Opaque types
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for handling within a database system a data item that is associated with a data type whose native structure is not known to said database system, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
- said database system receiving user input that specifies a pickling mechanism and an unpickling mechanism for said data type;
prior to storing said data item to non-volatile memory, said database system invoking said pickling mechanism to transform said data item from said native structure to a storable format;
upon reading said data item from non-volatile memory, said database system invoking said unpickling mechanism to transform said data item from said storable format to said native structure; and
maintaining said data item in said native structure as the data item is passed between said database system and routines that expect said data item to be in said native structure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for handling within a database system data items that are associated with data types whose native structure is not known to the database system. The data items are stored within the database system in their native structure, even though it is not understood by the database system. To store the data items, the database system calls a pickling routine that is provided by the user, or by the runtime subsystem of the programming environment that is native to the data item. To retrieve the routine from storage, the database system calls an unpickling routine, also provided by the user or the appropriate runtime subsystem. Because the database maintains the data items in their native format, no conversions are required as the data items are passed between the database system and external routines that manipulate the data items.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for handling within a database system a data item that is associated with a data type whose native structure is not known to said database system, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
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said database system receiving user input that specifies a pickling mechanism and an unpickling mechanism for said data type;
prior to storing said data item to non-volatile memory, said database system invoking said pickling mechanism to transform said data item from said native structure to a storable format;
upon reading said data item from non-volatile memory, said database system invoking said unpickling mechanism to transform said data item from said storable format to said native structure; and
maintaining said data item in said native structure as the data item is passed between said database system and routines that expect said data item to be in said native structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for handling within a database system a data item that is associated with a data type whose native structure is not known to said database system, comprising the steps of:
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said database system receiving user input that specifies a pickling mechanism and an unpickling mechanism for said data type;
prior to storing said data item to non-volatile memory, said database system invoking said pickling mechanism to transform said data item from said native structure to a storable format;
upon reading said data item from non-volatile memory, said database system invoking said unpickling mechanism to transform said data item from said storable format to said native structure; and
maintaining said data item in said native structure as the data item is passed between said database system and routines that expect said data item to be in said native structure. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for handling within a database system a data item that is associated with a data type whose native structure is not known to said database system, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
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the database system registering a first user-specified routine for pickling data items that belong to said data type;
the database system registering a second user-specified routine for unpickling data items that belong to said data type;
to store data items that belong to said data type on non-volatile memory, invoking said first user-specified routine for pickling data items that belong to said data type; and
to load data items that belong to said data type from non-volatile memory, invoking said second user-specified routine for unpickling data items that belong to said data type;
said database system receiving user input that specifies the set of attributes;
said database system receiving user input that specifies a data type that is supported by said database system for each attribute in said set of attributes;
said database system receiving user input that specifies an external routine for accessing a first attribute of said set of attributes, wherein said external routine expects said data item to have said native structure; and
said database system invoking said external routine to access said at least one attribute;
in response to invoking said external routine, said database system receiving from said external routine a value that is structured according to the data type associated with said first attribute. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification