Data model dualization

• US 9,460,189 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2010
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Meijer, Henricus Johannes Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Susan
• Application Number:
  US12/888,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20120078974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,203 Days
• Field of Search: 717/140, 705/7.11, 709/246
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/212 with details for data modelling support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/288 Entity relationship models
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/86 Mapping to a database

Abstract

A data model can be generated by dualizing another data model. In other words, a first data model can be transformed into a second data model, wherein the second data model is a mathematical dual of the first data model. For example, a non-relational data model can be generated by dualizing a relational data model.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

employing at least one processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions stored in memory to perform the following acts;

receiving a first data model;

identifying objects and morphisms of the first data model, wherein the objects are uniquely identifiable entities that capture data and the morphisms are relationships between the entities;

generating a second data model that is a categorical dual of the first data model by interchanging source and target objects of one or more morphisms of the first data model and interchanging order of composite morphisms of the first data model, wherein the second data model is a different version of the first data model that formalizes a non-relational data model as the categorical dual of a relational data model; and

initiating creation of a database from the second data model.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprises transforming the second data model into the first data model by dualizing the second data model.

3. The method of claim 1, comprises generating a key-value model from the relational data model.

4. The method of claim 1, comprises generating a relational data model from a non-relational data model.

5. The method of claim 1, comprises generating an unstructured data model from a structured data model.

6. A system, comprising:

a physical processor coupled to a memory device, the processor configured to execute the following computer-executable components stored in the memory device;

a first component that receives a first data model;

a second component that transforms the first data model into a second data model that is a categorical dual of the first data model, wherein the second component interchanges source and target objects of one or more morphisms and order of any existing composite morphisms of the first data model to produce the second data model, wherein the second data model is a different version of the first data model that formalizes a non-relational data model as the categorical dual of a relational data model; and

a third component that creates a database organized in accordance with the second data model.

7. The system of claim 6, the first data model is a structured data model.

8. The system of claim 6, the second data model is an unstructured data model.

9. The system of claim 6, the second data model is a key-value data model.

10. The system of claim 6, the second data model is a document data model.

11. The system of claim 6, the second component operates semi-automatically as a tool to aid a user in generating the dual of the first data model.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, excluding signals, having instructions stored thereon that enable at least one processor to execute a method, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, a first database model;

identifying objects and morphisms of the first database model, wherein the objects are uniquely identifiable entities that capture data and the morphisms are relationships between the entities;

generating a second database model that is a categorical dual of the first database model by interchanging source and target objects of one or more morphisms of the first database model and interchanging order of composite morphisms of the first database model, wherein the second database model is a different version of the first database model that formalizes a non-relational database model as the categorical dual of a relational database model; and

initiating creation of a database structured in accordance with the second database model.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, the method further comprises creating a key-value database model.