Methods and apparatus for accesssing non-relational data files using relational queries
First Claim
1. A method for providing relational access to data stored in non-relational data files in response to queries for accessing a relational database, the relational database of the type composed of tables comprising the steps, executed by a data processor, of:
- maintaining metadata corresponding to each of the non-relational data files, the metadata defining the data organization in a corresponding non-relational data file;
accessing the metadata from the dictionary means;
decoding the queries, according to the metadata, into a subset of data access commands, the subset of data access commands selected from a set of data access commands common to the non-relational files; and
accessing the data in the non-relational data files specified by each of the subset of data access commands received from the data engine means according to the metadata.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A relational data access facility allows relation-type queries to access data stored in non-relational data files by converting relational queries into a set of common commands which are sent to data drivers to obtain the data specified by those queries. The facility uses metadata which describes the organization of the data in the non-relational files, and examines the expressions in the relational queries to formulate an access plan for the data. The plan is formulated to reduce cost and promote efficiency.
319 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for providing relational access to data stored in non-relational data files in response to queries for accessing a relational database, the relational database of the type composed of tables comprising the steps, executed by a data processor, of:
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maintaining metadata corresponding to each of the non-relational data files, the metadata defining the data organization in a corresponding non-relational data file; accessing the metadata from the dictionary means;
decoding the queries, according to the metadata, into a subset of data access commands, the subset of data access commands selected from a set of data access commands common to the non-relational files; andaccessing the data in the non-relational data files specified by each of the subset of data access commands received from the data engine means according to the metadata. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for providing relational access to data stored in non-relational data files in response to queries for accessing a relational database, the relational database of the type composed of relationship tables, comprising:
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dictionary means for maintaining metadata corresponding to each of the non-relational data files, the metadata defining a data organization in a corresponding non-relational data files; data engine means, coupled to the dictionary means and isolated from the physical structure of the non-relational data files, for accessing the metadata from the dictionary means and for decoding the queries, according to the metadata, into a subset of data access commands, the subset of data access commands selected from a set of data access commands common to the non-relational data files; and data driver means, coupled to the data engine means, for accessing the data in the non-relational data file specified by the subset of data access commands received from the data engine means according to the metadata. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification