Managing results of federated searches across heterogeneous datastores with a federated collection object

• US 6,272,488 B1
• Filed: 04/01/1998
• Issued: 08/07/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chang, Daniel T., Lee, Tae Jae, Soetarman, Basuki N., Donn, Siyi Terry, Tung, Frank C., Summers, Robert N., Hembry, Douglas Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Amsbury, Wayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAVAN, THU THAO
• Application Number:
  US09/052,678
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/8, 707/4, 707/3, 707/9, 707/1, 707/5, 707/102, 707/103, 707/104, 707/200, 707/206.2, 370/395, 370/396, 709/303, 709/224, 709/104, 709/105, 709/106, 709/223, 709/225, 709/226, 364/282
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/256 in federated or virtual databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• 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 processing results of a query in a computer system using logical objects of an object-oriented data model, said method comprising:

representing a plurality of said results as a plurality of data objects in said object-oriented data model;

representing collections of said data objects as collection objects in said object-oriented data model; and

representing a collection of said collection objects as a federated collection object in said object-oriented data model,

thereby providing an object-oriented framework which can return the results of a query as a nested-object structure of said object-oriented data model, so that said data objects are nested within said collection objects and said collection objects are nested within said federated collection object.

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

iteratively accessing said data objects in said federated collection object, including data objects in said collection objects, to return said plurality of results.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said iterative accessing is initiated by said federated collection object.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said federated collection object allows both individual processing of said data objects and group processing of said collection objects.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said federated collection object is operable to contain collection objects as well as individual data objects.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said federated collection object provides both individual processing of said data objects and group processing of said collection objects.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said federated collection object represents the data objects of a query of multiple heterogeneous datastores.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said data objects are grouped in a plurality of collection objects such that a collection object represents data objects from a corresponding one of said multiple heterogeneous datastores.

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

using a federated iterator interface to iterate over the collective members of a federated collection object across collection object boundaries and into collection objects, to return data objects within collection objects.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said federated iterator is an interface in said federated collection object.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said federated iterator is a subclass of a more general sequential iterator class.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said federated collection object is operable to return results of said query in a datastore-neutral format.

13. An object-oriented computer software package for processing results of a query in a computer system using an object-oriented data model, said package comprising:

a data class defining methods and attributes used by a data object to represent and manipulate results of said query individually;

a collection class defining methods and attributes used by a collection object to represent and manipulate collections of said data objects together; and

a federated collection class defining methods and attributes used by a federated collection object to represent and manipulate multiple collection objects together;

said software package thereby providing an object-oriented framework which can return the results of a query as a nested-object stricture of said object-oriented data model, so that said data objects are nested within said collection objects and said collection objects are nested within said federated collection object.

14. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 13, wherein said federated collection object is operable to iteratively access said data objects in said federated collection object, including data objects in said collection objects, to return said plurality of results.

15. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 14, wherein said iterative accessing is initiated by said federated collection object.

16. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 13, wherein said federated collection object allows both individual processing of said data objects and group processing of said collection objects.

17. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 13, wherein said federated collection object is operable to contain collection objects as well as individual data objects.

18. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 13, wherein said federated collection object provides both individual processing of said data objects and group processing of said collection objects.

19. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 13, wherein said federated collection object represents the data objects of a query of multiple heterogeneous datastores.

20. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 19, wherein said data objects are grouped in a plurality of collection objects such that a collection object represents data objects from a corresponding one of said multiple heterogeneous datastores.

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

a federated iterator interface operable to iterate over the collective members of a federated collection object across collection object boundaries and into collection objects, to return data objects from within collection objects.

22. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 21, wherein said federated iterator is an interface in said federated collection object.

23. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 22, wherein said federated iterator interface is a subclass of a more general sequential iterator class.

24. An object-oriented computer software package according to claim 13, wherein said federated collection object is operable to return results of said query in a datastore-neutral format.

25. A computer system capable of processing results of a query using instructions and data in logical objects of an object-oriented data model, comprising:

a memory system storing said instructions and data;

a CPU operable to read said instructions from said memory system, said instructions causing said CPU to represent a plurality of said results as a plurality of data objects, represent collections of said data objects as collection objects, and represent a collection of said collection objects as a federated collection object;

said system thereby providing an object-oriented framework which can return the results of a query as a nested-object structure of said object-oriented data model, so that said data objects are nested within said collection objects and said collection objects are nested within said federated collection object.

26. A computer system according to claim 25, wherein said instructions enable said CPU to iteratively access said data objects in said federated collection object, including data objects in said collection objects, to return said plurality of results.

27. A computer system according to claim 26, wherein said CPU initiates said iterative accessing based on instructions from said federated collection object.

28. A computer system according to claim 25, wherein instructions from said federated collection object allow said CPU to perform both individual processing of said data objects and group processing of said collection objects.

29. A computer system according to claim 25, wherein said federated collection object is operable to contain collection objects as well as individual data objects.

30. A computer system according to claim 25, wherein said federated collection object enables said CPU to both individually process said data objects and group process said collection objects.

31. A computer system according to claim 25, wherein said CPU uses instructions from said federated collection object to represent the data objects of a query of multiple heterogeneous datastorcs.

32. A computer system according to claim 31, wherein said data objects are grouped in a plurality of collection objects such that a collection object represents data objects from a corresponding one of said multiple heterogeneous datastores.

33. A computer system according to claim 25, wherein said instructions include a federated iterator interface which enable said CPU to iterate over the collective members of a federated collection object across collection object boundaries and into collection objects, to return data objects within collection objects.

34. A computer system according to claim 33, wherein said federated iterator is an interface in said federated collection object.

35. A computer system according to claim 33, wherein said federated iterator is defined by a subclass of a more general sequential iterator class.

36. A computer system according to claim 33, wherein said federated collection object enables said CPU to return results of said query in a datastore-neutral format.

37. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium, for processing results of a query in a computer system using an object-oriented data model, said package comprising:

a data class defining methods and attributes used by a data object to represent and manipulate results of said query individually;

a collection class defining methods and attributes used by a collection object to represent and manipulate collections of said data objects together; and

a federated collection class defining methods and attributes used by a federated collection object to represent and manipulate multiple collection objects together;

said software package thereby providing an object-oriented framework which can return the results of a query as a nested-object stricture of said object-oriented data model, so that said data objects are nested within said collection objects and said collection objects are nested within said federated collection object.

38. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein said federated collection object is operable to iteratively access said data objects in said federated collection object, including data objects in said collection objects, to return said plurality of results.

39. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium according to claim 38, wherein said iterative accessing is initiated by said federated collection object.

40. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein said federated collection object allows both individual processing of said data objects and group processing of said collection objects.

41. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein said federated collection object is operable to contain collection objects as well as individual data objects.

42. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein said federated collection object provides both individual processing of said data objects and group processing of said collection objects.

43. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein said federated collection object represents the data objects of a query of multiple heterogeneous datastores.

44. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium according to claim 43, wherein said data objects are grouped in a plurality of collection objects such that a collection object represents data objects from a corresponding one of said multiple heterogeneous datastores.

45. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium according to claim 37, further comprising:

a federated iterator interface operable to iterate over the collective members of a federated collection object across collection object boundaries and into collection objects, to return data objects from within collection objects.

46. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium according to claim 45, wherein said federated iterator is an interface in said federated collection object.

47. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium according to claim 46, wherein said federated iterator interface is a subclass of a more general sequential iterator class.

48. An object-oriented computer software package stored in a computer readable medium according to claim 37, wherein said federated collection object is operable to return results of said query in a datastore-neutral format.