Distributed database systems and methods

• US 20070005574A1
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Published: 01/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Dike, Bruce, Stanley, Edward, Barr, Dennis, Chambers, Patrick, Crispo, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,577,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2471 Distributed queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

Systems and methods for distributed database management are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method of accessing information in a distributed database system having one or more data servers includes establishing a plurality of lattice structures configured to store data elements having inter-related information. A data query initiated by a client is then formulated that includes selected data attributes. The data query is processed to generate a query product, and the plurality of lattice structures are searched to identify data elements corresponding to elements in the query product. Pertinent data files located within another data server are accessed that correspond to the data query and generating a result, and the result is transferred to the initiating client system.

Claims

1. A method of accessing information in a distributed database system having one or more data servers, comprising:

establishing a plurality of lattice structures configured to store data elements having inter-related information;

formulating a data query in a selected data server that includes selected data attributes;

processing the data query to generate a query product;

searching the plurality of lattice structures to identify data elements corresponding to elements in the query product;

accessing pertinent metadata and data files located within another data server that corresponds to the data query and generating a result; and

transferring the result to the selected client.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a plurality of lattice structures further comprises storing the plurality of lattice structures in a database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing a plurality of lattice structures further includes forming lattice structures having at least one of a uniform, perimetric and curvilinear lattice structure.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein formulating a data query further comprises identifying at least one of a name, a source, a data type and a product number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein processing the data query further comprises formatting the data query in an extensible markup language (XML) format.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein searching the plurality of lattice structures further comprises filtering the lattice structures to identify a desired data element.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein accessing pertinent data files located within another data server further comprises generating a plurality of referential links that permit navigation to the data files.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring the result to the selected client further comprises sequestering at least a portion of the result in a cabinet associated with one of the selected data servers and the another data server.

9. A method of administering information in a distributed database system, comprising:

requesting a data element;

selecting a data element in a lattice structure and initiating a message to a federated data repository;

executing the request directly in the federated data file; and

retrieving the data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein requesting a data element further comprises generating a product that includes attributes of the data request.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein selecting a data element in a lattice structure further comprises filtering the lattice structure to identify the desired data element.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein executing the request directly in the federated data file further comprises generating a referential link that permits navigation to the data file.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein generating a referential link further comprises generating a hyperlink.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein retrieving the data further comprises transferring the data to a selected data server.

15. A distributed database management system, comprising:

a plurality of data servers having federated data sources and having input/output capabilities that are configured to permit communications between a selected data server and a user;

a distributed product system in communication with the plurality of client systems, the distributed product system further comprising;

a database that is configured to store a plurality of lattice structures that include data elements corresponding to information stored in the federated data sources; and

a information broker coupled to the plurality of data servers and the database, the information broker being operable to accept a data query from a client, search the database according to attributes included in the data query and to extract data from at least one data servers and transfer the extracted data to the initiating client.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of data servers further comprises a firewall structure that separates a private portion of a selected client system from a public portion.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the database is configured to store lattice structures having metadata located at nodes of the lattice structures.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein one or more of the client systems are coupled to a data cabinet operable to store information associated with the data query.

19. The system of claim 15, further comprising an applications infrastructure coupled to the system.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the information broker further comprises a digital filter configured to filter the lattice structures to identify relevant metadata.