System and method for schema lifecycles in a virtual content repository that integrates a plurality of content repositories

• US 7,580,953 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2005
• Issued: 08/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: BEA Systems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Owen, James, Bales, Christopher E., McCauley, Rodney
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Uyen T.
• Application Number:
  US11/098,781
• Publication Number:
  US 20050228807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 707/104.1, 707/1, 707/10, 707/100, 707/200, 707/203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/93 Document management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

A system and method for providing a lifecycle for content in a virtual content repository (VCR), comprising, integrating a plurality of repositories into the VCR, storing the content in the VCR, allowing the content to go through a set of states according to a lifecycle definition, and wherein the content is accessible through a logical namespace that encompasses the plurality of repositories.

Claims

1. A method for providing a lifecycle for schema in a virtual content repository (VCR), comprising:

integrating a plurality of repositories into the VCR so that individual repositories appear and behave as a single repository to an application;

storing a content in the VCR, so that the content is accessible through a logical namespace that encompasses the plurality of repositories;

associating a schema with the content; and

transitioning the schema through a set of states according to a lifecycle definition;

wherein the content is accessible through a logical namespace that encompasses the plurality of repositories.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the schema can go from a first state to at least one other state where there is a transition between the first state and the at least one other state.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

the transition can be constrained to at least one of;

a user, a group of users, a role, and a capability.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

performing an action associated with the first state, the at least one other state, or the transition.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the action can be constrained by at least one of;

a policy and a role.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the action can include one of;

a function/method call, a remote procedure call, inter-process communication, intra-process communication, interfacing with a hardware device, checking the content into/out of version control, processing the content, providing a notification to a user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

a state change can be initiated by a user or a process.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining a version history to track changes to the schema.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of integrating includes:

implementing a service provider interface (SPI) that is compatible with the VCR.

10. A system for providing a lifecycle for schema, comprising:

a virtual content repository (VCR);

a plurality of repositories integrated into the VCR so that individual repositories appear and behave as a single repository to an application; and

a lifecycle definition defining a set of states the schema can go through;

wherein the schema is associated with a content stored in the VCR; and

wherein the content is accessible through a logical namespace that encompasses the plurality of repositories.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein:

the schema can go from a first state to at least one other state where there is a transition between the first state and the at least one other state.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein:

the transition can be constrained to at least one of;

a user, a group of users, a role, and a capability.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein:

an action associated with a state or a transition is performed.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein:

the action can be constrained by at least one of;

a policy and a role.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein:

the action can include one of;

a function/system call, a remote procedure call, inter-process communication, intra-process communication, interfacing with a hardware device, checking the content into/out of version control, processing the content, providing a notification to a user.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein:

a state change can be initiated by a user or a process.

17. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a version history to track changes to the schema.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a service provider interface (SPI) that is compatible with the VCR.

19. A machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed by one or more processors cause a system to:

integrate a plurality of repositories into a virtual content repository (VCR) so that individual repositories appear and behave as a single repository to an application;

store the content in the VCR, so that the content is accessible through a logical namespace that encompasses the plurality of repositories;

associate a schema with the content; and

transition the schema through a set of states according to a lifecycle definition;

wherein the content is accessible through a logical namespace that encompasses the plurality of repositories.

20. The machine readable medium of claim 19 wherein:

the schema can go from a first state to at least one other state where there is a transition between the first state and the at least one other state.

21. The machine readable medium of claim 20 wherein:

the transition can be constrained to at least one of;

a user, a group of users, a role, and a capability.

22. The machine readable medium of claim 20, further comprising instructions that when executed cause the system to:

performing an action associated with the first state, the at least one other state, or the transition.

23. The machine readable medium of claim 22 wherein:

the action can be constrained by at least one of;

a policy and a role.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 22 wherein:

the action can include one of;

a function/machine readable medium call, a remote procedure call, inter-process communication, intra-process communication, interfacing with a hardware device, checking the content into/out of version control, processing the content, providing a notification to a user.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 19 wherein:

a state change can be initiated by a user or a process.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions that when executed cause the system to:

maintain a version history to track changes to the schema.

27. The machine readable medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions that when executed cause the system to:

implement a service provider interface (SPI) that is compatible with the VCR.