Method and apparatus for modifying existing relational database schemas to reflect changes made in a corresponding object model
First Claim
1. A method of modifying an existing relational database to reflect changes made in a corresponding object model, comprising the steps of:
- storing an object model in the memory of a computer system which object model includes at least one object that represents a category of items about which data is stored in the relational database, the object including at least one component that defines the data stored in the relational database for the item;
displaying a visual representation of the object model;
storing a current relational database schema in the memory of the computer system, the current relational database schema defining one or more relational tables included in the existing relational database and one or more columns included in the one or more relational tables;
detecting modifications to the object model made by a user and automatically producing a proposed relational database schema corresponding to the modified object model;
automatically comparing the current relational database schema and the proposed relational database schema; and
automatically modify relational database based on the comparison of the current relational database schema and the proposed relational database schema without additional input from the user other than the modifications to the object model.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
An object model comprises one or more semantic objects that represent items about which data is stored in a relational database in a computer system. Each semantic object has one or more components that define the data stored for each item. The object model is mapped into a current relational database schema. As a user makes changes to the model the computer system generates a proposed relational database schema, and the differences between the current relational database schema and the proposed relational database schema are determined. The relation database is modified to reflect changes made in the corresponding object model based upon the differences between the current and proposed relational database schemas.
283 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of modifying an existing relational database to reflect changes made in a corresponding object model, comprising the steps of:
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storing an object model in the memory of a computer system which object model includes at least one object that represents a category of items about which data is stored in the relational database, the object including at least one component that defines the data stored in the relational database for the item; displaying a visual representation of the object model; storing a current relational database schema in the memory of the computer system, the current relational database schema defining one or more relational tables included in the existing relational database and one or more columns included in the one or more relational tables; detecting modifications to the object model made by a user and automatically producing a proposed relational database schema corresponding to the modified object model;
automatically comparing the current relational database schema and the proposed relational database schema; andautomatically modify relational database based on the comparison of the current relational database schema and the proposed relational database schema without additional input from the user other than the modifications to the object model. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer system for modifying a current relational database schema to reflect changes made to a corresponding object model that comprises at least one object that is representative of information stored in the relational database, each object including at least one component that is representative of data stored in the relational database comprising:
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a processing unit; a memory coupled to the processing unit; a storage means for storing a current relational database schema; a display that is driven by the central processing unit to produce a representation of the object model that corresponds to the current relational database schema, data entry means for allowing a user to modify the object model; a set of programmed instructions disposed within the memory that causes the processing unit to analyze the modified object model and to automatically create a proposed relational database schema, the set of instructions further causing the central processing unit to automatically compare the proposed relational database schema with the current relational database schema and to automatically modify the current relational database schema to correspond to the modified object model without additional user input other than the modifications to the object model. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification