Database query handler supporting querying of textual annotations of relations between data objects
First Claim
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.
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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.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A database system comprising:
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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.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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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.- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- i) represents first text characterizing semantics of the relation of the at least one first item to the at least one second item; and
Specification