Method and apparatus for storing objects using a c-structure and a bind descriptor

• US 5,737,736 A
• Filed: 01/16/1996
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle Corporation
• Inventors: Chang, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US08/586,139
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 395/613, 395/614, 395/612, 395/611, 395/335, 395/604, 707/100, 707/101, 707/102, 707/103, 707/4, 345/335
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/20 Software design

Abstract

The present invention provides a system that manages the storage of the definition and user information used by developers. This information defines and represents forms, reports, books documents, graphics documents and other resources available for use by a developer. The invention creates and manipulates this information for storage in a variety of ways (e.g. an Oracle V6/V7 database, or in native files). The invention is referred to as "resource object store" (ROS) and allows client `definition` information in the form of c'"'"'structure data to be directly mapped into a representation suitable for persistent and portable storage in either a native ROS file or in a database. By using the ROS API, clients and Tools can transparently access the tool definition data from either the database or native files.

Claims

1. A resource object store, comprising:

a persistent store;

a bind descriptor that maps each of a plurality of attributes of a resource object to corresponding fields of the persistent store;

routine having an application program interface that enables an application program to pass a c-structure containing the attributes to the routine such that the routine receives the c-structure through the application program interface and reads the bind descriptor to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the attributes and then stores each attribute passed in the c-structure into the fields of the persistent store, whereby application programs may utilize the resource object store by passing a c-structure of a resource object via an application program interface.

2. The resource object store of claim 1, wherein the bind descriptor is created by the application program.

3. The resource object store of claim 1, wherein the bind descriptor is created by the resource object store.

4. The resource object store of claim 1, wherein the persistent store comprises a database and wherein the bind descriptor maps each attribute passed in the c-structure to a field of the database.

5. The resource object store of claim 4, wherein the routine stores the attributes passed by the c-structure into the fields of the data base by generating an SOL INSERT statement for each attribute passed by the c-structure.

6. The resource object store of claim 4, wherein the bind descriptor includes a set of entries each comprising:

field for identifying a portion of the database for storing one of the attributes;

field for identifying the c-structure;

field for identifying one of the attributes in the c-structure;

field for identifying a data type for one of the attributes.

7. The resource object store of claim 1, further comprising a set of child bind descriptors that map at least one attribute of each of a set of child c-structures passed by the application program to corresponding fields of the persistent store.

8. The resource object store of claim 7, wherein the routine reads the child bind descriptors to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the attributes passed in the child c-structures and then stores the attributes passed in the child c-structures into the fields of the persistent store.

9. The resource object store of claim 8, wherein the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors are created by the application program.

10. The resource object store of claim 8, wherein the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors are created by the resource object store.

11. The resource object store of claim 8, wherein the persistent store comprises a database and wherein the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors map the attributes passed in the c-structure and the child c-structure to corresponding fields of the database.

12. The resource object store of claim 11, wherein the routine stores the attributes passed by the c-structure and the child c-structure into the data base by generating an SQL INSERT statement for each attribute passed by the c-structure and the child c-structures.

13. The resource object store of claim 1, wherein the resource object store comprises a linear store and wherein the bind descriptor maps the c-structure to fields of the linear store.

14. A resource object store, comprising:

a database;

a linear store;

a bind descriptor that maps each of a plurality of attributes of a resource object to corresponding fields of the database or the linear store;

routine having an application program interface that enables an application program to pass a c-structure containing the attributes to the routine such that the routine receives the c-structure through the application program interface and reads the bind descriptor to determine the fields of the database or the linear store that correspond to the attributes and then stores each attribute passed in the c-structure into the fields of the database or the linear store, whereby application programs may utilize the resource object store by passing a c-structure of a resource object via an application program interface.

15. The resource object store of claim 14, wherein the bind descriptor is created by the application program.

16. The resource object store of claim 14, wherein the bind descriptor is created by the resource object store.

17. The resource object store of claim 14, wherein the bind descriptor includes a set of entries each comprising:

field for identifying a portion of the database or the linear store for storing one of the attributes;

field for identifying the c-structure;

field for identifying one of the attributes in the c-structure;

field for identifying a data type for one of the attributes.

