Relational database extenders for handling complex data types

• US 5,799,310 A
• Filed: 11/01/1995
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Petkovic, Dragutin, Jang, Jing-Song, Wilmot, Gerald Johann, Donn, Siyi Terry, Niblack, Carlton Wayne, Hembry, Douglas Michael, Ha, Tri Q., Tung, Frank Chin, Mattos, Nelson, Ho, Jean C., Cheng, Josephine Min-Kung, Yanker, Peter C., Uhrowczik, Peter Paval, Fallside, David Couttie, Anderson, Matthew Paul, Vo, Mimi Phuong-Thao Thi
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RONES, CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/548,301
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.01, 395/335, 395/602, 395/603, 395/421.07, 396/617, 396/609, 396/614, 396/326, 707/2, 707/102, 707/103
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/954 Relational
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/961 Associative
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

This invention is directed to relational extenders for a computer-based relational database. Each relational extender includes at least one column, in a first, business, table containing a user defined application database, dedicated to object handles for defining the complex data type of an object; a second, attribute, table containing at least one column defining a unique characteristic associated with the one object and one column dedicated to containing the object handle; and a third, metadata, table containing at least one column defining a common characteristic associated with all objects defined within the business table and one column dedicated to containing the object handle and at least one column dedicated to containing a reference to object data associated with the object. The relational extender further includes a fourth table containing a reference to each object handle column defined in the first table, and a fifth table containing the names of the second and third tables for each object defined in the first table.

Claims

1. A computer-readable storage medium storing a relational extender for a computer-based relational database, the relational extender providing the relational database with access to object data, comprising:

a first table having a user defined application database, and at least one column dedicated to an object handle created by the user for defining the complex data type of an object;

a second table containing at least one column defining a unique characteristic associated with said one object and one column dedicated to containing said object handle;

a third table containing at least one column defining a common characteristic associated with all objects defined within said first table and one column dedicated to containing said object handle and at least one column dedicated to containing a reference to object data associated with said object;

a fourth table storing each object handle and its associated complex data type as defined in said first table; and

a fifth table containing the names of said second and third tables for each object defined in said first table.

2. A computer-readable storage medium storing a relational extender according to claim 1, further comprising a sixth table containing a reference to each object handle removed from said first table and including one column dedicated to containing a reference to the location of the object data associated with said removed object handle.

3. A computer-readable storage medium storing a relational extender according to claim 2, further comprising a seventh table having at least one column which describes a property of an object defined in said first table.