Data processing system and method for retrieving and entity specified in a search path record from a relational database

• US 5,617,567 A
• Filed: 05/11/1995
• Issued: 04/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Financial Systems Technology Intellectual Property Pty. Ltd. (Financial Systems Technology Pty. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Financial Systems Technology Intellectual Property Pty. Ltd. (Financial Systems Technology Pty. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Doktor, Karol
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lintz, Paul R.
• Application Number:
  US08/439,013
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/800, 395/650, 395/700
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2323/02 Alignment layer characterised by chemical composition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/288 Entity relationship models
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/954 Relational
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A relationships processing computing system provides for the recording and extraction of data objects (entities) and for development data representing a queried relationship between data objects (entities). The set of entities and relationships may be expanded at any time during the life of the system without reprogramming or compiling computer code and without disrupting concurrent use of the system. Complex inquiries, normally requiring multiple nested queries, may be performed without code level programming.

Claims

1. In a computer system, a data processing system for retrieving a selected entity from a relational database, said data processing system comprising:

memory means containing a plurality of entities, wherein said entities are part of said relational database;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first entity and a first relation, and said first search path record storing means

includes an inquiry definition table means;

means, operatively coupled to said first search path record storing means, for retrieving from said relational database a second entity wherein said second entity is related to said first entity by said first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation, and said second search path record storing means includes said inquiry definition table means; and

means, operatively coupled to said second search path record storing means and to said second entity retrieving means, for retrieving from said relational database said selected entity wherein said selected entity is related to said second entity by said second relation.

2. In a computer system, a data processing system for retrieving a selected entity from a relational database, said data processing system comprising:

memory means containing a plurality of entities, wherein said entities are part of said relational database;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first entity and a first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said first search path record storing means, for retrieving from said relational database a second entity wherein said second entity is related to said first entity by said first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

means, operatively coupled to said second search path record storing means and to said second entity retrieving means, for retrieving from said relational database said selected entity wherein said selected entity is related to said second entity by said second relation; and

means, operatively coupled to said second entity retrieving means and to said selected entity retrieving means, for storing said second entity in an abbreviated results gathering means.

3. In a computer system, a data processing system for retrieving a selected group of one or more entities from a relational database, said data processing system comprising:

memory means containing a plurality of entities, wherein said entities are part of said relational database;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first entity and a first relation, and said first search path record storing means includes an inquiry definition table means;

means, operatively coupled to said first search path record storing means, for retrieving from said relational database a first group of entities comprising all entities within said relational database related to said first entity by said first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation, and said second search path record storing means includes said inquiry definition table means; and

means, operatively coupled to said second search path record storing means and to said first group of entities retrieving means, for retrieving from said relational database said selected group of one or more entities wherein said selected group of one or more entities comprises all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said first group of entities by said second relation.

4. In a computer system, data processing system for retrieving a selected group of one or more entities from a relational database, said data processing system comprising:

memory means containing a plurality of entities, wherein said entities are part of said relational database;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first entity and a first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said first search path record storing means, for retrieving from said relational database a first group of entities comprising all entities within said relational database related to said first entity by said first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

means, operatively coupled to said second search path record storing means and to said first group of entities retrieving means, for retrieving from said relational database said selected group of one or more entities wherein said selected group of one or more entities comprises all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said first group of entities by said second relation; and

means, operatively coupled to said first group of entities retrieving means and to said selected group of one or more entities retrieving means, for storing said first group of entities in an abbreviated results gathering means.

5. A computer method for retrieving a selected entity from a relational database, said method comprising:

forming a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first entity and a first relation;

retrieving from said relational database in response to said first search path record a second entity wherein said second entity is related to said first entity by said first relating;

forming a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

retrieving from said relational database in response to said second search path record said selected entity wherein said selected entity is related to said second entity by said second relation; and

storing said first search path record and said second search path record in an inquiry definition table means.

6. A computer method for retrieving a selected entity from a relational database, said method comprising:

forming a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first entity and a first relation;

retrieving from said relational database in response to said first search path record a second entity wherein said second entity is related to said first entity by said first relation;

forming a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

retrieving from said relational database in response to said second search path record said selected entity wherein said selected entity is related to said second entity by said second relation; and

storing said second entity in an abbreviated results gathering means.

7. A computer method for retrieving a selected group of one or more entities from a relational database, said method comprising:

forming a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first entity and a first relation;

retrieving from said relational database a first group of entities comprising all entities within said relational database related to said first entity by said first relation;

forming a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

retrieving from said relational database said selected group of entities wherein said selected group of entities comprises all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said first group of entities by said second relation; and

storing said first search path record and said second search path record in an inquiry definition table means.

