Method and system for managing access to a plurality of data objects

• US 6,301,581 B1
• Filed: 08/01/1994
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Smiley, Phillip L.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US08/283,466
• Time in Patent Office: 2,626 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG.1, 395/600, 707/103, 707/3, 707/102, 707/104
• US Class Current: 707/718
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/954 Relational
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

The system of the present invention having a first module (20) for storing information describing a plurality of data objects (150, 160, and 170), attributes of each of the plurality of data objects, and relationships therebetween; a second module (15) for accepting and processing user queries generating first results data, the first results data including the information describing the plurality of data objects stored in the first module; and a third module (85) responsive to the second module (15) for generating second results data using the first results data, the second results data including the information contained in the plurality of data objects. The method of the present invention having the steps of providing data which describes the plurality of data objects, attributes of the plurality of data objects, and relationships therebetween; providing at least one procedure operable to build a query specific to at least one of the plurality of data object; accepting user requests querying the data; updating a first results file in response to the user requests; generating the query specific to at least one of the plurality of data objects with at least one procedure in response to the first results file; executing the query specific to at least one of the plurality of data objects; and generating a second results files in response to the executing step which includes information contained within at least one of the plurality of data objects.

Claims

1. System for managing access to a plurality of data objects, comprising:

first means for storing information describing said plurality of data objects and for storing information describing attributes of said plurality of data objects and for storing information describing relationships therebetween as a separate relationship object;

second means for accepting and processing user queries on said information stored in said first means and for generating first results data in response to said user queries;

third means responsive to said second means for generating second results data using said first results data, said second results data including information contained in said plurality of data objects.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said first means includes fourth means for storing said information describing said plurality of data objects, fifth means for storing said information describing said attributes of said plurality of data objects, sixth means for storing information describing said relationships therebetween, and seventh means for storing information describing implemented relationships therebetween.

2. System for managing access to a plurality of data objects, comprising:

first means for storing information describing said plurality of data objects and for storing information describing attributes of said plurality of data objects and for storing information describing relationships therebetween as a separate relationship object;

second means for accepting and processing user queries on said information stored in said first means and for generating first results data in response to said user queries;

third means responsive to said second means for generating a query specific to at least one of said plurality of data objects in response to said first results data, for executing said second query and for generating second results data in response to said execution, said results data including information contained in said plurality of data objects.

3. System for managing access to a plurality of data objects, comprising:

first means for storing information describing said plurality of data objects, for storing information describing attributes of said plurality of data objects as an attribute object, for storing information describing relationships between one of said plurality of data objects and a first attribute of said attributes of said one of said plurality of data objects as instances of said attribute object, for storing information describing relationships between said one of said plurality of data objects and another of said plurality of data objects as an instance of relationship object;

second means for accepting and processing a first query on said information stored in said first means and for generating first results data using said information stored in said first means in response to said first query;

third means responsive to said second means for generating a second query specific to at least one of said plurality of data objects in response to said first results data, for executing said second query and for generating second results data in response to said execution, said results data including information contained in said plurality of data objects.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said second means includes eighth means for browsing said first means;

ninth means for establishing a connection to said first means;

tenth means for accepting and processing said first query; and

eleventh means for generating said first results data using said information stored in said first means in response to said first query.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein said third means includes twelfth means for browsing said first means;

thirteenth means for establishing a connection to said plurality of data objects;

fourteenth means for processing said first results data and for generating said second query specific to at least one of said plurality of data objects in response to said first results data; and

fifteenth means for controlling and executing said second query and for generating second results data in response to said execution.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein said plurality of data objects described in said first means includes said first means.

8. A method for managing access to a plurality of data objects, comprising the steps of:

providing separate objects which describe said plurality of data objects, attributes of said plurality of data objects, and relationships therebetween;

providing at least one procedure operable to generate a first query specific to at least one of said plurality of data object;

accepting a second query querying said data;

updating a first results file in response to said second query;

executing said at least one procedure to generate said first query specific to said at least one of said plurality of data objects in response to said first results file;

executing said first query specific to said at least one of said plurality of data objects; and

generating a second results files in response to said executing step which includes information contained within said at least one of said plurality of data objects.