Linked field table for databases

• US 9,165,048 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2012
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP SE
• Inventors: Agbaria, Adnan
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): LODHI, ANDALIB FT
• Application Number:
  US13/472,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311518A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 707/792, 707/800, 707/803
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/20 of structured data, e.g. relational data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence

Abstract

According to some embodiments, it may be determined that a first field in a first table is to be linked to a second field in a second table. A computer processor may then automatically create a new entry in a linked field table, the new entry including a linked field identifier, a source value, a source link referring to the second field in the second table, and a link counter containing a value indicating that one field refers to the second field in the second table. The first field in the first table may then be updated to refer to the new entry in the linked field table.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method facilitating database field linking, comprising:

determining that a first field in a first table is to be linked to a second field in a second table;

automatically creating by a computer processor a new entry in a linked field table, the new entry including a linked field identifier, a source value, a source link referring to the second field in the second table, and a link counter containing a value indicating a current number of fields that refer to the second field in the second table wherein the link counter is incremented as the number of fields that refer to the second field increases and the link counter is decremented as the number of fields that refer to the second field decreases; and

updating the first field in the first table to refer to the new entry in the linked field table.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the new entry in the linked field table comprises a new row in a hash table.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that an additional field is to be linked to the second field in the second table;

incrementing the link counter value of the new entry; and

updating the additional field to refer to the new entry in the linked field table.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining that a field is no longer to be linked to the second field in the second table; and

decrementing the link counter value of the new entry in the linked field table.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining that the link counter value of the new entry in the linked field table indicates that no field refers to the second field in the second table; and

deleting the new entry in the linked field table.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first table and second table are associated with the same database.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first table and second table are associated with the different databases.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first table, second table, and linked field table are associated with a plurality of remote database servers.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a name associated with the second table has changed; and

updating the source link of the new entry to reflect the changed name of the second table.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the new entry in the linked field table further includes an aggregate field associated with a pre-determined function.

11. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing program code executable by a computer processor to perform a method facilitating database field linking, the method comprising:

determining that a first field in a first database is to be linked to a second field in a second database;

automatically creating by a computer processor a new entry in a linked field table, the new entry including a linked field identifier, a source value, a source link referring to the second field in the second database, and a link counter containing a value indicating a current number of fields that refer to the second field in the second database, wherein the link counter is incremented as the number of fields that refer to the second field increases and the link counter is decremented as the number of fields that refer to the second field decreases; and

updating the first field in the first database to refer to the new entry in the linked field table.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the new entry in the linked field table comprises a new row in a hash table.

13. The medium of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that an additional field is to be linked to the second field in the second database;

incrementing the link counter value of the new entry; and

updating the additional field to refer to the new entry in the linked field table.

14. The medium of claim 13, further comprising:

determining that a field is no longer to be linked to the second field in the second database; and

decrementing the link counter value of the new entry in the linked field table.

15. The medium of claim 14, further comprising:

determining that the link counter value of the new entry in the linked field table indicates that no field refers to the second field in the second database; and

deleting the new entry in the linked field table.

16. The medium of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that a name associated with the second database has changed; and

updating the source link of the new entry to reflect the changed name of the second database.

17. A system, comprising:

a storage unit storing a first table, a second table, and a linked field table; and

a computer processor, coupled to said storage unit, to;

(i) determine that a first field in the first table is to be linked to a second field in the second table, (ii) automatically create a new entry in the linked field table, the new entry including a linked field identifier, a source value, a source link referring to the second field in the second table, and a link counter containing a value indicating a current number of fields that refer to the second field in the second table wherein the link counter is incremented as the number of fields that refer to the second field increases and the link counter is decremented as the number of fields that refer to the second field decreases, and (iii) update the first field in the first table to refer to the new entry in the linked field table.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer processor is further to:

(iv) determine that an additional field is to be linked to the second field in the second table, (v) increment the link counter value of the new entry, and (vi) update the additional field to refer to the new entry in the linked field table.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the computer processor is further to:

(vii) determine that a field is no longer to be linked to the second field in the second table, and (viii) decrement the link counter value of the new entry in the linked field table.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer processor is further to:

(ix) determine that the link counter value of the new entry in the linked field table indicates that no field refers to the second field in the second table, and (x) delete the new entry in the linked field table.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the computer processor is further to:

(xi) determine that a name associated with the second table has changed, and (xii) update the source link of the new entry to reflect the changed name of the second table.