Techniques for retaining hierarchical information in mapping between XML documents and relational data
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method for converting data between eXtensible Markup Language (XML) constructs and Structured Query Language (SQL) constructs in an SQL compliant database management system (DBMS) that allows data items to represent XML constructs, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a SQL statement that includes a particular operator that operates on a first data item that represents a first set of zero or more XML elements; and
during execution of the SQL statement, evaluating the particular operator by generating an ordered collection of zero or more data items, wherein each different data item in the ordered collection is based on a different XML element from the first set; and
there is a data item in the ordered collection for every XML element in the first set.
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Abstract
Techniques for managing XML data in an SQL compliant DBMS include receiving an SQL statement. The SQL statement includes a particular operator that operates on a first instance of XML type that represents a first set of XML elements. During execution of the SQL statement, the particular operator is evaluated by generating an ordered collection of instances of XML type. Each different instance in the ordered collection is based on a different XML element from the first set; and there is an instance in the ordered collection for every XML element from either the first set or from the first set and its descendents. When descendents are included, each entry in the ordered collection indicates a level in the XML tree. In another aspect, an aggregate operator in the SQL statement operates on a collection of instances, with associated levels, to generate a single instance of XML type.
129 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method for converting data between eXtensible Markup Language (XML) constructs and Structured Query Language (SQL) constructs in an SQL compliant database management system (DBMS) that allows data items to represent XML constructs, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a SQL statement that includes a particular operator that operates on a first data item that represents a first set of zero or more XML elements; and
during execution of the SQL statement, evaluating the particular operator by generating an ordered collection of zero or more data items, wherein each different data item in the ordered collection is based on a different XML element from the first set; and
there is a data item in the ordered collection for every XML element in the first set. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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2. A computer-implemented method for converting hierarchical data between eXtensible Markup Language (XML) constructs and Structured Query Language (SQL) constructs in an SQL compliant database management system (DBMS) that allows data items to represent XML constructs, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a SQL statement that includes a particular operator that operates on a first data item that represents at least a first XML construct that includes a first set of one or more XML constructs for which the first XML construct is an ancestor node in an XML tree hierarchy; and
during execution of the SQL statement, evaluating the particular operator by generating an ordered collection of one or more entries, wherein each entry in the ordered collection includes a particular data item that represents a particular XML construct of the first set, and data that indicates a level of the particular XML construct in the XML tree hierarchy. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14)
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15. A computer-implemented method for processing a Structured Query Language (SQL) statement, the method comprising:
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detecting that the SQL statement includes a particular operator that specifies an operation for aggregating information from one or more relational tables; and
during execution of the SQL statement that includes the particular operator, reading from the one or more relational tables attribute values, and corresponding level values; and
generating hierarchical eXtensible Markup Language (XML) information as a result of said operation;
wherein, within said hierarchical XML information, each of the attribute values belongs to a hierarchical level that is based on the level value that corresponds to the attribute value. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification