System supporting data repository compatibility

• US 20060190501A1
• Filed: 01/05/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corporation (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Massironi, Sandy
• Application Number:
  US11/325,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20060190501A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database

Abstract

A system addresses backward compatibility between two databases by capturing the latest definition and structure of a referenced model database and providing the information for use in creating object information usable by a database management application of a first database for accessing data in a different second database and that supports compatible operation following a version upgrade of either or both the database management application and the second database. A system for providing compatibility between different first and second databases includes a repository of first object information. The first object information indicates characteristics of a first version of a second database including, a data structure, data objects accessed by a management application of a first database and associated properties of the data objects. A data processor uses the first object information in generating second object information by incorporating in the second object information, data objects acquired from a second version of the second database. The second object information being for use by the management application of a first database in accessing data objects from the second version of the second database.

Claims

1. A system for providing compatibility between different first and second databases, comprising:

a repository of first object information indicating characteristics of a first version of a second database including,

a data structure,

data objects accessed by a management application of a first database and

associated properties of said data objects; and

a data processor for using said first object information in generating second object information by incorporating in said second object information, data objects acquired from a second version of said second database, said second object information being for use by said management application of said first database in accessing data objects from said second version of said second database.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said second object information includes placeholder information for data objects accessed by said management application of said first database from said first version of said second database that are absent from said second version of said second database.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said first version of said second database is a newer version than said second version of said second database.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said data processor generates said second object information by parsing said second version of said second database to identify said acquired data objects.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said data processor generates said second object information by

parsing said second version of said second database to identify data objects identified in said first object information and having properties compatible with requirements identified in said first object information.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein

said data processor generates said second object information by

incorporating in said second object information, executable instructions for substituting placeholder data for data objects identified in said first object information absent from said second version of said second database.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein

a data object comprises data, comprising or identifying, at least one of, (a) a table of data elements, (b) a column of data elements and (c) a row of data elements.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein

a data object comprises data, comprising or identifying, a data element.

9. A system according to claim 1, including

a response processor for using said second object information in accessing data objects from said second version of said second database and responding to received requests for information from said management application of said first database.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said properties of said accessed data objects include, number of data columns, individual data element type and individual data element length.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein

said properties of said accessed data objects include, column relative position in a table and table identifier.

12. A system for supporting providing compatibility between different first and second databases, comprising:

an input processor for receiving information identifying data objects accessed by a management application of a first database from a first version of a second database; and

a data processor for,

parsing said first version of said second database to identify a data structure of said first version of said second database and properties of said accessed data objects in response to said received information and

generating first object information identifying, said data structure of said first version of said second database, said accessed data objects and associated properties for storage in a repository.

13. A system according to claim 12, including

a data processor for using said first object information in generating second object information by incorporating in said second object information, data objects acquired from a second version of said second database, said second object information being for use by said management application of said first database in accessing data objects from said second version of said second database.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein

said properties of said accessed data objects include, number of data columns, individual data element type and individual data element length.

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein

said data element type determines whether a data element is of variable or fixed data length.

16. A system for providing compatibility between different first and second databases, comprising:

a repository of first object information indicating characteristics of a first version of a second database including,

a data structure,

data objects accessed by a management application of a first database and

associated properties of said data objects; and

a data processor for,

using said first object information in generating second object information by incorporating in said second object information, data objects acquired from a second version of said second database, said second object information being for use by said management application of said first database in accessing data objects from said second version of said second database and

using said second object information in accessing data objects from said second version of said second database and responding to received requests for information from said management application of said first database.