Systems and methods for efficient data transfer

• US 8,065,341 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Simon, Francis, Kreibe, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): TRUONG, CAM Y T
• Application Number:
  US12/243,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20100082581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 707/803, 707/999.1, 707/999.102
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for transferring data. In one implementation, a method is provided for transferring data between a sending device (e.g., a server) and a receiving device (e.g., a client). The method may include sending, from the receiving device, a data query to request data from the sending device and receiving, form the sending device, a data result model in response to the data query. The data result model may include a table block. The method may also include analyzing the data result model to regenerate the data for storage at the receiving device. Analyzing the data result model may comprises reading at least one column definition and at least one data row from the table block, the data row including a row flag, a null location list, and a row payload field including the non-null data to be transferred to the receiving device. The method may further include processing each mapped data row to provide the regenerated data for storage at the receiving device.

Claims

1. A method for transferring data, the method comprising:

sending, from a receiving device, a data query to request data from a sending device;

receiving, from the sending device, a data result model in response to the data query, the data result model including a table block and a final status block;

analyzing the data result model to regenerate the data for storage at the receiving device, wherein the analyzing of the data result model comprises;

reading at least one column definition and at least one data row from the table block, the data row including a row flag, a null location list, and a row payload field including non-null data to be transferred to the receiving device,

determining a number of columns in the table block from the column definition,

analyzing the row flag to determine whether the data row includes null values and, when the row flag indicates a presence of null values, further analyzing the null location list to determine location information for the non-null data and the null values,

creating at least one mapped data row by sequentially inserting the non-null data from the row payload field at non-null locations and inserting a null value at each null location determined in the analyzing of the row flag, and determining whether the table block received by the receiving device is complete by reading a user message in the final status block, the user message including a severity flag and an indication that the table block is complete; and

processing each mapped data row to provide the regenerated data for storage at the receiving device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the number of columns in the table block is expandable to any number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the column definition includes predetermined metadata fields and extended metadata fields.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the final status block follows the table block.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving device is a universal data connector.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determined number of columns in the table block is equal to the combined number of null and non-null data values in the at least one mapped data row.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving device comprises an applet.

8. A system for transferring data from a sending device to a receiving device, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing program instructions which, when executed, cause the receiving device to;

receive from the sending device a data result model in response to a data query, the data result model including a table block and a final status block;

analyze the data result model to regenerate the data for storage at the receiving device, wherein the program instructions further cause the receiving device to;

read at least one column definition and at least one data row from the table block, the data row including a row flag, a null location list, and a row payload field including non-null data to be transferred to the receiving device,

determine a number of columns in the table block from the column definition,

analyze the row flag to determine whether the data row includes null values and, when the row flag indicates a presence of null values, further analyze the null location list to determine location information for the non-null data and the null values,

create at least one mapped data row by sequentially inserting the non-null data from the row payload field at non-null locations and inserting a null value at each null location determined from the null location list;

determining whether the table block received from the sending device is complete by reading a user message in the final status block, the user message including a severity flag and an indication that the table block is complete; and

process each mapped data row to provide the regenerated data for storage in the memory.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the memory comprises instructions which, when executed, further cause the receiving device to process each mapped data row to provide the regenerated data for storage at the receiving device.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the column definition includes predetermined metadata fields and extended metadata fields.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the final status block follows the table block.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the determined number of columns in the table block is equal to the combined number of null and non-null data values in the at least one mapped data row.

13. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed on a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for transferring data, the method comprising:

sending, from a receiving device, a data query to request data from a sending device;

receiving, from the sending device, a data result model in response to the data query, the data result model including a table block and a final status block;

analyzing the data result model to regenerate the data for storage at the receiving device, wherein the analyzing the data result model comprises;

reading at least one column definition and at least one data row from the table block, the data row including a row flag, a null location list, and a row payload field including non-null data to be transferred to the receiving device,

determining the number of columns in the table block from the column definition,

analyzing the row flag to determine whether the data row includes null values and, when the row flag indicates a presence of the null values, further

analyzing the null location list to determine location information for the non-null data and the null values,

creating at least one mapped data row by sequentially inserting the non-null data of the row payload field at non-null locations and inserting a null value at each null location determined from the null location list, and determining whether the table block received by receiving device is complete by reading a user message in the final status block, the user message including a severity flag and an indication that the table block is complete; and

processing each mapped data row to provide the regenerated data for storage at the receiving device.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the number of columns in the table block is expandable to any number.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the column definition includes predetermined metadata fields and extended metadata fields.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the final status block follows the table block.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the determined number of columns in the table block is equal to the combined number of null and non-null data values in the at least one mapped data row.