XML element to source mapping tree

• US 7,315,868 B1
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Turba, Thomas N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu; Kuen S
• Application Number:
  US10/028,146
• Time in Patent Office: 2,202 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/3, 707/101, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/4, 707/10
• US Class Current: 707/797
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/86 Mapping to a database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

An apparatus for and method of accommodating an XML document within a data base management system. The XML document is parsed on an element-by-element basis into an acceptable format for use by a data base management system by information contained in an XML mapping tree. Each element may be accompanied by appropriate attributes. The tree may be saved for future use. The XML document may be defined by a Document Type Definition (DTD).

Claims

1. In a data processing system having a user terminal which generates a service request to define desired data processing services coupled to a data base management system which provides said desired data processing services by execution of an ordered sequence of native command language script via a publicly accessible digital data communication network, the improvement comprising:

a. a customized user interface having a plurality of components wherein at least one of said plurality of components is stored within said user terminal and at least another one of said plurality of components is stored within and transferred via said publicly accessible digital data communication network from said data base management system to said user terminal,

wherein a plurality of services are predefined operations or related sequences of operations which provide the client with a desired static or dynamic result, and

wherein the services are categorized by the language in which they were developed;

b. a document containing a plurality of elements formatted in XML (extensible markup language) generated by said user terminal utilizing said customized user interface and transferred from said user terminal to said data base management system which contains said service request; and

c. an XML mapping tree stored within said data base management system via which the transformation of each of said plurality of elements is defined which permits conversion of said document to said ordered sequence of native command language script,

wherein the transformation is further defined by mapping controls, element properties and mapping actions.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of elements further comprises an attribute which is recorded within said XML mapping tree.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said document is defined by a Document Type Definition (DTD).

4. The system according to claim 3 further comprising a storage space within said data base management system in which said XML mapping tree is stored for future use.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein said XML mapping tree is transferred to said user terminal to be displayed on said user terminal in a window.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a. a user terminal having a customized user interface wherein a portion of said customized user interface is not resident within said user terminal;

b. an XML document containing a plurality of elements which describes a service request defining a database management process generated by said user terminal utilizing said customized user interface;

c. a publicly accessible digital data communication network;

d. a data base management system having an input format different from XML which involves a native script which is executed by said data base management system to honor said service request responsively coupled to said publicly accessible digital data communication network which transfers said portion of said customized user interface not resident within said user terminal to said user terminal and which receives said XML document via said publicly accessible digital data communication network,

wherein a plurality of services are predefined operations or related sequences of operations which provide the client with a desired static or dynamic result, and

wherein the services are categorized by the language in which they were developed; and

e. an XML mapping tree responsively coupled to said data base management system which parses said XML document into said input format of said data base management system which involves said native script which is executed by said data base management system to honor said service request,

wherein a transformation of each of said plurality of elements is defined which permits conversion of said document to said ordered sequence of native command language script, and

wherein the transformation is further defined by mapping controls, element properties and mapping actions.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said XML mapping tree is stored for future use.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said XML document further comprises a plurality of elements and at least one of said plurality of elements has an attribute.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said publicly accessible digital data communication system further comprises the Internet.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said XML mapping tree is hierarchical.

11. A method of using an XML document to define a service request to a data base management system having an incompatible input protocol including an ordered sequence of command language statements for execution by said data base management system to honor said service request comprising:

a. transferring a portion of a customized user interface to a user terminal from said data base management system;

b. creating said XML document containing a plurality of elements by said user terminal using said customized user interface;

c. transferring said XML document defining said service request to said data base management system via a publicly accessible digital data communication network,

wherein a plurality of services are predefined operations or related sequences of operations which provide the client with a desired static or dynamic result, and

wherein the services are categorized by the language in which they were developed;

d. parsing said XML document into an XML mapping tree,

wherein a transformation of each of said plurality of elements is defined which permits conversion of said document to said ordered sequence of native command language script, and

wherein the transformation is further defined by mapping controls, element properties and mapping actions; and

e. presenting said parsed XML document as said ordered sequence of command language statements to said data base management system for processing by execution.

12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising the set of saving said XML mapping tree for future use.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein said XML document is defined by a DTD.

14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said XML document further comprises a plurality of elements and at least one element has an attribute.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said publicly accessible digital data communication network further comprises the Internet.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a. creating means for creating an XML document containing a plurality of elements defining a service request utilizing a customized user interface;

b. transmitting means responsively coupled to said creating means for transmitting said XML document defining said service request,

wherein a plurality of services are predefined operations or related sequences of operations which provide the client with a desired static or dynamic result, and

wherein the services are categorized by the language in which they were developed;

c. providing means responsively coupled to said transmitting means for providing data base management functions to honor said service request and for providing a portion of said customized user interface to said creating means; and

d. composing means responsively coupled to said providing means for composing said XML document from an XML mapping tree and data in said data base management system,

wherein a transformation of each of said plurality of elements is defined which permits conversion of said document to said ordered sequence of native command language script, and

wherein the transformation is further defined by mapping controls, element properties and mapping actions.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said composing means further comprises storing means for storing said parsed XML document for future use.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said XML document further comprises a plurality of elements and at least one of said plurality of elements has an attribute.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said transmitting means further comprises the Internet.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising displaying means for displaying said XML document.

21. An apparatus for controlling a legacy database management system using an XML message comprising:

a. a user terminal having a customized user interface with which said user terminal generates a database management system service request as said XML message containing a plurality of element,

wherein a plurality of services are predefined operations or related sequences of operations which provide the client with a desired static or dynamic result, and

wherein the services are categorized by the language in which they were developed;

b. said legacy database management system responsively coupled to said user terminal via a publicly accessible digital data communication network which stores components of said customized user interface and which transfers said components of said customized user interface to said user terminal for generating said service request as said XML message and which honors said service request by executing an ordered sequence of command language script; and

c. a conversion facility responsively coupled to said legacy database management system which parses said XML message to produce said ordered sequence of command language script,

wherein a transformation of each of said plurality of elements is defined which permits conversion of said document to said ordered sequence of native command language script, and

wherein the transformation is further defined by mapping controls, element properties and mapping actions.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21 wherein said XML message further comprises a plurality of elements.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said conversion facility further comprises an element to source mapping tree.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23 further comprising a repository wherein said element to source mapping tree is stored for future use.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24 wherein said publicly accessible digital data communication network further comprises the Internet.