Query-Based Generation of Data Records

• US 20100185694A1
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Copty, Shady
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3692 for test results analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3696 Methods or tools to render software testable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating at least one data record in respect to a database query comprising a fetch command. A database may be updated according to the at least one data record. In an exemplary embodiment, a database management system may be tested by performing the database query against the database. In another exemplary embodiment, a data record that satisfies the database query is generated in order to increase coverage when testing a database management system.

Claims

1. A computerized apparatus comprising:

an interface for receiving a first database query, said first database query comprises a fetch command; and

a data generation module for generating at least one data record;

the at least one data record satisfies at least a portion of a second database query associated with the fetch command.

2. The computerized apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first database query lacks a command to update a database.

3. The computerized apparatus of claim 1, wherein said data generation module comprises:

a constraint generator for generating a set of one or more constraints in respect to the second database query; and

an interface to a constraint solver for obtaining the at least one data record in respect to the first database query.

4. The computerized apparatus of claim 3, wherein the set of one or more constraints is a constraint satisfaction problem and the constraint solver is a constraint satisfaction problem solver.

5. The computerized apparatus of claim 3 operatly coupled to a database.

6. The computerized apparatus of claim 5 further comprising an interface to the database for updating the database.

7. The computerized apparatus of claim 5, wherein the database is operatly coupled to a database management system;

said computerized apparatus further comprising a testing module; and

said testing module is configured to provide the database management system with the database query.

8. The computerized apparatus of claim 7, wherein said testing module is further configured to collect data for evaluating a correctness of a query result determined by the database management system.

9. The computerized apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interface for receiving a database query is operatly coupled to a database query generator.

10. The computerized apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interface for receiving a database query is configured to receive a database query from a user.

21. The method of claim 10 wherein storing the at least one data record in a database having an initial state is performed by initiating an update command to a database management system.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a first database query;

the database query comprises a fetch command;

generating at least one data record;

the at least one data record satisfies at least a portion of a second database query associated with the fetch command; and

storing the at least one data record in a database having an initial state;

whereby modifying a state of the database; and

whereby a database management system which performs the first database query behaves differently with respect to the database than in respect to the initial state of the database.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein generating at least one data record is performed by generating a set of one or more constraints formulating the second database query;

utilizing a constraint solver to obtain the at least one data record such that the set of one or more constraints is satisfied.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the initial state of the database comprises at least a predetermined set of data records.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

providing the first database query to a database management system; and

receiving a first query result of the first database query from the database management system.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising evaluating a correctness of the first query result in respect to the at least one data record.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising evaluating a correctness of the first query result in respect to a second query result.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving the second query result from a second database management system.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising initiating an update of the database with respect to the at least one data record.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein generating the at least one data record is performed for more than one first database query.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein generating the at least one data record is performed for more than one second database query.

22. A computer program product for generating at least one data record, said computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium;

first program instructions to receive a first database query;

the first database query comprising a fetch command;

second program instructions to generate at least one data record;

the at least one data record satisfies at least a portion of a second database query associated with the fetch command; and

wherein said first and second program instructions are stored on said computer readable media.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein said second program instructions to generate at least one data record comprising:

third program instructions to generate a set of one or more constraints formulating the second database query; and

fourth program instructions to utilize a constraint solver to obtain the at least one data record such that the set of one or more constraints is satisfied.