Containment hierarchy in a database system

• US 20060265411A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Anonsen, Steven P., Harter, Steven Virgil
• Granted Patent: US 7,734,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method and system for storing and retrieving data in a database system includes associating a plurality of entities in a child/parent hierarchy. The entities are further grouped in types of similar properties, wherein each entity has a unique identifiable position within the child/parent space. References are made to types and properties of the entities in order to store and retrieve associated data about the entity, where the types and properties are mapped to tables of the database.

Claims

1. A method for storing and retrieving data in a database system, where data is stored on a computer readable media, the method comprising:

associating a plurality of entities in a child/parent hierarchy, the entities being further grouped in types of similar properties, at least one of the groups not inheriting properties of another group, wherein each entity has an identifiable position within the child/parent hierarchy; and

referencing types and properties of the groups of entities to store and retrieve associated data, the types and properties of different groups being mapped to different tables of the database.

2. The method of claim 1 and further comprising:

associating an entity key with each entity, the entity key having information pertaining to the identifiable position within the child/parent hierarchy of the associated entity.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein associating an entity key includes maintaining information related to the parent entity of each entity, the information being associated with the corresponding child entity key of the parent entity.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein maintaining information related to the parent entity includes maintaining a reference to the parent entity key.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein associating an entity key with each entity includes maintaining information as to the type of the entity in the entity key.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein maintaining information related to the parent entity includes maintaining a reference to the parent entity key.

7. A data storage system, comprising:

a relational data store component for storing data pertaining to entities in tables;

a plurality of maps that map between entities and a location of columns in the tables of the relational data store component that store the data of the entities; and

a data access system configured to receive requests to perform an operation on data of at least one entity, wherein the entities are grouped in types of similar properties with at least one of the groups not inheriting properties of another group, wherein the entities are organized in a child/parent hierarchy, and wherein an identity of each entity includes information of a corresponding position of the entity in the child/parent hierarchy.

8. The data storage system of claim 7 and further comprising:

stored information pertaining to entity keys, wherein each entity key is associated with an entity and includes information pertaining to the position of the associated entity within the child/parent hierarchy.

9. The data storage system of claim 8 wherein entity keys comprise a class of similarly structured data distinct from the entities.

10. The data storage system of claim 8 wherein each entity key includes information related to the parent entity of each entity, the information being stored in the corresponding child entity key of the parent entity.

11. The data storage system of claim 10 wherein the information related to the parent entity of each entity key includes a reference to the parent entity key.

12. The data storage system of claim 8 wherein each entity key includes information as to a type of the associated entity.

13. The data storage system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of entities are grouped in classes, wherein each class has similarly structured data associated therewith, and wherein individual entities of at least one class have different parent entities.

14. The data storage system of claim 8 and further comprising:

stored information pertaining to entity keys, wherein each entity key is associated with an entity and includes information pertaining to the position of the associated entity within the child/parent hierarchy.

15. The data storage system of claim 14 wherein each entity key includes information related to the parent entity of each entity, the information being stored in the corresponding child entity key of the parent entity.

16. The data storage system of claim 15 wherein the information related to the parent entity of each entity key includes maintaining a reference to the parent entity key.

17. The data storage system of claim 15 wherein the entities are grouped in classes, each class having similarly structured data and associated with a table, and wherein at least two classes have the same name, but are located in different positions in the child/parent hierarchy.