencing one of the table types of the plurality of first target tables.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein one of the sub-columns of the super-column is a target table name sub-column.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein one of the sub-columns of the super-column is a target row ID sub-column.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein one of the sub-columns of the super-column is a referential integrity row ID.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein one of the sub-columns of the super-column is a target version number.

16. A method of configuring a database system comprising:

providing a plurality of first target tables exhibiting different table types;

providing a plurality of second target tables exhibiting different table types; and

providing a linking source table including a plurality of records, each record having first and second super-columns, each super column including a plurality of sub-columns, at least one of the sub-columns of a record'"'"'s first super-column referencing one of the table types of the plurality of first target tables, at least one of the sub-columns of a record'"'"'s second super-column referencing one of the table types of the plurality of second target tables.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second super-columns include respective first and second target table name sub-columns.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second super-columns include respective first and second target row ID sub-columns.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second super-columns include respective first and second referential integrity row ID sub-columns.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the first and second super-columns include respective first and second a target version number sub-columns.

21. A computer program product for organizing information in a content management system, the computer program product including a plurality of computer executable instructions stored on a computer readable medium, wherein the instructions, when executed by the content management system, cause the system to perform the steps of:

providing a plurality of first target tables exhibiting different table types; and

providing a source table including a plurality of records, each record having a common super-column including a plurality of sub-columns, at least one of the sub-columns of a particular record referencing one of the table types of the plurality of first target tables.

22. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the computer readable medium is an optical disk.

23. The computer program product of claim 21 wherein the computer readable medium is a magnetic disk.