Intentionally-Linked Entities: A General-Purpose Database System
First Claim
1. A method for storing a database involving data entities and relationships of any finite arity amongst said entities, comprising:
- a. storing each said entity in a data structure, which could be an object, henceforth referred to as an entity object,b. storing each said relationship amongst entities in a data structure, which could be an object, henceforth referred to as a relationship object,c. for each said relationship, grouping zero, one, or more said entities that serve in each role of said relationship into a composite data structure such as a dynamically-allocated array,d. linking with pointers or references each said relationship object with the appropriate members of said composite of entities involved in the relationship represented by said relationship object,e. providing users or client programs with convenient and direct means of creating said entity objects and relationship objects without having to simulate or create said objects from other types of records.
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Abstract
In accordance with one embodiment the subject of the patent is a method for storing a database comprising entity objects or data structures representing the data entities, and relationship objects or data structures representing the relationships amongst the entities. Each relationship object or data structure possesses links to the entity objects or data structures that play the various roles in the relationship. Where there is a link from a relationship to an entity, there is also a link from the entity to the relationship, facilitating queries and updates to the database system. It is possible and often desirable for an embodiment to permit not merely one, but possibly many (or zero) entities to play each role in a relationship. The database is value-oriented in the sense that the address of an entity is not part of the key, thus permitting value-comparison-based searches.
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11 Claims
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1. A method for storing a database involving data entities and relationships of any finite arity amongst said entities, comprising:
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a. storing each said entity in a data structure, which could be an object, henceforth referred to as an entity object, b. storing each said relationship amongst entities in a data structure, which could be an object, henceforth referred to as a relationship object, c. for each said relationship, grouping zero, one, or more said entities that serve in each role of said relationship into a composite data structure such as a dynamically-allocated array, d. linking with pointers or references each said relationship object with the appropriate members of said composite of entities involved in the relationship represented by said relationship object, e. providing users or client programs with convenient and direct means of creating said entity objects and relationship objects without having to simulate or create said objects from other types of records. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for storing a database involving data entities and relationships of any finite arity amongst said entities, comprising:
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a. storing each said entity in a data structure or an object, henceforth referred to as an entity object, b. storing each said relationship amongst entities in a data structure or an object, henceforth referred to as a relationship object, c. linking with pointers or references in both directions each said relationship object with the entities involved in the relationship represented by said relationship object, d. providing users or client programs with convenient and direct means of creating said entity objects and relationship objects without having to simulate or create said objects from other types of records. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification