GROUPING DATA IN A DATABASE

• US 20150347468A1
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bester, Karla, Chandler, Allan T., Shewell, Mark A., Yates, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,483,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/221 Column-oriented storage; Management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2282 Tablespace storage structures; Management thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification

Abstract

According to embodiments of the present invention, two or more attributes that are included in a plurality of attributes are aggregated into a group defined by a first data definition language syntax. The first data definition language syntax defines the group as having a groupID and one or more of an attribute definition defined in a comma-separated list and a group definition. The attribute definition is defined by a second data definition syntax. The first data definition language syntax includes the second data definition language syntax. The first data definition language syntax is structured in a manner to allow a database operation associated with the group to be applied to all attributes and/or groups included therein.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

aggregating, by one or more computer processors, two or more attributes included in a plurality of attributes into a group defined by a first data definition language syntax;

wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group as having a groupID and one or more of an attribute definition defined in a comma-separated list and a group definition;

wherein the attribute definition is defined by a second data definition syntax;

wherein the first data definition language syntax includes the second data definition language syntax; and

wherein the first data definition language syntax is structured in a manner to allow a database operation associated with the group to be applied to all attributes and/or groups included therein.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data definition language syntax is associated with a query language.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group in a manner that allows an attribute included in the plurality of attributes to be added to the group where the attribute meets a predetermined group criteria.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group in a manner that allows an attribute included in the plurality of attributes to be added to the group when the attribute shares an attribute property with the group.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group in a manner that it includes two or more additional groups comprised of attributes included in the plurality of attributes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute definition defines an attribute as having one or more of a attributeID, associated data type/domain, required data, and default value using a third data definition syntax.

7. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable tangible storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable tangible storage media, the program instructions executable by one or more processors to;

aggregate two or more attributes included in a plurality of attributes into a group defined by a first data definition language syntax;

wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group as having a groupID and one or more of an attribute definition defined in a comma-separated list and a group definition;

wherein the attribute definition is defined by a second data definition language syntax;

wherein the first data definition language syntax includes the second data definition syntax; and

wherein the first data definition syntax is structured in a manner to allow a database operation associated with the group to be applied to all attributes and/or groups included therein.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the data definition language syntax is associated with a query language.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group in a manner that allows an attribute included in the plurality of attributes to be added to the group where the attribute meets a predetermined group criteria.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group in a manner that allows an attribute included in the plurality of attributes to be added to the group when the attribute shares an attribute property with the group.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group in a manner that it includes two or more additional groups comprised of attributes included in the plurality of attributes.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the attribute definition defines an attribute as having one or more of a attributeID, associated data type/domain, required data, and default value using a third data definition syntax.

13. A computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer readable tangible storage media;

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable tangible storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising program instructions to;

aggregate two or more attributes included in a plurality of attributes into a group defined by a first data definition language syntax;

wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group as having a groupID and one or more of an attribute definition defined in a comma-separated list and a group definition;

wherein the attribute definition is defined by a second data definition language syntax;

wherein the first data definition language syntax includes the second data definition syntax; and

wherein the first data definition syntax is structured in a manner to allow a database operation associated with the group to be applied to all attributes and/or groups included therein.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the data definition language syntax is associated with a query language.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group in a manner that allows an attribute included in the plurality of attributes to be added to the group where the attribute meets a predetermined group criteria.

16. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group in a manner that allows an attribute included in the plurality of attributes to be added to the group when the attribute shares an attribute property with the group.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the first data definition language syntax defines the group in a manner that it includes two or more additional groups comprised of attributes included in the plurality of attributes.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the attribute definition defines an attribute as having one or more of a attributeID, associated data type/domain, required data, and default value using a third data definition syntax.