Database dependency resolution method and system for identifying related data files
First Claim
1. A database dependency resolution method for identifying related data files based on a corresponding symbol, the relationships of the data files being set out in a relationship database containing data file names, at least one symbol corresponding to the data file name, and symbol names corresponding to related data files, the method comprising:
- generating a data structure representing relationship hierarchies of data files and symbols as contained in the database;
retrieving the symbol of interest;
traversing the relationship hierarchies of the generated data structure using a transitive closure technique to retrieve information concerning the name of the data file corresponding to the symbol of interest and the names of any directly and indirectly related data files; and
displaying the retrieved information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for displaying names of data files in a collection of data files represented by a corresponding symbol. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a user may display a listing of subroutine library files required to execute a particular subroutine. In such an embodiment, the user may enter the subroutine name as the symbol of interest and the system would display the library file containing that subroutine as well as those data files that contain subroutines called by that subroutine of interest. The present invention uses a transitive closure technique to traverse a data structure generated from a database and retrieve the data file list. The transitive closure technique enables the use of a compact database that contains only the data file names, corresponding symbol names, and symbol names of only data files for each data file that are directly related to that data file.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A database dependency resolution method for identifying related data files based on a corresponding symbol, the relationships of the data files being set out in a relationship database containing data file names, at least one symbol corresponding to the data file name, and symbol names corresponding to related data files, the method comprising:
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generating a data structure representing relationship hierarchies of data files and symbols as contained in the database; retrieving the symbol of interest; traversing the relationship hierarchies of the generated data structure using a transitive closure technique to retrieve information concerning the name of the data file corresponding to the symbol of interest and the names of any directly and indirectly related data files; and displaying the retrieved information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A processing system for identifying and displaying names of related data files based on a corresponding symbol comprising:
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at least one memory storage device, the storage device storing a plurality of processing system instructions, collections of data files and at least one database, wherein the relationships of the data files are set out in a corresponding database which contains the data fie names, at least one symbol corresponding to the data file name, and symbol names corresponding to related data files; and at least one processing unit for controlling the displaying of the data file names and executing at least one of said processing system instructions from said memory device, the processing unit being operable to; generate a data structure representing relationship hierarchies of data files and symbols as contained in the appropriate corresponding database; retrieve the symbol of interest from a user; traverse the relationship hierarchies of the generated data structure using a transitive closure technique to retrieve information concerning the name of the data file corresponding to the symbol of interest and the names of any directly and indirectly related data files; and arrange the retrieved information into a predetermined format for displaying. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A database dependency resolution method for identifying related data files based on a corresponding symbol of interest, the relationships of the data files being set out in a relationship database containing data file names, at least one symbol corresponding to the data file name, and symbol names corresponding to related data files, the method comprising:
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generating a data structure representing relationship hierarchies of data files and symbols as contained in the database; retrieving the symbol of interest; traversing the relationship hierarchies of the generated data structure using a transitive closure technique to retrieve information concerning the name of the data file corresponding to the symbol of interest and the names of any directly and indirectly related data files; and transmitting the retrieved information to a remote user processing system over a network connecting the remote user processing system and a processing system maintaining the database, wherein the symbol of interest is selected by a remote user on the remote user processing system. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification