System and method for providing nested types for content management

• US 20070073661A1
• Filed: 05/22/2006
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEA Systems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhou, Xiaojiang, Posner, Brad, Saarva, Tanya, Patadia, Jalpesh, Roth, Steven, McVeigh, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,818,344 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4492 Inheritance

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments, there are provided mechanisms and methods for providing nested variables in a content management system. These mechanisms and methods for providing nested variables in a content management system can enable users to model types that can be used within other type definitions. This differs from the Type Inheritance feature in that types that make use of the nested type feature do not extend their functionality but define a property definition having a value defined by all property definitions in the nested type. For example, user can create a type address with property definitions such as street, city, zip code, etc. The user can then create another type person that has property definitions such as “name” and home address and business address. The two address property definitions can be represented by the address type, each with the address type'"'"'s property definitions. Embodiments may further provide the ability to have abstract types and link property types.

Claims

1. A method for providing nested types in a content management system, the method comprising:

receiving definitions of a first data type (“

container data type”

) and a second data type (“

nested data type”

), the second data type based upon the first data type;

determining, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node (“

nested node”

) in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories;

wherein the at least one node corresponds to the second data type and has at least one relationship with at least one other node (“

containing node”

), the at least one other node corresponding to the first data type, the at least one relationship corresponding to defining a property of the first data type having a value defined by property definitions in the second data type; and

managing content in the plurality of content repositories based upon the VCR.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving definitions of a first data type and a second data type, the second data type based upon the first data type includes:

receiving definitions of a nested data type.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories includes:

providing a capability to limiting nesting to within a single content repository.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories includes:

providing a nesting model with unlimited depth.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories includes:

blocking attempting to create a cyclical nesting chain.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories includes:

managing the nested node explicitly by the containing node;

thereby obviating representation that the nested node exists outside of the containing node.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein managing content in the plurality of content repositories based upon the VCR includes:

enforcing that the property of the first data type have a value defined by property definitions in the second data type during operations on the VCR.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the nested data type and the container data type are abstract types.

9. A machine-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for providing nested types in a content management system, which instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to carry out the steps of:

receiving definitions of a first data type (“

container data type”

) and a second data type (“

nested data type”

), the second data type based upon the first data type;

determining, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node (“

nested node”

) in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories;

wherein the at least one node corresponds to the second data type and has at least one relationship with at least one other node (“

containing node”

), the at least one other node corresponding to the first data type, the at least one relationship corresponding to defining a property of the first data type having a value defined by property definitions in the second data type; and

managing content in the plurality of content repositories based upon the VCR

10. The machine-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions for carrying out the step of receiving definitions of a first data type and a second data type, the second data type based upon the first data type include instructions for carrying out the step of:

receiving definitions of a nested data type.

11. The machine-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions for carrying out the step of determining, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories include instructions for carrying out the step of:

providing a capability to limiting nesting to within a single content repository.

12. The machine-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions for carrying out the step of determining, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories include instructions for carrying out the step of:

providing a nesting model with unlimited depth.

13. The machine-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions for carrying out the step of determining, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories include instructions for carrying out the step of:

blocking attempting to create a cyclical nesting chain.

14. The machine-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions for carrying out the step of determining, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories include instructions for carrying out the step of:

managing the nested node explicitly by the containing node;

thereby obviating representation that the nested node exists outside of the containing node.

15. The machine-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein at least one of the nested data type and the container data type are abstract types.

16. The machine-readable medium as recited in claim 9, wherein the instructions for carrying out the step of managing content in the plurality of content repositories based upon the VCR include instructions for carrying out the step of:

enforcing that the property of the first data type have a value defined by property definitions in the second data type during operations on the VCR.

17. An apparatus for providing nested types in a content management system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

receiving definitions of a first data type (“

container data type”

) and a second data type (“

nested data type”

), the second data type based upon the first data type;

determining, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node (“

nested node”

) in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories;

wherein the at least one node corresponds to the second data type and has at least one relationship with at least one other node (“

containing node”

), the at least one other node corresponding to the first data type, the at least one relationship corresponding to defining a property of the first data type having a value defined by property definitions in the second data type; and

managing content in the plurality of content repositories based upon the VCR.

18. A method for sending code through a transmission medium, comprising:

transmitting code to receive definitions of a first data type (“

container data type”

) and a second data type (“

nested data type”

), the second data type based upon the first data type;

transmitting code to determine, from the definition of the second data type, at least one node (“

nested node”

) in a virtual content repository (VCR) that models content in a plurality of content repositories;

wherein the at least one node corresponds to the second data type and has at least one relationship with at least one other node (“

containing node”

), the at least one other node corresponding to the first data type, the at least one relationship corresponding to defining a property of the first data type having a value defined by property definitions in the second data type; and

transmitting code to manage content in the plurality of content repositories based upon the VCR.