XML storage solution and data interchange file format structure

• US 20040205585A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: McConnell, Christopher Clayton
• Granted Patent: US 6,996,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/513
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/123 Storage facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

A relational database management system having an XML storage implementation to reduce overhead associated with consuming data from multiple data providers, where each having proprietary database schemas. The XML storage solution allows data from any arbitrary relational database schema to be loaded, rearranged and retrieved. The system is adapted to receive and managing data from external content providers by exposing a predetermined provider content file formats These formats use XPath as a schema reference, as a definition of legal combinations, and as a pattern to match other XPaths.

Claims

1. In a database management system having an XML exchange mechanism defined by an XML schema, a method of receiving data from external content providers, comprising:

defining an XML provider content file format in accordance with said XML schema;

providing said XML provider content file format to said external content providers;

receiving a provider file from said external content providers that includes locations of a plurality of XML instance documents, each having a structure in accordance with said XML provider content file format; and

importing content from said plurality of XML instance documents into said database management system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of XML instance documents comprise an extension file, an instance file, and a phrase file.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said extension file includes data related to said external content provider'"'"'s schema.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said extension file includes a classification hierarchy of said external content provider'"'"'s schema.

5. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said instance file includes information from said external content provider'"'"'s schema that is queryable by users of said database management system.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said phrase file includes definitions of connections from phrases to said external content provider'"'"'s schema.

7. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said phrase file includes definitions of a collection of instances.

8. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said phrase file indudes annotations of elements within an instance.

9. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said phrase file includes mappings of nodes to phrases.

10. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said phrase file includes definitions of legal combinations of content.

11. An XML data exchange system, comprising:

a relational database system;

a predetermined XML provider file structure defined by an XML schema;

an exchange mechanism that references at least one provider file; and

an import module that retrieves said at least one provider file and imports content contained therein into said relational database system.

12. The system as recited in claim 11, wherein said at least one provider file comprises one of an extension file, an instance file, and a phrase file.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said extension file includes data related to said external content provider'"'"'s schema.

14. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said instance file includes information from said external content provider'"'"'s schema that is queryable by users of said relational database system.

15. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said phrase file includes definitions of connections from phrases to said external content provider'"'"'s schema.

16. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said phrase file includes definitions of a collection of instances.

17. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said phrase file includes mappings of nodes to phrases.

18. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said phrase file includes definitions of legal combinations of content.

19. In a relational database management system for providing content and services to users via a network infrastructure, a method of populating said system in accordance with an XML schema defining a structure of XML documents used to receive content from sources of said content and services, comprising:

receiving a provider file having references to a location of said content;

retrieving at least one content file from said location;

importing said content files into said relational database management system; and

providing said content to users via a queryable interface.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said at least one content file comprises one of an extension file, an instance file, and a phrase file.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said extension file includes data related to said external content provider'"'"'s schema.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said instance file includes information from said external content provider'"'"'s schema that is queryable by users of said relational database system.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said phrase file includes definitions of connections from phrases to said external content provider'"'"'s schema.

24. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said phrase file includes definitions of a collection of instances.

25. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said phrase file includes mappings of nodes to phrases.

26. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said phrase file includes definitions of legal combinations of content.