Structured data management system and computer-readable method for storing structured data management program

• US 6,314,434 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1998
• Issued: 11/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kokubun, Mitsuhiro, Tazaki, Gengo, Shigemi, Nobuhisa, Yamamoto, Hiroyuki, Yoshioka, Makoto
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): RONES, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US09/168,221
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 707/200, 707/103, 707/101, 707/102, 707/104, 707/522, 707/515, 707/517, 707/203, 707/204, 700/2, 709/215, 709/221, 395/500.44
• US Class Current: 707/695
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

A structured data management system which provides services concerning a structured electronic data object. In this system, a structured data storage unit stores a plurality of structured data objects associated with each other. Each structured data object can be represented as a tree structure constructed by a plurality of data elements, or nodes. Further, the individual nodes of a tree structure are associated with their respective process scripts. Through an input/output interface unit, a message addressed to a certain destination node arrives. Upon receipt of the message, a structured data processing unit identifies the destination node by tracing the tree structure of a particular structured data object where the destination node resides. The structured data processing unit then executes a process script associated with the destination node being identified. During the execution of this process script, the structured data processing unit may encounter another message that is addressed to a node in a different structured data object. In this case, the structured data processing unit reads out the specified object from the structured data storage unit and executes a process script of that node.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a structured data management program that provides services concerning a structured electronic data object, the structured data management program being designed to run on a computer to cause the computer to function as:

a structured data storage unit storing the structured data objects, each of which is expressed as a tree structure having a plurality of nodes representing units of data to be processed, each of the nodes being associated with a process script that defines what process should be executed; and

a structured data processing unit identifying a destination node in a particular one of the structured data objects stored in said structured data storage unit by tracing the tree structure of the particular structured data object according to a process request addressed to the destination node, executing the process script associated with the destination node according to the process request, and sending another process request to another node if required in the execution of the process script, wherein;

the particular structured data object is changed from a first version to a second version;

as a result of the change, one of the nodes defined in the first version of the particular structured data object becomes obsolete in the second version,

said structured data storage unit stores both the first and second versions of the particular structured data object in an associated manner, and

said structured data processing unit identifies an alternative destination node in the second version of the particular structured data object, upon receipt of a process request addressed to the obsolete node, by analyzing the tree structures of the first and second versions of the particular structured data object.

2. A structured data management system for providing services concerning structured electronic data objects, comprising:

a structured data storage unit storing the structured data objects, each of which is expressed as a tree structure having a plurality of nodes representing units of data to be processed, each of the nodes being associated with a process script that defines what process should be executed; and

a structured data processing unit identifying a destination node in a particular one of the structured data objects stored in said structured data storage unit by tracing the tree structure of the particular structured data object according to a process request addressed to the destination node, executing the process script associated with the destination node according to the process request, and sending another process request to another node if required in the execution of the process script wherein;

the particular structured data object is changed from a first version to a second version,

as a result of the change, one of the nodes defined in the first version of the particular structured data object becomes obsolete in the second version,

said structured data storage unit stores both the first and second versions of the particular structured data object in an associated manner, and

said structured data processing unit identifies an alternative destination node in the second version of the particular structured data object, upon receipt of a process request addressed to the obsolete node, by analyzing the tree structures of the first and second versions of the particular structured data object.

3. The structured data management system according to claim 2, wherein said structured data processing unit sends another process request to another node in another structured data object, if required in the execution of the process script.

4. The structured data management system according to claim 2, wherein said structured data processing unit provides business support functions by processing a structured data object that contains definitions of business processes.

5. The structured data management system according to claim 2, wherein said structured data processing unit automatically delivers the structured data objects and the process scripts.

6. The structured data management system according to claim 2, wherein said structured data processing unit performs security protection of the process scripts by using cryptography techniques.

7. The structured data management system according to claim 2, wherein said structured data processing unit simulates processes concerning the structured data objects by imitating external environments with a computer, when executing the process script.

8. The structured data management system according to claim 2, wherein said structured data processing unit performs security protection for each element of the structured data objects by using cryptography techniques.