Set definition language for relational data
First Claim
1. In a computer system, a method of defining sets of data to be retrieved from a data store, comprising the steps of:
- providing a written representation of a desired data set in terms of dimensions and relation instances, the desired data set having a certain set type;
implying constraints on relation instances or dimensions based on the set type of the desired data set and dimension expressions, and using the written representation to query the data store and retrieve the desired data set, including enforcing expressions that have predicates on multiple attributes per conjunct in a non-ambiguous way using automatic record-locking such that the predicates on attributes from a same relation are automatically enforced on a same record.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the usage pattern, commonly found in many software applications, of defining sets of objects based on object attributes. A specifically designed set definition language for defining sets, called SDL, is described and a software system that implements this language efficiently on top of a standard relational database management system (RDBMS) is presented. The unique features of the SDL language are the implicit constraints that are enforced on the relational data that belong to the objects. Unique to the SDL system is also the logical metadata of dimensions that enables the SDL system to enforce these constraints across relations. The SDL system utilizes several optimization techniques to enable efficient implementation on top of RDBMS. It is also shown how the SDL language and the SQL language can be merged with bidirectional inlining using syntactic gates. Query composition tools are also described that facilitate the creation of SDL expressions.
131 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a computer system, a method of defining sets of data to be retrieved from a data store, comprising the steps of:
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providing a written representation of a desired data set in terms of dimensions and relation instances, the desired data set having a certain set type;
implying constraints on relation instances or dimensions based on the set type of the desired data set and dimension expressions, and using the written representation to query the data store and retrieve the desired data set, including enforcing expressions that have predicates on multiple attributes per conjunct in a non-ambiguous way using automatic record-locking such that the predicates on attributes from a same relation are automatically enforced on a same record. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a computer system, apparatus for defining sets of data to be retrieved from a data store, comprising:
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an input component for providing a written representation of a desired data set in terms of dimensions and relation instances, the desired data set having a certain set type; and
an assembly coupled to receive the written representation, in response the assembly implying constraints on relation instances or dimensions by one of the set type of the desired data set and dimension expressions, and wherein the written representation has an expression with predicates on multiple attributes per relation, the assembly enforces the expression using automatic record-locking such that the predicates on attributes from a same relation are automatically enforced on a same record. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification