Object process graph relational database interface

• US 7,493,335 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2005
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graphlogic, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Graphlogic, Inc.
• Inventors: Gold, Steven Allen, Baker, David Marvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Mofiz, Apu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Kavita
• Application Number:
  US10/908,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

A computer software system is provided, namely an Object Process Graph Relational Database Interface (OPGRDI) system. The OPGRDI defines and updates relational database tables based on an OPG and stores and retrieves data in the tables as an OPG-defined application is run. The OPGRDI also defines and updates OPG persistent data object elements based on relational database table schemas. The OPGRDI functions can be enabled by users who want to store and retrieve application information in a relational database system, such as Oracle, Sybase, SQL Server, etc. The OPGRDI alters relational database tables as a user changes the structure of an OPG-defined application.

Claims

1. A computer implemented object process graph relational database interface system, comprising:

a computing device interfaced to a storage medium and a display medium;

a relational database table definer for creating a database schema that is stored in a relational database management system, said database schema corresponding to an object process graph in an object process graph system for creating and executing application programs, thereby providing a mapping between said object process graph in said object process graph system and said database schema in said relational database management system, wherein said object process graph system comprises;

said object process graph for defining an application, said object process graph including process and control structures for control over an order and a timing of data validation, transformation and display, said object process graph being dynamic, directed and cyclical, and said object process graph including at least one data node, at least one process node, and at least one application state node; and

an interpreter for interpreting said object process graph to execute said application, said object process graph capable of being changed while being interpreted by said interpreter.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a graph data change recorder for creating a plurality of data instance change descriptions that correspond to changes to instance data of said object process graph, said data instance change descriptions being grouped by transaction;

at least one journal for holding said data instance change descriptions; and

a relational database updater for selectively storing said instance data in said database schema in said relational database management system, said relational database updater having a transaction processor and a row writer, said transaction processor for determining which data instance change descriptions are in a particular transaction and determining an order for said selective storing, said row writer for determining whether a new row of instance data is to be inserted or whether an existing row of instance data is to be updated in a particular table in said database schema.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said relational database updater is capable of running on a separate process thread than the interpreter.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a graph data retriever for retrieving composite data node attribute values from said database schema and for providing composite data nodes for data loading into the object process graph.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said graph data retriever is capable of creating an instance of a composite data node retriever, said composite data node retriever running on a requestor'"'"'s thread, said composite data node retriever being capable of handling multiple requests for composite data nodes concurrently, said graph data retriever including a row reader for accessing said relational database management system.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a graph data object definer for creating a set of data node descriptions for importing into the object process graph system.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said set of data node descriptions includes a plurality of tables,

each table corresponding to a composite data node in said object process graph,

said composite data node having an instance number attribute representing an identifier, and

said table including columns, each column corresponding to a primitive data node in said object process graph.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of tables includes a first table and a second table,

said first table being in a one-to-one relationship to said second table,

said first table corresponding to a first composite data node and said second table corresponding to a second composite data node, and

said first composite data node being in a parent-child relationship to said second composite data node.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of tables includes a first table and a second table,

said first table having a foreign key column that references said second table,

said first table corresponding to a first composite data node and said second table corresponding to a second composite data node, and

said first composite data node having a reference node, said reference node being associated with said second composite data node.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of tables includes a first table and a second table,

said first table being in a one-to-many relationship with said second table,

said first table corresponding to a first composite data node,

said first composite data node having a data array node, and

said data array node having an array of second composite data nodes corresponding to said second table.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said plurality of tables includes a first table, a second table, and a third table,

said first table being in a many-to-many relationship with said third table,

said second table connecting said first and third tables,

said first table corresponding to an array of first composite data nodes,

said first composite data nodes in the array being associated with a first data array node,

said first data array node having an array of third composite data nodes corresponding to said third table,

said array of third composite data nodes being associated with a second data array node, and

said second data array node being associated with said array of first composite data nodes.

12. A software product stored as instructions on a computer executable storage medium for performing a method of providing an object process graph relational database interface to an object process graph system, said object process graph system creating and executing application programs, the method comprising:

creating at least one database schema that is storable in a relational database management system, said at least one database schema corresponding to an object process graph, wherein said object process graph includes process and control structures for control over an order and a timing of data validation, transformation and display, and further includes at least one data node, at least one process node, and at least one application state node, said object process graph defining an application executable by an interpreter that interprets said object process graph and allows said object process graph to be changed during said interpreting;

receiving one or more data instance change descriptions that correspond to changes to instance data of said object process graph, said descriptions being grouped by transaction; and

selectively storing said instance data in said relational database management system.

13. The software product of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

creating a set of data node descriptions for the object process graph; and

importing the set of data node descriptions into the object process graph system.

14. The software product of claim 13, wherein said set of data node descriptions includes a plurality of tables,

each table corresponding to a composite data node in said object process graph,

said composite data node having an instance number attribute representing an identifier, and

said table including columns, each column corresponding to a primitive data node in said object process graph.

15. The software product of claim 14, wherein said plurality of tables includes a first table and a second table,

said first table being in a one-to-one relationship to said second table,

said first table corresponding to a first composite data node and said second table corresponding to a second composite data node, and

said first composite data node being in a parent-child relationship to said second composite data node.

16. The software product of claim 14, wherein said plurality of tables includes a first table and a second table,

said first table having a foreign key column that references said second table,

said first table corresponding to a first composite data node and said second table corresponding to a second composite data node, and

said first composite data node having a reference node, said reference node being associated with said second composite data node.

17. The software product of claim 14, wherein said plurality of tables includes a first table and a second table,

said first table being in a one-to-many relationship with said second table,

said first table corresponding to a first composite data node,

said first composite data node having a data array node, and

said data array node having an array of second composite data nodes corresponding to said second table.

18. The software product of claim 14, wherein said plurality of tables includes a first table, a second table, and a third table,

said first table being in a many-to-many relationship with said third table,

said second table connecting said first and third tables,

said first table corresponding to an array of first composite data nodes,

said first composite data nodes in the array being associated with a first data array node,

said first data array node having an array of third composite data nodes corresponding to said third table,

said array of third composite data nodes being associated with a second data array node, and

said second data array node being associated with said array of first composite data nodes.

19. A method of providing an object process graph relational database interface to an object process graph system, said object process graph system creating and executing application programs, the method comprising:

receiving at least one object process graph from said object process graph system, said at least one object process graph including process and control structures for control over an order and a timing of data validation, transformation and display, said at least one object process graph being dynamic, directed and cyclical, and each said at least one object process graph including at least one data node, at least one process node, and at least one application state node, said at least one object process graph being executable by an interpreter that interprets said at least one object process graph and allows said at least one object process graph to be changed during the interpreting;

creating at least one database schema corresponding to said at least one object process graph; and

storing said at least one database schema associated with said at least one object process graph in a relational database.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

creating at least one description corresponding to said at least one database schema; and

importing said at least one description.