Extension of XQuery in a high performance XML/XQuery database

• US 20060036578A1
• Filed: 08/10/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Cheslow, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,159 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/835 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A system for extension of XQuery in a binary object XML repository includes XQuery interpreter capabilities for implementing the XQuery language in the binary object XML repository. A function dispatcher module implements an XQuery call mechanism, with the function being defined by the name of the function, the number of arguments taken by the function, and the datatypes of the arguments. A plug-in function library manager implements the client side of the binary object XML repository plug-in function application program interface, and a dynamically-linked plug-in function library module for implements the server side of the binary object XML repository plug-in function application program interface.

Claims

1. A system for extension of XQuery in a binary object XML repository, comprising:

at least one XQuery interpreter module for implementing the XQuery language in the binary object XML repository;

at least one function dispatcher module for implementing an XQuery function call mechanism, wherein a function is defined by the name of said function, the number of arguments taken by said function, and the datatypes of said arguments;

at least one plug-in function library manager for implementing the client side of the binary object XML repository plug-in function application program interface; and

at least one dynamically-linked plug-in function library module for implementing the server side of the binary object XML repository plug-in function application program interface.

2. The system for extension of XQuery in a binary object XML repository according to claim 1, wherein implementing the XQuery language comprises includes accepting queries and returning results in XQuery.

3. The system for extension of XQuery in a binary object XML repository according to claim 1, wherein implementing an XQuery function call mechanism comprises evaluating said arguments and searching for the code associated with the body of said function.

4. The system for extension of XQuery in a binary object XML repository according to claim 3, wherein searching for the code associated with the body of said function comprises checking a table to determine whether said function is a built-in function or a user-defined function, wherein said built-in function is specified as part of the XQuery language specification.

5. The system for extension of XQuery in a binary object XML repository according to claim 1, wherein implementing the client side of the binary object XML repository plug-in function application program interface comprises interrogating said at least one dynamically-linked plug-in library module to locate a library for implementing said function.

6. The system for extension of XQuery in a binary object XML repository according to claim 1, wherein implementing the client side of the binary object XML repository plug-in function application program interface comprises installing said at least one dynamically-linked plug-in library module.

7. The system for extension of XQuery in a binary object XML repository according to claim 1, wherein implementing the server side of the binary object XML repository plug-in function application program interface further comprises executing code corresponding to said function.

8. The system for extension of XQuery in a binary object XML repository according to claim 1, wherein implementing the server side of the binary object XML repository plug-in function application program interface further comprises reporting results of said executed code to said at least one plug-in function library manager.

9. A method for extension of XQuery for a binary object XML repository having an XQuery interpreter module, a function dispatcher module, a plug-in function library manager, and at least one plug-in function library module comprises:

implementing the XQuery language in the binary object XML repository;

preparing to execute a function, wherein a function is defined by the name of said function, the number of arguments taken by said function, and the datatypes of said arguments;

determining whether said function is a built-in or user-defined XQuery function, wherein said built-in function is specified as part of the XQuery language;

executing the computer code for said function if said function is a built-in or user-defined XQuery function;

determining whether said function has been declared in a plug-in library if said function is not a built-in or user-defined XQuery function;

dispatching said function to said declared library and executing the computer code for said function if said function has been declared in a plug-in library;

determining whether at least one plug-in library module has been added or changed if said function has not been declared in a plug-in library;

loading said new or changed library modules if said at least one plug-in library module has been added or changed; and

declaring an undefined function error if said at least one plug-in library module has not been added or changed.

10. The method for extension of XQuery for a binary object XML repository according to claim 9, wherein implementing the XQuery language comprises includes accepting queries and returning results in XQuery.

11. The method for extension of XQuery for a binary object XML repository according to claim 9, wherein preparing to execute a function comprises evaluating said arguments and searching for the code associated with the body of said function.

12. The method for extension of XQuery for a binary object XML repository according to claim 9, wherein determining whether said function is a built-in or user-defined XQuery function comprises checking a table to determine whether said function is a built-in function or a user-defined function.

13. The method for extension of XQuery for a binary object XML repository according to claim 9, wherein determining whether said function has been declared in a plug-in library comprises interrogating said at least one dynamically-linked plug-in library module to locate a library for implementing said function.

14. The method for extension of XQuery for a binary object XML repository according to claim 9, wherein loading said new or changed library modules further comprises registering function capabilities of said new or changed library modules.

15. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium which, when said program code is executed by said computer causes said computer to perform method steps for extension of XQuery for a binary object XML repository having an XQuery interpreter module, a function dispatcher module, a plug-in function library manager, and at least one plug-in function library module comprises:

implementing the XQuery language in the binary object XML repository;

preparing to execute a function, wherein a function is defined by the name of said function, the number of arguments taken by said function, and the datatypes of said arguments;

determining whether said function is a built-in or user-defined XQuery function, wherein said built-in function is specified as part of the XQuery language;

executing the computer code for said function if said function is a built-in or user-defined XQuery function;

determining whether said function has been declared in a plug-in library if said function is not a built-in or user-defined XQuery function;

dispatching said function to said declared library and executing the computer code for said function if said function has been declared in a plug-in library;

determining whether at least one plug-in library module has been added or changed if said function has not been declared in a plug-in library;

loading said new or changed library modules if said at least one plug-in library module has been added or changed; and

declaring an undefined function error if said at least one plug-in library module has not been added or changed.