Method and apparatus for archiving data in a relational database system

• US 7,113,964 B1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Iteration Software, Inc.
• Inventors: Bequet, Henry G., Gardner, Kenneth C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mofiz, Apu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Syed, Farhan M.
• Application Number:
  US10/457,833
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 707/204
• US Class Current: 707/661
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24564 Applying rules; Deductive queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/954 Relational
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99955 Archiving or backup

Abstract

An arrangement for archiving data in a relational database is disclosed. The arrangement includes a first table having a first data field. A value in the first data field is updated by a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) associated with the relational database when there is a change in the value in the first data field. The arrangement further includes a second table having a second data field represented by a lookup function. The lookup function references the first data field. The lookup function acquiring the value in the first data field for use as a value of the second data field only when a value of the second data field is required by an application program that operates on the relational database.

Claims

1. A computer implemented system for archiving data in a relational database, comprising:

a first table having a first data field, a value in said first data field being updated by a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) associated with said relational database when there is a change in said value in said first data field wherein said first table represents a normalized table optimized for updating transactional data; and

a second table having a second data field represented by a lookup function, said lookup function references said first data field, said lookup function acquiring said value in said first data field for use as a value of said second data field only when a value of said second data field is required by an application program that operates on said relational database wherein said second table represents a de-normalized table optimized for real-time querying using said application program.

2. The computer implemented system of claim 1 wherein said second table further includes a third data field, a value in said third data field being updated by said Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) associated with said relational database when there is a change in said value in said third data field.

3. The computer implemented system of claim 1 wherein said first data field is configured to store active data.

4. The computer implemented system of claim 1 wherein said application program represents a business intelligence program that provides real-time reporting of said active data.

5. The computer implemented system of claim 1 wherein said lookup function is activated when said application program subscribes to said lookup function.

6. A computer implemented method for archiving data in a relational database, comprising:

providing a first table;

updating a value in a first data field of said first table, using a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) associated with said relational database, when there is a change in said value in said first data field wherein said first table represents a normalized table optimized for updating transactional data;

providing a second table having a second data field represented by a lookup function, said lookup function references said first data field wherein said second table represents a de-normalized table optimized for real-time querying using said application program; and

acquiring said value in said first data field for use as a value of said second data field only when a value of said second data field is required by an application program that operates on said relational database.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6 wherein said second table further includes a third data field, a value in said third data field being updated by said Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) associated with said relational database when there is a change in said value in said third data field.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 6 wherein said first data field is configured to store active data.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 6 wherein said application program represents a business intelligence program that provides real-time reporting of said active data.

10. The computer implemented system of claim 6 wherein said lookup function is activated when said application program subscribes to said lookup function.