On-the-fly format conversion

• US 7,280,995 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Sedlar, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DEBBIE M
• Application Number:
  US09/571,568
• Time in Patent Office: 2,703 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 3, 707/8, 707/10, 707100-1041, 707200-203, 707/205, 709206-207, 709217-219, 709223-227, 709/250
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/258 Data format conversion from or to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

Techniques are provided for accessing data stored in a database. According to one technique, a request is received from an application for a stored file that is currently stored in a database. The stored file is associated with a first file type. One or more database commands are issued to retrieve data associated with the stored file from the database. A renderer is selected from a plurality of renderers based on a first set of selection criteria. The renderer is used to generate an outbound file from the data. The outbound file corresponds to a second file type. The outbound file is provided to the application.

Claims

1. A method for accessing data stored in a database, the method comprising:

receiving a request, from an application to an operating system, for a stored file that is currently stored in a database, said stored file being associated with a first file type,

in response to receiving the request for the stored file that is currently stored in the database, the operating system issuing a command to a translation engine;

in response to receiving the command from the operating system, the translation engine issuing one or more database commands to retrieve data associated with said stored file from said database;

selecting a renderer from a plurality of renderers based on a first set of selection criteria;

using said renderer to generate an outbound file from said data, wherein said outbound file corresponds to a second file type,

wherein said first file type is different than said second file type; and

providing said outbound file to said application.

2. The method of claim 1 further wherein:

the method further includes the step of determining that the application supports a plurality of file types; and

said renderer selects said second file type from said plurality of file types based on a second set of selection criteria.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the method further includes the step of determining values of one or more attributes of said stored file; and

said second set of selection criteria includes a selection criterion that is based on the values of said one or more attributes.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of determining that the application supports a plurality of file types includes the steps of:

determining an identity of said application; and

reading data from said database that indicates capabilities of said application.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of selection criteria includes a selection criterion that is based on the file type of said stored file.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the step of generating said outbound file includes combining into a single file values from a plurality of columns of one or more tables in said database.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing the following steps before receiving said request:

receiving an original file of said first data type;

parsing said original file to generate one or more metadata values for said original file;

storing said original file in said database as said stored file; and

storing said one or more metadata values in said database in a manner that associates said one or more metadata values with said stored file.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein:

the step of receiving said original file is performed by receiving data transmitted according to a first protocol;

the step of providing said outbound file to said application is performed by transmitting data according to a second protocol;

said first protocol being different from said second protocol.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the first protocol is an I/O protocol supported by a first operating system; and

the second protocol is an I/O protocol supported by a second operating system.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of said first protocol and said second protocol belongs to a set of protocols that consists of HTTP, FTP, IMAP4 and POP3.

11. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for accessing data stored in a database, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions for performing:

receiving a request, from an application to an operating system, for a stored file that is currently stored in a database, said stored file being associated with a first file type;

in response to receiving the request for the stored file that is currently stored in the database, the operating system issuing a command to a translation engine;

in response to receiving the command from the operating system, the translation engine issuing one or more database commands to retrieve data associated with said stored file from said database;

selecting a renderer from a plurality of renderers based on a first set of selection criteria;

using said renderer to generate an outbound file from said data, wherein said outbound file corresponds to a second file type,

wherein said first file type is different than said second file type; and

providing said outbound file to said application.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 further wherein:

the computer-readable medium further includes instructions for performing the step of determining that the application supports a plurality of file types; and

said renderer selects said second file type from said plurality of file types based on a second set of selection criteria.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein:

the computer-readable medium further includes instructions for performing the step of determining values of one or more attributes of said stored file; and

said second set of selection criteria includes a selection criterion that is based on the values of said one or more attributes.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the step of determining that the application supports a plurality of file types includes the steps of:

determining an identity of said application; and

reading data from said database that indicates capabilities of said application.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the first set of selection criteria includes a selection criterion that is based on the file type of said stored file.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein:

the step of generating said outbound file includes combining into a single file values from a plurality of columns of one or more tables in said database.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 further comprising instructions for performing the following steps before receiving said request:

receiving an original file of said first data type;

parsing said original file to generate one or more metadata values for said original file;

storing said original file in said database as said stored file; and

storing said one or more metadata values in said database in a manner that associates said one or more metadata values with said stored file.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein:

the step of receiving said original file is performed by receiving data transmitted according to a first protocol;

the step of providing said outbound file to said application is performed by transmitting data according to a second protocol;

said first protocol being different from said second protocol.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein:

the first protocol is an I/O protocol supported by a first operating system; and

the second protocol is an I/O protocol supported by a second operating system.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein at least one of said first protocol and said second protocol belongs to a set of protocols that consists of HTTP, FTP, IMAP4 and POP3.