8. A computer method for retrieving a selected group of one or more entities from a relational database, said method comprising:

forming a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first entity and a first relation;

retrieving from said relational database a first group of entities comprising all entities within said relational database related to said first entity by said first relation;

forming a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

retrieving from said relational database said selected group of entities wherein said selected group of entities comprises all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said first group of entities by said second relation; and

storing said first group of entities in an abbreviated results gathering means.

9. In a computer system, a data processing system for retrieving a selected entity from a relational database, said data processing system comprising:

memory means containing a plurality of entities, wherein said entities are part of said relational database;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first relation, and said first search path record storing means includes an inquiry definition table means;

means, operatively coupled to said first search path record storing means, for retrieving from said relational database a first entity wherein said first entity is related to a second entity by said first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation, and said second search path record storing means includes said inquiry definition table means; and

means, operatively coupled to said second search path record storing means and to said first entity retrieving means, for retrieving from said relational database said selected entity wherein said selected entity is related to said first entity by said second relation.

10. In a computer system, a data processing system for retrieving a selected group of one or more entities from a relational database, said data processing system comprising:

memory means containing a plurality of entities, wherein said entities are part of said relational database;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first relation, and said first search path record storing means includes an inquiry definition table means;

means, operatively coupled to said first search path record storing means, for retrieving from said relational database a first group of entities comprising all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said entities by said first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation, and said second search path record storing means includes said inquiry definition table means; and

means, operatively coupled to said second search path record storing means and to said first group of entities retrieving means, for retrieving from said relational database said selected group of one or more entities wherein said selected group of one or more entities comprises all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said first group of entities by said second relation.

11. A computer method for retrieving a selected entity from a relational database, said method comprising:

forming a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first relation;

retrieving from said relational database in response to said first search path record a first entity wherein said first entity is related to a second entity by said first relation;

forming a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

retrieving from said relational database in response to said second search path record said selected entity wherein said selected entity is related to said first entity by said second relation; and

storing said first search path record and said second search path record in an inquiry definition table means.

12. A computer method for retrieving a selected group of one or more entities from a relational database, said method comprising:

forming a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first relation;

retrieving from said relational database a first group of entities comprising all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said entities by said first relation;

forming a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

retrieving from said relational database said selected group of entities wherein said selected group of entities comprises all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said first group of entities by said second relation; and

storing said first search path record and said second search path record in an inquiry definition table means.

13. In a computer system, a data processing system for retrieving a selected entity from a relational database, said data processing system comprising:

memory means containing a plurality of entities, wherein said entities are part of said relational database;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said first search path record storing means, for retrieving from said relational database a first entity wherein said first entity is related to a second entity by said first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

means, operatively coupled to said second search path record storing means and to said first entity retrieving means, for retrieving from said relational database said selected entity wherein said selected entity is related to said first entity by said second relation; and

means, operatively coupled to said first entity retrieving means and to said selected entity retrieving means, for storing said first entity in an abbreviated results gathering means.

14. In a computer system, a data processing system for retrieving a selected group of one or more entities from a relational database, said data processing system comprising:

memory means containing a plurality of entities, wherein said entities are part of said relational database;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said first search path record storing means, for retrieving from said relational database a first group of entities comprising all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said entities by said first relation;

means, operatively coupled to said memory means, for storing a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

means, operatively coupled to said second search path record storing means and to said first group of entities retrieving means, for retrieving from said relational database said selected group of one or more entities wherein said selected group of one or more entities comprises all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said first group of entities by said second relation; and

means, operatively coupled to said first group of entities retrieving means and to said selected group of one or more entities retrieving means, for storing said first group of entities in an abbreviated results gathering means.

15. A computer method for retrieving a selected entity from a relational database, said method comprising:

forming a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first relation;

retrieving from said relational database in response to said first search path record a first entity wherein said first entity is related to a second entity by said first relation;

forming a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

retrieving from said relational database in response to said second search path record said selected entity wherein said selected entity is related to said first entity by said second relation; and

storing said first entity in an abbreviated results gathering means.

16. A computer method for retrieving a selected group of one or more entities from a relational database, said method comprising:

forming a first search path record wherein said first search path record identifies a first relation;

retrieving from said relational database a first group of entities comprising all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said entities by said first relation;

forming a second search path record wherein said second search path record identifies a second relation;

retrieving from said relational database said selected group of entities wherein said selected group of entities comprises all entities within said relational database related to at least one of said first group of entities by said second relation; and

storing said first group of entities in abbreviated results gathering means.