Method for adapting a relational database management system so that it can address foreign information

• US 5,423,022 A
• Filed: 10/03/1988
• Issued: 06/06/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Signal Corporation (SPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Signal Corporation (SPX Corporation)
• Inventors: Ackley, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOHAMED, AYNI Y
• Application Number:
  US07/255,122
• Time in Patent Office: 2,437 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200 MS File, 364/900 MS File, 395/600
• US Class Current: 703/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

There is provided a method for adapting a commercially available relational database management system for a microcomputer so that it has the ability to access foreign data such as real time data for the examination and processing of that data by the DBMS. In this connection the operating system being used in the computer is provided with a kernel which has a driver which simulates for the DBMS a standard file format for the foreign data that is to be obtained. The information itself is obtained by a server activated by the driver. The server gets the foreign information and passes it back for the simulated file so that the simulated file can be addressed by the normal DBMS queries or commands.

Claims

1. A method for adapting a relational database management system for a computer, where the system does not have the ability to handle foreign data or real time data and where the computer has a particular operating system which has a kern under which the database management system is to run with adaptation being directed to making it possible for said database management system to access foreign (backdoor) date for the examination and processing of that data by the database management system, comprising the steps of:

providing the operating system kernel with a database backdoor driver operable to make foreign data look like a standard file to the database management system; and

providing data access program whose scenario for obtaining the foreign data is an indirect scenario with a simulated index and said data access programs include provision for a shadow file which provides the relationship between tags which identify the data to the database and the information needed to get desired real time data from the real time system; and

providing a data base backdoor server for getting the foreign data from the data access program for the backdoor files.

2. A method for adapting a relational database management system for a computer, where the system does not have the ability to handle foreign real time data data and where the computer has a particular operating system which has a kernel under which the database management system is to run, said adaptation being directed to making it possible for said database management system to access foreign data and form therefrom foreign data files for the examination and processing of that foreign data by the database management system, comprising the steps of:

providing a data access program for obtaining the foreign data from a real time system, said data access program being a direct scenario with a real index and including provision for a shadow file which provides the relationship between tags which identify the data to the database and the information needed to get desired real time data from the real time system; and

providing a database backdoor server for getting the foreign data from the data access program for the foreign data files.