Systems and Methods for Freezing Data

• US 20110153672A1
• Filed: 01/14/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Yu, Haiyang, Shi, Jianzhuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,577,923 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/792
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2343 Locking methods, e.g. distributed locking or locking implementation details
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2457 with adaptation to user needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03

Abstract

In one embodiment the present invention includes a computer-implemented for determining whether or not a data object is frozen. The method comprises accessing, by a user on a computer, a first data object of a plurality of data objects in one or more computer software applications. The plurality of data objects are assigned to a plurality of entities, where each entity specifies a category, and each of the plurality of data objects belong to a specific entity. The method determines if the first data object is frozen based on a relationship between the first entity and a second entity.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

accessing, by a user on a computer, a first data object of a plurality of data objects in one or more computer software applications, wherein the plurality of data objects are assigned to a plurality of entities, each entity specifying a category, wherein each of the plurality of data objects belong to a specific entity, wherein the first data object is assigned to a first entity, wherein a second data object is assigned to a second entity, and wherein the second data object is frozen; and

determining if the first data object is frozen based on a relationship between the first entity and the second entity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining is performed in response to the first data object being accessed.

3. The method of claim 1, said determining comprising:

determining the first entity to which the first data object is assigned;

accessing a registry of entities, wherein the registry specifies one or more of the plurality of entities, and wherein a particular entity is specified in the registry if a data object assigned to the particular entity is frozen or if the particular entity is related to an entity having an assigned frozen data object; and

determining if the first entity is in the registry.

4. The method of claim 3, each data object of the plurality of data objects comprising an object identification, the object identification specifying the particular entity to which a particular data object is assigned and a database identifier.

5. The method of claim 3, said determining further comprising:

accessing path information, the path information specifying a relationship path from the first entity, through zero or more intermediate entities, to the second entity.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the relationship path is unique.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the relationship path is time dependent and wherein the relationship path is determined using a time stamp.

8. The method of claim 5, said determining further comprising:

determining whether or not the second entity is related to the first entity using the path information; and

if the second entity is related to the first entity, determining whether or not the second data object assigned to the second entity is frozen.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first data object has a plurality of attribute values each having an associated time, said determining further comprising:

comparing at least one associated time to a frozen time, wherein if the associated time meets a frozen date, then the first data object is frozen.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the associated time is a date, wherein a first attribute of the first data object has an associated date, wherein the frozen time is a frozen date, and wherein the first data object is frozen if the date is before the frozen date.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the associated time is a date, wherein a first attribute of the first data object has an associated date, wherein the frozen time is a frozen date range, and wherein the first data object is frozen if the date is within the frozen date range.

12. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

accessing, by a user on a computer, a first data object of a plurality of data objects in one or more computer software applications, wherein the plurality of data objects are assigned to a plurality of entities, each entity specifying a category, wherein each of the plurality of data objects belong to a specific entity, wherein the first data object is assigned to a first entity, wherein a second data object is assigned to a second entity, and wherein the second data object is frozen; and

determining if the first data object is frozen based on a relationship between the first entity and the second entity.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said determining is performed in response to the first data object being accessed.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12, said determining comprising:

determining the first entity to which the first data object is assigned;

accessing a registry of entities, wherein the registry specifies one or more of the plurality of entities, and wherein a particular entity is specified in the registry if a data object assigned to the particular entity is frozen or if the particular entity is related to an entity having an assigned frozen data object; and

determining if the first entity is in the registry.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, each data object of the plurality of data objects comprising an object identification, the object identification specifying the particular entity to which a particular data object is assigned and a database identifier.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, said determining further comprising:

accessing path information, the path information specifying a relationship path from the first entity, through zero or more intermediate entities, to the second entity.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the relationship path is unique.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 wherein the relationship path is time dependent and wherein the relationship path is determined using a time stamp.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, said determining further comprising:

determining whether or not the second entity is related to the first entity using the path information; and

if the second entity is related to the first entity, determining whether or not the second data object assigned to the second entity is frozen.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein the first data object has a plurality of attribute values each having an associated time, said determining further comprising:

comparing at least one associated time to a frozen time, wherein if the associated time meets a frozen date, then the first data object is frozen.