Database query handler supporting querying of textual annotations of relations between data objects

• US 6,618,732 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2000
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Revelink Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Revelink Incorporated
• Inventors: White, Jason S., Hall, Rebecca L., Engstrom, Harold H.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHOULES, JACK M
• Application Number:
  US09/712,810
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101-103
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/288 Entity relationship models
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/289 Object oriented databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/954 Relational
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/955 Object-oriented
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

An improved command handler (and database system utilizing the improved command handler) interfaces to a datastore storing item data for a plurality of items and bi-directional modifier data, corresponding to a relation between at least one first item and at least one second item, that represents first text characterizing semantics of a relationship of the at least one first item to the at least one second item, and represents second text characterizing semantics of a relationship of the at least one second item to the at least one first item. The command handler operates, in response to receiving a first-type query command that specifies at least one given item, to access the datastore to identify i) at least one related item that is related to the given item, and identify ii) either the first text or the second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item. The command hander returns i) data corresponding to the at least one related item; and ii) data corresponding to the identified first text and or second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item. Preferably, the data returned in response to the first-type query command identifies the at least one related item. and identifies the first text or second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item. In addition, the command handler preferably supports additional commands that retrieve from the datastore information related to specified objects, object types, and relations.

The command handler (and database system) of the present invention may be used in a wide assortment of software applications, including enterprise applications (such as e-business applications, supply chain management applications, customer relationship management applications, decision support applications), the file system in operating systems, web browsers, e-mail applications and personal information management applications. Importantly, the command handler (and database system) provides an efficient mechanism to query the organization of the data elements (and the relationships therebetween) stored and accessed in such software applications, in a manner that efficient and readily adaptable to client-server database systems or other distributed database systems.

Claims

1. A database system comprising:

a datastore storing;

first data comprising a plurality of items; and

second data, for each given relation between at least one first item and at least one second item, that;

i) represents first text characterizing semantics of the relation of the at least one first item to the at least one second item; and

ii) represents second text characterizing semantics of the relation of the at least one second item to the at least one first item;

a command handler that operates, in response to receiving a first-type query command that specifies at least one given item, to access the datastore to identify i) at least one related item that is related to the given item, and ii) one of the first text and second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item; and

returns i) data corresponding to the at least one related item; and

ii) data corresponding to the one of the first text and second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item.

2. The database system of claim 1, wherein the returned data identifies the at least one related item and identifies text characterizing semantics of each relation between the given item and the at least one related item.

3. The database system of claim 1, wherein the returned data represents one of the first text and second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item.

4. The database system of claim 1, wherein the command handler operates, in response to receiving a second-type query command that specifies:

i) at least one given item, and ii) one of first text and second text for at least one relation for the given item, to access the datastore to identify at least one related item that is related to the given item, wherein the semantics of this relation corresponds to the specified one of the first text and second text; and

returns i) data corresponding to the at least one related item.

5. The database system of claim 4, wherein the data returned in response to the second-type query identifies the at least one related item.

6. The database system of claim 4, wherein the command handler operates, in response to receiving a third-type query command that specifies:

i) at least one given item, ii) one of first text and second text for at least one relation for the given item, and iii) at least one type, to access the datastore to identify at least one related item that is related to the given item, wherein the semantics of this relation corresponds to the specified one of the first text and second text; and

wherein the type of the related item corresponds to the specified type, and returns data corresponding to the at least one related item.

7. The database system of claim 6, wherein the data returned in response to the third-type query identifies the at least one related item.

8. The database system of claim 4, wherein the command handler operates, in response to receiving a third-type query command that specifies:

i) at least one given item, and ii) one of first text and second text for at least one relation for the given item, to access the datastore to identify at least one type having a related item that is related to the given item, wherein the semantics of this relation corresponds to the specified one of the first text and second text, and returns data corresponding to the at least one type.

9. The database system of claim 8, wherein the data returned in response to the third-type query identifies the at least one type.

10. The database system of claim 1, wherein the first text includes first singular text characterizing semantics of a relationship of one first item to at least one second item and first plural text characterizing the semantics of a plurality of first items to at least one second item, and the second text includes second singular text characterizing semantics of a relationship of one second item to at least one first item and second plural text characterizing semantics of a plurality of second items to at least one item.

11. The database system of claim 1, wherein the first data and second data are stored in distinct data records.

12. The database system of claim 1, wherein the first text and second text comprise arbitrary text strings defined by user input.

13. The database system of claim 9, for use as a relational database management system.

14. In a database system comprising a datastore storing first data comprising a plurality of items and second data, for each given relation between at least one first item and at least one second item, that:

i) represents first text characterizing semantics of the relation of the at least one first item to the at least one second item; and

ii) represents second text characterizing semantics of the relation of the at least one second item to the at least one first item, a mechanism comprising;

a command handler that operates, in response to receiving a first-type query command that specifies at least one given item, to access the datastore to identify i) at least one related item that is related to the given item, and ii) one of the first text and second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item; and

returns i) data corresponding to the at least one related item; and

ii) data corresponding to the one of the first text and second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item.

15. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the returned data identifies the at least one related item and identifies text characterizing semantics of each relation between the given item and the at least one related item.

16. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the returned data represents one of the first text and second text characterizing semantics of the relation between the given item and the at least one related item.

17. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the command handler operates, in response to receiving a second-type query command that specifies:

i) at least one given item, and ii) one of first text and second text for at least one relation for the given item, to access the datastore to identify at least one related item that is related to the given item, wherein the semantics of this relation corresponds to the specified one of the first text and second text; and

returns to the user i) data corresponding to the at least one related item.

18. The mechanism of claim 17, wherein the data returned in response to the second-type query identifies the at least one related item.

19. The mechanism of claim 17, wherein the command handler operates, in response to receiving a third-type query command that specifies:

i) at least one given item, ii) one of first text and second text for at least one relation for the given item, and iii) at least one type, to access the datastore to identify at least one related item that is related to the given item, wherein the semantics of this relation corresponds to the specified one of the first text and second text; and

wherein the type of the related item corresponds to the specified type, and returns data corresponding to the at least one related item.

20. The mechanism of claim 19, wherein the data returned in response to the third-type query identifies the at least one related item.

21. The mechanism of claim 17, wherein the command handler operates, in response to receiving a fourth-type query command that specifies:

i) at least one given item, and ii) one of first text and second text for at least one relation for the given item, to access the datastore to identify at least one type having a related item that is related to the given item, wherein the semantics of this relation corresponds to the specified one of the first text and second text, and returns data corresponding to the at least one type.

22. The mechanism of claim 21, wherein the data returned in response to the fourth-type query identifies the at least one type.

23. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the first text includes first singular text characterizing semantics of a relationship of one first item to at least one second item and first plural text characterizing the semantics of a plurality of first items to at least one second item, and the second text includes second singular text characterizing semantics of a relationship of one second item to at least one first item and second plural text characterizing semantics of a plurality of second items to at least one item.

24. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the first data and second data are stored in distinct data records.

25. The mechanism of claim 14, wherein the first text and second text comprise arbitrary text strings defined by user input.

26. The mechanism of claim 14, for use in a relational database management system, wherein the data store comprises at least one relational database.