Parallel tables for data model with inheritance
First Claim
1. In a data processing system, a computer memory tables structure for an object-oriented data model having multiple categories arranged in a hierarchial structure wherein a supercategory is defined having a sub-category, said supercategory having an attribute associated therewith such that attribute values exist for said supercategory and for said sub-category, said computer memory tables structure comprising:
- multiple computer memory tables separate from but associated with said multiple categories of said object-oriented data model, said multiple computer memory tables retaining said attribute values of said attribute associated with said supercategory, a first memory table being associated with said supercategory for retaining attribute values for said supercategory of said attribute and a second memory table being associated with said sub-category for retaining attribute values for said sub-category of said attribute associated with said supercategory; and
a set of unique level-relative indices assigned to said supercategory and said sub-category for accessing said associated multiple computer memory tables, a first level-relative index of said set of level-relative indices being assigned to said supercategory for accessing said first memory table and a second level-relative index of said set of level-relative indices being assigned to said supercategory'"'"'s sub-category for accessing said second memory table.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A parallel tables structure and method of implementation for an object-oriented data model are presented. The novel structure includes a plurality of memory tables separate from but associated with the object-oriented data model. Level-relative indices are initially arbitrarily assigned to each category such that an object in a particular category receives only one index for each supercategory in the object-oriented data model. These level-relative indices are used to locate a particular table in the plurality of memory tables which contains, for example, an attribute value (or relation) for an object in that category. The object'"'"'s own index is used to retrieve the attribute value from the identified memory table.
43 Citations
14 Claims
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1. In a data processing system, a computer memory tables structure for an object-oriented data model having multiple categories arranged in a hierarchial structure wherein a supercategory is defined having a sub-category, said supercategory having an attribute associated therewith such that attribute values exist for said supercategory and for said sub-category, said computer memory tables structure comprising:
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multiple computer memory tables separate from but associated with said multiple categories of said object-oriented data model, said multiple computer memory tables retaining said attribute values of said attribute associated with said supercategory, a first memory table being associated with said supercategory for retaining attribute values for said supercategory of said attribute and a second memory table being associated with said sub-category for retaining attribute values for said sub-category of said attribute associated with said supercategory; and a set of unique level-relative indices assigned to said supercategory and said sub-category for accessing said associated multiple computer memory tables, a first level-relative index of said set of level-relative indices being assigned to said supercategory for accessing said first memory table and a second level-relative index of said set of level-relative indices being assigned to said supercategory'"'"'s sub-category for accessing said second memory table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a data processing system, a computer memory model for storing attribute values for an object-oriented data model having multiple categories arranged in a hierarchical structure wherein a supercategory is defined having a sub-category, said supercategory having an attribute associated therewith such that attribute values exist for said supercategory and for said sub-category, said computer memory model comprising:
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a first level array associated with said supercategory and a second level array associated with said sub-category, said first and second level arrays each containing level-relative indices for said supercategory and said sub-category, respectively, said level-relative indices being arbitrarily assigned and unique for said attribute associated with said supercategory; a computer-implemented attribute table associated with said supercategory'"'"'s attribute, said attribute table containing memory table pointers for said supercategory and said sub-category specific to said supercategory'"'"'s attribute, said level-relative indices of said first and second level arrays including an index for said supercategory to said attribute table and an index for said sub-category to said attribute table; and multiple computer memory tables separate from but associated with said multiple categories, said memory table pointers contained in said attribute table associated with said supercategory'"'"'s attribute identifying for each of said supercategory and said sub-category a specific computer memory table containing corresponding attribute values for said supercategory'"'"'s attribute. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-implemented method for locating an attribute value table from a parallel table structure associated with a computer-implemented object-oriented data model having multiple categories arranged in a hierarchical structure wherein a supercategory is defined having a sub-category, said supercategory having an attribute associated therewith such that attribute values exist for said supercategory and for said sub-category, said parallel table structure including an attribute table for said supercategory'"'"'s attribute and multiple computer memory tables separate from but associated with said object-oriented data model'"'"'s multiple categories, said attribute table containing memory table pointers for said supercategory and said sub-category specific to said supercategory'"'"'s attribute, a first level array being associated with said supercategory and a second level array being associated with said sub-category said first and second level arrays each containing level-relative indices for said supercategory and said sub-category, respectively, said level-relative indices being arbitrarily assigned and unique for said attribute associated with said supercategory, said attribute value table locating method for locating an attribute value table for said sub-category of said attribute associated with said supercategory, said computer-implemented method comprising the steps of:
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(a) referencing said second level array associated with said sub-category to identify an assigned level-relative index for said sub-category for said attribute associated with said supercategory; (b) indexing into said attribute table associated with said supercategory'"'"'s attribute to locate a memory table pointer, said indexing step employing said level-relative index identified in step (a) for said sub-category; and (c) using the memory table pointer located in said attribute table in said step (b) to identify a corresponding one of said multiple computer memory tables containing attribute values for said sub-category of said attribute associated with said supercategory, said corresponding one of said multiple computer memory tables comprising the attribute value table for said sub-category of said attribute associated with said supercategory. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification