Operators for accessing hierarchical data in a relational system
First Claim
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1. A method of accessing information managed by a relational database system, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a database language statement that specifies selection criteria for selecting rows managed by the database system;
wherein the rows are associated with nodes in a hierarchy;
wherein the statement includes an operator that specifies that results of said statement are based, at least in part, on respective positions, within the hierarchy, of the nodes associated with the rows;
during execution of said statement, evaluating said operator using information managed by the relational database system about said hierarchy; and
wherein said database language defines said operator as one that evaluates to an output value based on respective positions of nodes within a given hierarchy.
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Abstract
Techniques and systems are provided for efficiently managing hierarchical relational data stored in object-relational database system by extending the syntax of the database language supported by the database system (e.g. SQL) to incorporate several new “hierarchical” operators. These operators are evaluated based on the hierarchical relationship defined for hierarchical relational data. The operators maybe incorporated in SQL queries along with relational operators.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of accessing information managed by a relational database system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a database language statement that specifies selection criteria for selecting rows managed by the database system; wherein the rows are associated with nodes in a hierarchy; wherein the statement includes an operator that specifies that results of said statement are based, at least in part, on respective positions, within the hierarchy, of the nodes associated with the rows; during execution of said statement, evaluating said operator using information managed by the relational database system about said hierarchy; and wherein said database language defines said operator as one that evaluates to an output value based on respective positions of nodes within a given hierarchy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for accessing information managed by a relational database system, the instructions comprising instructions for performing the steps of:
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receiving a database language statement that specifies selection criteria for selecting rows managed by the database system; wherein the rows are associated with nodes in a hierarchy; wherein the statement includes an operator that specifies that results of said statement are based, at least in part, on respective positions, within the hierarchy, of the nodes associated with the rows; during execution of said statement, evaluating said operator using information managed by the relational database system about said hierarchy; and wherein said database language defines said operator as one that evaluates to an output value based on respective positions of nodes within a given hierarchy. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification