Method for translating an object attribute converter in an information services patterns environment

• US 6,529,909 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1999
• Issued: 03/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture LLP (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Bowman-Amuah, Michel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Benson, Walter
• Application Number:
  US09/386,837
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/3, 707/4, 707/8, 707/10, 707/102, 707/103, 345/352, 717/1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for translating an object attribute to and from a database value. A database is provided and a conversion process is determined for converting an object attribute to and from a database value. The conversion process is encapsulated in an attribute converter. A first object attribute is directed to the attribute converter for conversion to a first database value. A second database value is directed to the attribute converter for conversion to a second object attribute. The second attribute converter is substituted for the attribute converter for altering the conversion of the attribute, and the attribute converter is altered for relieving a performance bottleneck.

Claims

1. A method for translating an object attribute to and from a database value, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a database;

(b) determining a conversion process for converting an object attribute to and from a database value;

(c) encapsulating the conversion process in an attribute converter;

(d) directing a first object attribute to the attribute converter for conversion to a first database value;

(e) directing a second database value to the attribute converter for conversion to a second object attribute

(f) substituting a second attribute converter for the attribute converter for altering the conversion of the attribute; and

(g) altering the attribute converter for relieving a performance bottleneck.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, where in a different attribute converter is created for each type of conversion of object attributes to and from database values.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the attribute converters implement a common interface.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising the step of directing all attributes of the same type to a particular attribute converter.

5. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for translating an object attribute to and from a database value, comprising:

(a) a code segment that provides a database;

(b) a code segment that determines a conversion process for converting an object attribute to and from a database value;

(c) a code segment that encapsulates the conversion process in an attribute converter;

(d) a code segment that directs a first object attribute to the attribute converter for conversion to a first database value;

(e) a code segment that directs a second database value to the attribute converter for conversion to a second object attribute;

(f) a code segment that substitutes a second attribute converter for the attribute converter for altering the conversion of the attribute; and

(g) a code segment that alters the attribute converter for relieving a performance bottleneck.

6. A computer program as recited in claim 5, wherein a different attribute converter is created for each type of conversion of object attributes to and from database values.

7. A computer program as recited in claim 6, wherein the attribute converters implement a common interface.

8. A computer program as recited in claim 6, further comprising a code segment that directs all attributes of the same type to a particular attribute converter.

9. A system for translating an object attribute to and from a database value, comprising:

(a) logic that provides a database;

(b) logic that determines a conversion process for converting an object attribute to and from a database value;

(c) logic that encapsulates the conversion process in an attribute converter;

(d) logic that directs a first object attribute to the attribute converter for conversion to a first database value;

(e) logic that directs a second database value to the attribute converter for conversion to a second object attribute;

(f) logic that substitutes a second attribute converter for the attribute converter for altering the conversion of the attribute; and

(g) logic that alters the attribute converter for relieving a performance bottleneck.

10. A system as recited in claim 9, wherein a different attribute converter is created for each type of conversion of object attributes to and from database values.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein the attribute converters implement a common interface.

12. A system as recited in claim 10, further comprising logic that directs all attributes of the same type to a particular attribute converter.