Secure hosted databases

• US 20090063437A1
• Filed: 06/11/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brent E. Hamby, Geoffrey R. Hendrey
• Original Assignee: Brent E. Hamby, Geoffrey R. Hendrey
• Inventors: Hendrey, Geoffrey R., Hamby, Brent E.
• Application Number:
  US12/157,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20090063437A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0807 using tickets, e.g. Kerberos cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using tickets or tokens H04L9/3213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

A hosted relational database can be securely accessed by application developers, relieving the developer of the need to engage in server side development. A database programming API is accessible from a browser-based application that abstracts details of client/server HTTP communication with the database. This results in a reduction in software development because the developer'"'"'s application does not require server-side programming or database installation and administration. There is a consummate reduction in hardware costs for the application developer, since those costs are borne by the hosted database provider. One or more physical database systems are segmented into virtual databases. The owner of a virtual database configures the data model through a web-based user interface. Parameterized queries and relationships between tables are also created using the web-based interface.

Claims

1. A method for providing a hosted web database, the method comprising:

creating a virtual database, the virtual database associated with an account holder;

receiving a query from an application over a network, the query including authentication credentials and query parameters, the application executed in a client browser;

determining a query result set, the query result set including at least one candidate in the virtual database satisfying the query parameters and the authentication credentials; and

returning at least a portion of the query result set.

2. A system for providing a hosted web database, the system comprising:

a virtualization engine, adapted to create a virtual database on at least one database server;

a virtual database;

an HTTP server, adapted to receive a query from an application over a network, the query including authentication credentials and query parameters, the application executed in a client browser;

a hosting server, coupled to the virtual database and the HTTP server, and adapted to determine a query result set, the query result set including at least one candidate in the virtual database satisfying the query parameters and the authentication credentials, and to return at least a portion of the result set.