18. The resource object store of claim 14, further comprising a set of child bind descriptors that map at least one attribute of each of a set of child c-structures passed by the application program to corresponding fields of the database or the linear store.

19. The resource object store of claim 18, wherein the routine reads the child bind descriptors to determine the fields of the database or the linear store that correspond to the attributes passed in the child c-structures and then stores the attributes passed in the child c-structures into the fields of the database or the persistent store.

20. The resource object store of claim 19, wherein the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors are created by the application program.

21. The resource object store of claim 19, wherein the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors are created by the resource object store.

22. A resource object store, comprising:

a persistent store;

hierarchical binding structure comprising a bind descriptor and a set of child bind descriptors wherein the hierarchical binding structure maps a plurality of attributes of a resource object to corresponding fields of the persistent store;

routine having an application program interface that enables an application program to pass a c-structure and a set of child c-structures containing the attributes to the routine such that the routine receives the c-structure and the child c-structures through the application program interface and reads the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the attributes and then stores each attribute passed in the c-structure and the child c-structures into the fields of the persistent store, whereby application programs may utilize the resource object store by passing a c-structure of a resource object via an application program interface.

23. The resource object store of claim 22, wherein the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors are created by the application program.

24. The resource object store of claim 22, wherein the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors are created by the resource object store.

25. The resource object store of claim 22, wherein the persistent store comprises a database and wherein the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors map the attributes passed in the c-structure and the child c-structure to corresponding fields of the database.

26. The resource object store of claim 25, wherein the routine stores the attributes passed by the c-structure and the child c-structure into the data base by generating an SQL INSERT statement for each attribute passed by the c-structure and the child c-structures.

27. A method for accessing a resource object store, comprising the steps of:

creating a bind descriptor that maps each of a plurality of attributes of a resource object to corresponding fields of a persistent store;

receiving a c-structure, from an application program, that contains the attributes;

reading the bind descriptor to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the attributes contained in the c-structure;

storing each attribute passed in the c-structure into the fields of the persistent store, whereby application programs may utilize the resource object store by passing a c-structure of a resource object.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the persistent store comprises a database and wherein the step of creating a bind descriptor comprises the step of creating a bind descriptor that maps each attribute passed in the c-structure to a field of the database.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of storing comprises the step of generating an SOL INSERT statement for each attribute passed by the c-structure.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of creating a bind descriptor comprises the step of creating a bind descriptor that includes a set of entries each comprising:

field for identifying a portion of the database for storing one of the attributes;

field for identifying the c-structure;

field for identifying one of the attributes in the c-structure;

field for identifying a data type for one of the attributes.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the resource object store comprises a linear store and wherein the step of creating a bind descriptor comprises the step of creating a bind descriptor that maps each attribute passed in the c-structure to a field of the linear store.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of creating a bind descriptor further comprises the step of creating a set of child bind descriptors that each map at least one child attribute of the resource object to corresponding fields of the persistent store.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the steps of creating a c-structure containing the attributes and passing the c-structure to a routine in the resource object store further comprises the steps of creating a set of child c-structures containing the child attributes and passing the child c-structures to the routine.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of reading the bind descriptor to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the attributes contained in the c-structure further comprises the step of reading the child bind descriptors to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the child attributes contained in the child c-structures.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of storing each attribute passed in the c-structure into the fields of the persistent store further comprises the step of storing each child attribute passed in the child c-structures into the fields of the persistent store.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the persistent store comprises a database and wherein the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors map the attributes passed in the c-structure and the child c-structure to corresponding fields of the database.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of storing each child attribute comprises the step of generating an SQL INSERT statement for each child attribute passed by the child c-structures.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the resource object store comprises a linear store and wherein the child bind descriptors map the child c-structures to fields of the linear store.

