Method and system for managing object types for objects defined externally to the system

• US 6,591,276 B1
• Filed: 07/21/2000
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Richardt, Randal J., Dockter, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mizrahi, Diane D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Yicun
• Application Number:
  US09/620,924
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 707/103.R, 707/1, 707/2, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/6, 707/7, 707/8, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/103.Y, 707/103.Z, 345/764, 345/733
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A method and system for managing object types for objects which are defined externally to a system is disclosed. In a first aspect, the method and system comprises recording a relationship of an object to an object class within the system and then recording a system-defined super-class of the object class. A plurality of tables are utilized to record the relationship and the system defined super-class. In a second aspect, a method and system for receiving an externally generated object comprises determining that the externally generated object is represented as an object class in one of a base table and a derived table. The method and system further including obtaining a system-defined super-class of the object. The method and system further includes inserting an object class of the object into the derived table with an identifier of the system-defined super-class and a derived table identifier to create a relationship of a system-defined super-class to a user-defined subclass. The method and system further includes inserting an object and its unique identifier into an objects table, thus creating an accepted object. In a third aspect, a method and system for sending an externally generated object by a system comprises receiving a request, for the object. The request includes a tag. The method and system also includes obtaining information based upon the tag from an object table to provide the object in an appropriate format.

Claims

1. A method for receiving an externally generated information object by a system comprising of:

(a) determining that an object class for the externally generated information object is not represented in a base table or a derived table by the system;

(b) obtaining a system-defined super-class for the information object;

(c) inserting the object class of the information object into the derived table with an identifier of the system defined super-class and an object class identifier to create a relationship between the system-defined super-class and the object class of the information object; and

(d) inserting the information object and its unique identifier into an object table to create an accepted information abject.

2. The method of claim 1 which includes the step of (e) inserting the accepted information object and its unique identifier into a links table.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the unique identifier comprises a tag.

4. A system for receiving an externally generated information object by a system comprising the steps of:

means for determining that an object class for the externally generated information object is not represented in a base table or a derived table in the system;

means for obtaining a system-defined super-class for the information object;

means for inserting an object class of the information object into the derived table with an identifier of the system defined super-class and an object class identifier to create a relationship between the system-defined super-class and the object class of the information object; and

means for inserting the information object and its unique identifier into an objects table to create an accepted information object.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the unique identifier comprises a tag.

6. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for receiving an externally generated information object by a system comprising:

(a) determining that an object class for the externally generated information object is not represented in a base table or a derived table in the system;

(b) obtaining a system-defined super-class for the information object;

(c) inserting an object class of the information object into the derived table with an identifier of the system defined super-class and an object class identifier to create a relationship between the system-defined super-class and the object class of the information object; and

(d) inserting the information object and its unique identifier into an objects table to create an accepted information object.