Query-based generation of data records

• US 9,348,737 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2012
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Copty, Shady
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHONG H
• Application Number:
  US13/447,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20120197867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,500 Days
• Field of Search: 707/713, 707/722, 707/805, 707/769
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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;

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 performing the database query on the database is characterized in not modifying the database.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, whereby said testing causes a modification to the database that does not flow from the database query.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said generating comprises:

determining a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) of a data record that is characterized in satisfying one or more constraints that are associated with the database query;

solving the CSP using a CSP solver, thereby determining the data record; and

updating the database to include the data record.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the one or more constraints are related to a subquery of the database query.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein said determining the CSP comprises determining a CSP of a plurality of data records that are characterized in satisfying different portions of the one or more 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.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein having the data record in the database is adapted to cause the database management system to execute a predetermined instruction in response to the database query.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined instruction is an optimization instruction, whereby said testing tests operation of the optimization instruction.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein said testing further comprises comparing a result of said performing the database query by the database management system with an expected result.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said testing further comprises performing the database query upon the database using a second database management system thereby obtaining the expected result.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said testing is performed repeatedly with respect to different database queries.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, further comprising automatically generating the different database queries.

13. A computerized apparatus comprising a processor and a computer memory, wherein the processor is arranged to perform the steps of:

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; 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.

14. The computerized apparatus of claim 13, wherein performing the database query on the database is characterized in not modifying the database.

15. The computerized apparatus of claim 14, whereby testing by the computerized apparatus is configured to cause a modification to the database that does not flow from the database query.

16. The computerized apparatus of claim 13, wherein the generating comprises:

determining a Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) of a data record that is characterized in satisfying one or more constraints that are associated with the database query;

solving the CSP using a CSP solver, thereby determining the data record; and

updating the database to include the data record.

17. The computerized apparatus of claim 16, wherein the one or more constraints are related to a subquery of the database query.

18. The computerized apparatus of claim 16, wherein determining the CSP comprises determining a CSP of a plurality of data records that are characterized in satisfying different portions of the one or more 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.

19. The computerized apparatus of claim 16, wherein having the data record in the database is adapted to cause the database management system to execute a predetermined instruction in response to the database query.

20. The computerized apparatus of claim 19, wherein the predetermined instruction is an optimization instruction, whereby testing by the computerized system is operative to test operation of the optimization instruction.

21. The computerized apparatus of claim 16, wherein the testing comprises comparing a result of said performing the database query by the database management system with an expected result.

22. The computerized apparatus of claim 21 operatively coupled to a second database management system, and wherein the computerized apparatus is configured to obtain the expected result by performing the database query on the second database management system.

23. The computerized apparatus of claim 13, wherein said processor is further arranged to generate a plurality of different database queries to be used for testing the database management system, and wherein the testing is performed with respect to the plurality of different database queries.