39. An apparatus for accessing a resource object store, comprising:

means for creating a bind descriptor that maps each of a plurality of attributes of a resource object to corresponding fields of a persistent store;

means for receiving a c-structure c that contains the attributes and;

means for reading the bind descriptor to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the attributes contained in the c-structure;

means for storing each attribute passed in the c-structure into the fields of the persistent store, whereby application programs may utilize the resource object store by passing a c-structure of a resource object.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the persistent store comprises a database and wherein the means for creating a bind descriptor comprises means for creating a bind descriptor that maps each attribute passed in the c-structure to a field of the database.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the means for storing comprises means for generating an SQL INSERT statement for each attribute passed by the c-structure.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the means for creating a bind descriptor comprises means for creating a bind descriptor that includes a set of entries each comprising:

field for identifying a portion of the database for storing one of the attributes;

field for identifying the c-structure;

field for identifying one of the attributes in the c-structure;

field for identifying a data type for one of the attributes.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the resource object store comprises a linear store and wherein the means for creating a bind descriptor comprises means for creating a bind descriptor that maps each attribute passed in the c-structure to a field of the linear store.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the means for creating a bind descriptor further comprises means for creating a set of child bind descriptors that each map at least one child attribute of the resource object to corresponding fields of the persistent store.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the means for creating a c-structure containing the attributes and passing the c-structure to a routine in the resource object store further comprises means for creating a set of child c-structures containing the child attributes and passing the child c-structures to the routine.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the means for reading the bind descriptor to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the attributes contained in the c-structure further comprises means for reading the child bind descriptors to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the child attributes contained in the child c-structures.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the means for storing each attribute passed in the c-structure into the fields of the persistent store further comprises means for storing each child attribute passed in the child c-structures into the fields of the persistent store.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the persistent store comprises a database and wherein the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors map the attributes passed in the c-structure and the child c-structure to corresponding fields of the database.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the means for storing each child attribute comprises means for generating an SQL INSERT statement for each child attribute passed by the child c-structures.

50. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the resource object store comprises a linear store and wherein the child bind descriptors map the child c-structures to fields of the linear store.

51. A computer readable medium having a set of instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computer, causes the computer to access a resource object store by performing the steps of:

creating a bind descriptor that maps each of a plurality of attributes of a resource object to corresponding fields of a persistent store;

receiving a c-structure c that contains the attributes and;

reading the bind descriptor to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the attributes contained in the c-structure;

storing each attribute passed in the c-structure into the fields of the persistent store, whereby application programs may utilize the resource object store by passing a c-structure of a resource object.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 51, wherein the persistent store comprises a database and wherein the step of creating a bind descriptor comprises the step of creating a bind descriptor that maps each attribute passed in the c-structure to a field of the database.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the step of storing comprises the step of generating an SQL INSERT statement for each attribute passed by the c-structure.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 52, wherein the step of creating a bind descriptor comprises the step of creating a bind descriptor that includes a set of entries each comprising:

field for identifying a portion of the database for storing one of the attributes;

field for identifying the c-structure;

field for identifying one of the attributes in the c-structure;

field for identifying a data type for one of the attributes.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 51, wherein the resource object store comprises a linear store and wherein the step of creating a bind descriptor comprises the step of creating a bind descriptor that maps each attribute passed in the c-structure to a field of the linear store.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 51, wherein the step of creating a bind descriptor further comprises the step of creating a set of child bind descriptors that each map at least one child attribute of the resource object to corresponding fields of the persistent store.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 56, wherein the steps of creating a c-structure containing the attributes and passing the c-structure to a routine in the resource object store further comprises the steps of creating a set of child c-structures containing the child attributes and passing the child c-structures to the routine.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 57, wherein the step of reading the bind descriptor to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the attributes contained in the c-structure further comprises the step of reading the child bind descriptors to determine the fields of the persistent store that correspond to the child attributes contained in the child c-structures.

59. The computer readable medium of claim 58, wherein the step of storing each attribute passed in the c-structure into the fields of the persistent store further comprises the step of storing each child attribute passed in the child c-structures into the fields of the persistent store.

60. The computer readable medium of claim 57, wherein the persistent store comprises a database and wherein the bind descriptor and the child bind descriptors map the attributes passed in the c-structure and the child c-structure to corresponding fields of the database.

61. The computer readable medium of claim 60, wherein the step of storing each child attribute comprises the step of generating an SQL INSERT statement for each child attribute passed by the child c-structures.

62. The computer readable medium of claim 56, wherein the resource object store comprises a linear store and wherein the child bind descriptors map the child c-structures to fields of the linear store.