Query-based generation of data records

• US 8,200,655 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Copty, Shady
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phong
• Application Number:
  US12/357,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,237 Days
• Field of Search: 707/713, 707/722, 707/805
• US Class Current: 707/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3692 for test results analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3696 Methods or tools to render software testable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating at least one data record in respect to a database query comprising a fetch command. A database may be updated according to the at least one data record. In an exemplary embodiment, a database management system may be tested by performing the database query against the database. In another exemplary embodiment, a data record that satisfies the database query is generated in order to increase coverage when testing a database management system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by a processor, the method comprising:

testing a database management system of a database by;

generating in the database at least one data record based on a database query to the database management system, so that upon execution of the database query by the database management system the at least one data record is involved in processing the database query;

wherein said generating comprises;

identifying a set of constraints in the database query;

determining a satisfaction problem of a data record that is characterized in satisfying at least a portion of the set of constraints;

solving the satisfaction problem using a satisfaction problem solver, thereby determining the data record, wherein the satisfaction solver is selected from a group consisting of;

a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) solver, a Boolean satisfiability problem (SAT) solver, a theorem prover, and a linear programming solver; and

updating the database to include the data record;

performing the database query by the database management system, wherein operation of the database management system is affected by the database retaining the at least one data record; and

whereby the database management system is tested with respect to the database query.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the database management system is operative not to update the database in response to the database query, whereby said testing causes a modification to the database that does not flow from the database query.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the set of constraints relates to a subquery of the database query.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said determining the CSP comprises determining a CSP of a plurality of data records that are characterized in satisfying different portions of the set of constraints;

thereby solving the CSP determines the plurality of data records; and

said updating comprises updating the database to include the plurality of data records.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data record is operative to ensure that the database management system will execute a predetermined instruction in response to the database query.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined instruction is an optimization instruction, whereby said testing tests operation of the optimization instruction.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said testing further comprises comparing a result of said performing the database query by the database management system with an expected result.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein said testing further comprises performing the database query upon the database using a second database management system thereby obtaining the expected result.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the satisfaction problem is a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP), and wherein the satisfaction solver is a CSP solver.

10. A computerized apparatus comprising:

a processor which is arranged to;

test a database management system of a database by;

generating in the database at least one data record based on a database query to the database management system, so that upon execution of the database query by the database management system the at least one data record is involved in processing the database query;

wherein said generating comprises;

identifying a set of constraints in the database query;

determining a satisfaction problem of a data record that is characterized in satisfying at least a portion of the set of constraints;

solving the satisfaction problem using a satisfaction problem solver, thereby determining the data record, wherein the satisfaction solver is selected from a group consisting of;

a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) solver, a Boolean satisfiability problem (SAT) solver, a theorem prover, and a linear programming solver; and

updating the database to include the data record; and

performing the database query by the database management system, wherein operation of the database management system is affected by the database retaining the at least one data record.

11. The computerized apparatus of claim 10, wherein the database management system is operative not to update the database in response to the database query, whereby said processor is configured to cause, during testing, a modification to the database that does not flow from the database query.

12. The computerized apparatus of claim 10, wherein the set of constraints relates to a subquery of the database query.

13. The computerized apparatus of claim 10, wherein said determining the CSP comprises determining a CSP of a plurality of data records that are characterized in satisfying different portions of the set of constraints;

thereby solving the CSP determines the plurality of data records; and

said updating comprises updating the database to include the plurality of data records.

14. The computerized apparatus of claim 10, wherein the data record is operative to ensure that the database management system will execute a predetermined instruction in response to the database query.

15. The computerized apparatus of claim 14, wherein the predetermined instruction is an optimization instruction, whereby said processor is arranged to test operation of the optimization instruction.

16. The computerized apparatus of claim 10, wherein said processor is arranged to perform the testing by comparing a result of said performing the database query by the database management system with an expected result.

17. The computerized apparatus of claim 16, wherein said processor is arranged to perform the testing by performing the database query upon the database using a second database management system thereby obtaining the expected result.

18. The computerized apparatus of claim 10, wherein the satisfaction problem is selected from the group consisting of:

a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) and a Boolean satisfiability problem (SAT).

19. A computer program product, said computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium, in which computer instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to;

test a database management system of a database by;

generating in the database at least one data record based on a database query to the database management system, so that upon execution of the database query by the database management system the at least one data record is involved in processing the database query;

wherein said generating comprises;

identifying a set of constraints in the database query;

determining a satisfaction problem of a data record that is characterized in satisfying at least a portion of the set of constraints;

solving the satisfaction problem using a satisfaction problem solver, thereby determining the data record, wherein the satisfaction solver is selected from a group consisting of;

a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) solver, a Boolean satisfiability problem (SAT) solver, a theorem prover, and a linear programming solver; and

updating the database to include the data record; and

performing the database query by the database management system, wherein operation of the database management system is affected by the database retaining the at least one data record.