Query translation for searching complex structures of objects

• US 8,027,970 B1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 09/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Marquié, Bruno, Brette, Marc, Ciminera, Frédéric
• Primary Examiner(s): Trujillo; James
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singh; Amresh
• Application Number:
  US11/644,341
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100, 707/1, 707/713, 707/760
• US Class Current: 707/713
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/211 Schema design and management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2452 Query translation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24549 Run-time optimisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Searching stored content is disclosed. A first mapping is created from an object to one or more stored relational database tables. A second mapping is created from the object to an indexer schema. One or both of the following is done: 1) using the first mapping to translate a search request expressed in an abstract query language to a first query language associated with the relational database; and 2) using the second mapping to translate the search request to a second query language associated with the indexer schema.

Claims

1. A method of searching stored content comprising:

receiving a search request;

determining whether a full text search is better performed prior to a search of one or more stored relational database tables;

in the event that the full text search is better performed prior to a search of one or more stored relational database tables;

translating the search request to a full text query;

executing the full text query;

translating the search request to a relational database query;

executing the relational database query, wherein the relational database query is executed after executing the full text query; and

in the event that the full text search is not better performed prior to the search of one or more store relational database tables;

translating the search request to the relational database query;

executing the relational database query;

translating the search request to the full text query;

executing the full text query, wherein the full text query is executed after executing the relational database query;

wherein automatically determining whether a parallel query comprising another full text query and another relational database query prior to or after the full text query and the relational database query is employed to respond to the search request, and wherein in the event that the parallel query is employed, executing the parallel query.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein translating the search request is transparent to a search requestor.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein translating the search request for the full text query using a mapping between a data model for a complex objects in the query and the indexer schema.

4. A method as in claim 3, wherein the object comprises a content management system stored object.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein translating the search request for the relational database query using a mapping between a data model for a complex objects in the query and relational database tables.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the object comprises a content management system stored object.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the translating is transparent to a search requestor.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein translating the search request for the relational database query comprises translating into a first query language associated with a relational database system.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein translating the search request for the indexer comprises translating into a second query language associated with a full text index search system.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein the full text query operates on the results of the relational database query.

11. A method as in claim 1, wherein the relational database query operates on the results of the full text query.

12. A method as in claim 1, wherein the relational database query operates on the results of the full text query.

13. A computer program product for searching stored content, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable storage medium and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a search request;

determining whether a full text search is better performed prior to a search of one or more stored relational database tables;

in the event that the full text search is better performed prior to a search of one or more stored relational database tables;

translating the search request to a full text query;

executing the full text query;

translating the search request to a relational database query;

executing the relational database query; and

in the event that the full text search is not better performed prior to the search of one or more store relational database tables;

translating the search request to the relational database query;

executing the relational database query;

translating the search request to the full text query;

executing the full text query;

wherein automatically determining whether a parallel query comprising another full text query and another relational database query prior to or after the full text query and the relational database query is employed to respond to the search request, and wherein in the event that the parallel query is employed, executing the parallel query.

14. A system of searching stored content comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with the processor, wherein the memory is configured to provide the processor with instructions which when executed cause the processor to;

receive a search request;

determine whether a full text search is better performed prior to a search of one or more stored relational database tables;

in the event that the full text search is better performed prior to a search of one or more stored relational database tables;

translate the search request to a full text query;

execute the full text query;

translate the search request to a relational database query;

execute the relational database query; and

in the event that the full text search is not better performed prior to the search of one or more store relational database tables;

translate the search request to the relational database query;

execute the relational database query;

translate the search request to the full text query;

execute the full text query;

automatically determine whether a parallel query comprising another full text query and another relational database query prior to or after the full text query and the relational database query is employed to respond to the search request, and wherein in the event that the parallel query is employed, execute the parallel query.

15. A system as in claim 14, wherein translating the search request is transparent to a search requestor.

16. A system as in claim 14, wherein translating the search request for the full text query using a mapping between a data model for a complex objects in the query and the indexer schema.

17. A system as in claim 16, wherein the object comprises a content management system stored object.

18. A system as in claim 16, wherein the object comprises a content management system stored object.

19. A system as in claim 14, wherein translating the search request for the relational database query using a mapping between a data model for a complex objects in the query and relational database tables.

20. A system as in claim 14, wherein the translating is transparent to a search requestor and the translating comprises translating the search request for the relational database query into a first query language associated with a relational database system.

21. A system as in claim 14, wherein translating the search request for the relational database query comprises translating into a first query language is associated with a relational database system.

22. A system as in claim 14, wherein translating the search request for the indexer comprises translating into a second query language associated with a full text index search system.

23. A system as in claim 14, wherein the full text query operates on the results of the relational database query.