System and method for database query

• US 20060155683A1
• Filed: 01/11/2005
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bangel, Matthew J., Murray, Douglas G., Martin, James A. Jr., Chang, Andrew M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2445 Data retrieval commands; View definitions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

A database is queried with on demand database query reduction A query document includes global variables selectively set off by first tags identifying a first global variable as a complete replacement variable and by second tags identifying a second global variable as a complete removal string. An agent is provided for building from the query document an expanded query by replacing any variables set off by first tags with runtime strings, setting off any unions in the query document, and selectively replacing any variables set off by second tags and removing the second tags without replacing variables set off by second tags.

Claims

1. A method for querying a database with on demand database query reduction, comprising:

receiving a query document with global variables selectively set off by first tags identifying a first global variable as a complete replacement variable and by second tags identifying a second global variable as a complete removal string; and

building from said query document an expanded query by replacing any variables set off by said first tags with runtime strings, setting off any unions in said query document, and selectively replacing any variables set off by said second tags and removing said second tags without replacing variables set off by said second tags.

2. The method of claim 1, said selectively replacing step further comprising:

determining if a next given variable changes in each successive union and, if so, removing said second tags to leave this next given variable without replacement; and

, if not, replacing said next given variable based on changing selection criteria.

3. The method of claim 2, said selectively replacing step further comprising:

determining if said next given variable can change position in an output set and, if so, inserting nulls with variable replacement selectively above and below to shift output data in order.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

building from said query document and user input a control document specifying execution schedule, queries, global variables and union definitions.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

executing a runtime agent to monitor said control documents for a query to be run, and upon identifying such a query building and executing said expanded query.

6. A computer program product for querying a database with on demand database query reduction, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instructions to receive a query document with global variables selectively set off by first tags identifying a first global variable as a complete replacement variable and by second tags identifying a second global variable as a complete removal string;

second program instructions to build from said query document an expanded query by replacing any variables set off by said first tags with runtime strings, setting off any unions in said query document, and selectively replacing any variables set off by said second tags and removing said second tags without replacing variables set off by said second tags; and

wherein

said first and second program instructions are recorded on said medium.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, said second program instructions further comprising:

third program instructions to determine if a next given variable changes in each successive union and, if so, removing said second tags to leave this next given variable without replacement; and

, if not, replacing said next given variable based on changing selection criteria; and

wherein

said third program instructions are recorded on said medium.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, said second program instructions further comprising:

fourth program instructions to determine if said next given variable can change position in an output set and, if so, inserting nulls with variable replacement selectively above and below to shift output data in order.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, further comprising:

fifth program instructions to build from said query document and user input a control document specifying execution schedule, queries, global variables and union definitions; and

wherein

said fifth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising:

sixth program instructions to execute a runtime agent to monitor said control documents for a query to be run, and upon identifying such a query building and executing said expanded query; and

wherein

said sixth program instructions are recorded on said medium.

11. A system for querying a database with on demand database query reduction, comprising:

a query document with global variables selectively set off by first tags identifying a first global variable as a complete replacement variable and by second tags identifying a second global variable as a complete removal string; and

an agent for building from said query document an expanded query by replacing any variables set off by said first tags with runtime strings, setting off any unions in said query document, and selectively replacing any variables set off by said second tags and removing said second tags without replacing variables set off by said second tags.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

said agent further for determining if a next given variable changes in each successive union and, if so, removing said second tags to leave this next given variable without replacement; and

, if not, replacing said next given variable based on changing selection criteria.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

said agent further for determining if said next given variable can change position in an output set and, if so, inserting nulls with variable replacement selectively above and below to shift output data in order.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an agent for building from said query document and user input a control document specifying execution schedule, queries, global variables and union definitions.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

a runtime agent for monitoring said control documents for a query to be run, and upon identifying such a query for building and executing said expanded query.