Method and combination for minimizing data conversions when data is transferred between a first database storing data in a first format and a second database storing data in a second format
First Claim
1. A combination for establishing a data conversion context at a first computer system which receives data from a second computer system, wherein the second computer system stores and processes data in a format different than the first computer system, the combination comprising:
- (a) descriptors in the first computer system defining machine and language characteristics of a plurality of computer systems;
(b) means for obtaining from said descriptors, first and second descriptors which respectively define machine and language characteristics for said second computer system;
(c) means for receiving data from the second computer system; and
(d) means for combining the first and second descriptors with data descriptors in the received data which describe characteristics of data native to the second computer system to produce a context for converting the received data to data which is native to the first computer system.
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Abstract
The invention establishes the context in which data exchanged between dissimilar relational database management systems can be mutually understood and preserved, and data conversions can be minimized. The invention accomplishes this by establishing layers of descriptive information which isolate machine characteristics, levels of support software, and user data descriptions. Optimized processing is achieved by processing the different descriptor levels at different times during the development and execution of the database management systems. Minimal descriptive information is exchanged between the cooperating database management systems. Any data conversions that may be necessary are done only by the receiver of the data, and only at the point where it is necessary to have the data represented in the receiver'"'"'s native format for processing. For sending and receiving systems which match, data conversion is completely avoided, even when the data may have been forwarded through intermediate DBMS systems which do not match. For sending and receiving systems which do not match, data conversion is minimized. The data conversion routines and tables in each system are also minimized by requiring conversion only INTO a system'"'"'s native format, never FROM its native format into some other format.
105 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A combination for establishing a data conversion context at a first computer system which receives data from a second computer system, wherein the second computer system stores and processes data in a format different than the first computer system, the combination comprising:
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(a) descriptors in the first computer system defining machine and language characteristics of a plurality of computer systems; (b) means for obtaining from said descriptors, first and second descriptors which respectively define machine and language characteristics for said second computer system; (c) means for receiving data from the second computer system; and (d) means for combining the first and second descriptors with data descriptors in the received data which describe characteristics of data native to the second computer system to produce a context for converting the received data to data which is native to the first computer system.
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2. A method for use by a user processor in making data requests to a server processor which stores and processes data in a format different than the user processor, comprising the user processor executed steps of:
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storing a dictionary of processor descriptors; creating a communication link to a server processor by; communicating to the server processor an identifier denoting the user processor; and receiving from the server processor an identifier denoting the server processor; sending a request for data to the server processor in the user processor data format, the request including a descriptor of the user processor data format; receiving from the server processor data responsive to the request for data, the data being in the server processor data format, and being accompanied by a descriptor of the server processor data format; and using the identifier denoting the server processor and the descriptor of the server processor data format, converting the data to the user processor data format. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A combination for use by a user processor in making data requests to a server processor which stores and processes data in a format different than the user processor, the combination comprising, in the user processor:
means for creating a communication link to a server processor by; communicating to the server processor an identifier denoting the user processor; and receiving from the server processor an identifier denoting the server processor; a dictionary of server processor descriptors; means for sending a request for data to the server processor on the communication link in the user processor data format, the request including a descriptor of the user processor data format; means for receiving from the server processor data responsive to the request for data, the data being in the server processor data format and being accompanied by a descriptor of the server processor data format; and means for converting the data to the user processor data format in response to the identifier denoting the server processor and the descriptor of the server processor data format. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
Specification