Peer-to peer record structure and query language for searching and discovery thereof

• US 20040148287A1
• Filed: 01/27/2003
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Senkeresty, Scott A., Manion, Todd R., Donner, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,139,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/10
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1834 implemented based on peer-to-peer networks, e.g. gnutella p2p communication protocols H04L67/104
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A simple record query language (SRQL) is a generic record meta-data query solution that can natively describe the information contained in a record and search each against it to find records whose meta-data matches a particular set of criteria. SRQL includes both a record data structure that includes searchable SRQL attributes that describe the record, and queries that are able to search the attributes. The attributes are an XML node that exists in the record header itself. There are two types of queries, to wit local to find records in the local data store, and distributed to find records that may be stored in a neighbor'"'"'s data store. As such, SRQL finds particular applicability to peer-to-peer networks.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a peer-to-peer record data structure, comprising:

a first data field containing data representing peer-to-peer record header information;

a second data field containing data representing peer-to-peer record attribute information; and

a third data field containing data representing peer-to-peer record data.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the data representing peer-to-peer record attribute information comprises an XML node.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the data representing peer-to-peer record attribute information comprises at least one record attribute having a name, type, and value set.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the type is selected from the group consisting of string, integer, and date.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the data representing peer-to-peer record attribute information is NULL.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the data representing peer-to-peer record attribute information comprises N record attributes, each N attribute having a name, type, and value set, wherein N is an integer equal or greater than 0.

7. A method of communicating between an application program and a server process to search a peer-to-peer data store, comprising the steps of:

receiving from the application program a peer graph search call having a plurality of call parameters;

parsing the peer graph search call to retrieve the parameters; and

returning to the application program a value indicative of the success/failure of the group management call.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of receiving from the application program the peer graph search call having a plurality of call parameters comprises the step of receiving from the application program the peer graph search call having a plurality of call parameters including a handle to a peer graph associated with the peer graph search call, search criteria, and a handle to a record enumerator used to iterate over each record returned.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the search criteria comprises an XML string representing the search criteria.

10. A method of sharing records in a peer-to-peer infrastructure, comprising the steps of:

storing in a data store a record data structure having a first data field containing data representing peer-to-peer record header information, a second data field containing data representing peer-to-peer record attribute information, and a third data field containing record data;

receiving a query specifying record search criteria;

searching the peer-to-peer record attribute information based on the record search criteria; and

sending a record found notification when a record data structure having peer-to-peer record attribute information matching the search criteria is found in the step of searching.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of searching comprises the steps of calling a search application programming interface (API), and passing the record search criteria to the search API.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of receiving a query specifying record search criteria comprises the step of receiving a query specifying record search criteria as an XML string query.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the XML string query includes a strict matching query that allows searching on one particular peer-to-peer record attribute.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the XML string query includes a grouping of clauses via a logical operator that allows searching on a logical grouping of particular peer-to-peer record attributes.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the XML string query includes a grouping of clauses via a comparative operator that allows searching on a comparative grouping of particular peer-to-peer record attributes.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the XML string query includes at least one wildcard that allows non-exclusive searching on peer-to-peer record attributes.

17. A method of searching for records in a peer-to-peer infrastructure, comprising the steps of:

constructing a query specifying record search criteria to be compared to a record data structure having a first data field containing data representing peer-to-peer record header information, a second data field containing data representing peer-to-peer record attribute information, and a third data field containing record data;

sending the query to at least one neighbor peer;

receiving a new record notification from the neighbor peer when a record data structure having peer-to-peer record attribute information matching the search criteria is found by the neighbor peer.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of constructing a query specifying record search criteria comprises the step of constructing a query specifying record search criteria as an XML string query.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the XML string query includes a strict matching query that requires searching on one particular peer-to-peer record attribute.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the XML string query includes a grouping of clauses via a logical operator that requires searching on a logical grouping of particular peer-to-peer record attributes.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the XML string query includes a grouping of clauses via a comparative operator that requires searching on a comparative grouping of particular peer-to-peer record attributes.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the XML string query includes at least on wildcard that requires non-exclusive searching on peer-to-peer record attributes.