Federated searching of heterogeneous datastores using a federated query object

• US 6,233,586 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: King.com, Ltd (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Soetarman, Basuki N., Summers, Robert N., Tung, Frank C., Chang, Daniel T., Donn, Siyi Terry, Hembry, Douglas Michael, Lee, Tae Jae
• Primary Examiner(s): Choules, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROBINSON, GRETA LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/052,679
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/1, 707/10, 707/103, 707/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A computer method and system capable of searching multiple heterogeneous datastores with heterogeneous data types by employing an object oriented data model to define a federated query object, a federated collection object and a federated datastore object. The federated query object translates a generic query into the appropriate queries for each datastore, the federated datastore object acts as a virtual datastore for multiple heterogeneous datastores with the ability to map concepts between datastores, and the federated collection object represents results from a federated query in a hierarchy that maintains sub-grouping information from each datastore to allow accessing of results by datastore or as a single collection of results. The federated objects thus provide user applications with enhanced accessibility of different hierarchies of information, as well as more robust search capabilities.

Claims

1. A method of searching multiple heterogeneous datastores in a computer system using an object-oriented data model, comprising:

defining a federated query object as a logical object of said object-oriented data model, said federated query object having instructions within said object to represent and execute a query across said multiple heterogeneous datastores.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said federated query object is operable to delegate query processing tasks to different datastores, at least one of said different datastores performing said query processing tasks using a query language that is different from a query language used by another of said different datastores.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

representing the results of said query as collection objects in said data model, each collection object corresponding to one of said datastores; and

representing said collection objects together as a federated collection object in said data model.

4. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

defining a second federated query object as a subquery of said federated query object, said second federated query object operable to represent and execute a query received from said federated query object across a subset of said multiple heterogeneous datastores.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein said federated query object accepts a query in a datastore-neutral query syntax.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein said federated query object accepts a federated query string in a first syntax and parses said federated query string into a second form that is a datastore neutral representation of said query.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said second form is a federated query canonical form.

8. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

initiating said federated query object with an application program, wherein said federated query object is operable to relieve said application program from delegating said query processing tasks to said different datastores.

9. A method according to claim 2, further comprising:

initiating said federated query object with an application program, wherein said federated query object is operable to combine results of said query from different datastores.

10. A method according to claim 2, wherein said federated query object is operable to delegate query processing tasks to datastores which employ any one of DL, DB2, VI, and OD.

11. A method according to claim 2, wherein said federated query object is operable to delegate query processing tasks for parametric, keyword, and QBIC queries.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of said datastores is searchable by non-text image characteristics.

13. An object-oriented computer software package for use in searching multiple heterogeneous datastores in a computer system using an object-oriented data model, comprising;

a federated query class defining a federated query object of said object-oriented data model, said federated query object comprising data and methods and being having instructions within said object to represent and execute a query across said multiple heterogeneous datastores.

14. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 13, wherein said federated query object is operable to delegate query processing tasks to different datastores, at least one of said different datastores performing said query processing tasks using a query language that is different from a query language used by another of said different datastores.

15. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 13, further comprising:

a collection class which defines collection objects in said data model, said collection objects operable to represent the results of said query, each collection object corresponding to one of said datastores; and

a federated collection class which defines a federated collection object in said data model, said federated collection object operable to represent a plurality of said collection objects together.

16. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 14, wherein said federated query class is operable to define a second federated query object as a subquery of said federated query object, said second federated query object operable to represent and execute a query received from said federated query object across a subset of said multiple heterogeneous datastores.

17. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 14, wherein said federated query object accepts a query in a datastore-neutral query syntax.

18. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 14, wherein said federated query object is initiated by an application program, said federated query object being operable to relieve said application program from delegating said query processing tasks to said different datastores.

19. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 14, wherein said federated query object is initiated by an application program, said federated query object being operable to combine results of said query from different datastores.

20. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 14, wherein said federated query object is operable to delegate query processing tasks to datastores which employ any one of DL, DB2, VI, and OD.

21. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 14, wherein said federated query object is operable to delegate query processing tasks for parametric, keyword, and QBIC queries.

22. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 13, wherein one of said datastores is searchable by non-text image characteristics.

23. A computer system capable of searching multiple heterogeneous datastores comprising:

a memory system storing instructions;

a CPU operable to read said instructions from said memory system, said instructions causing said CPU to define a federated query object as a logical object of said object-oriented data model, said federated query object having instructions within said object which cause said CPU to represent and execute a query across said multiple heterogeneous datastores.

24. A computer system according to claim 23, wherein said federated query object causes said CPU to delegate query processing tasks to different datastores, at least one of said different datastores performing said query processing tasks using a query language that is different from a query language used by another of said different datastores.

25. A computer system according to claim 23, wherein said instructions cause said CPU to represent the results of said query as collection objects in said data model, each collection object corresponding to one of said datastores, and represent said collection objects together as a federated collection object in said data model.

26. A computer system according to claim 24, further comprising:

instructions causing said CPU to define a second federated query object as a subquery of said federated query object, said second federated query object operable to cause said CPU to represent and execute a query received from said federated query object across a subset of said multiple heterogeneous datastores.

27. A computer system according to claim 24, wherein said federated query object enables said CPU to accept a query in a datastore-neutral query syntax.

28. A computer system according to claim 24, wherein said federated query object enables said CPU to accept a federated query string in a first syntax and parse said federated query string into a second form that is a datastore neutral representation of said query.

29. A computer system according to claim 28, wherein said second form is a federated query canonical form.

30. A computer system according to claim 24, wherein said federated query object is initiated by an application program, and said federated query object is operable to relieve said application program from delegating said query processing tasks to said different datastores.

31. A computer system according to claim 24, wherein said federated query object is initiated by an application program, and said federated query object is operable to combine results of said query from different datastores.

32. A computer system according to claim 24, wherein said federated query object is operable to cause said CPU to delegate query processing tasks to datastores which employ any one of DL, DB2, VI, and OD.

33. A computer system according to claim 24, wherein said federated query object is operable to cause said CPU to delegate query processing tasks for parametric, keyword, and QBIC queries.

34. A computer system according to claim 23, wherein one of said datastores is searchable by non-text image characteristics.