International Business Machines Corporation

Frank C Tung

Douglas Michael Hembry

Siyi Terry Donn

Robert N Summers

Daniel T Chang

Basuki N Soetarman

Tae Jae Lee

Dragutin Petkovic

Mimi Phuong-Thao Vo

Peter C Yanker

Gerald Johann Wilmot

Nelson Mendonca Mattos

David Couttie Fallside

Carlton Wayne Niblack

Jing-Song Jang

Jean C Ho

Tri Quac Ha

Matthew Paul Anderson

Peter Paval Uhrowczik

Josephine Min-Kung Cheng

A computer method and system capable of searching multiple heterogeneous datastores with heterogeneous data types by employing an object oriented data model to define a federated datastore object. The federated query object translates a generic query into the appropriate queries for each datastore, the federated datastore object acts as a virtual datastore for multiple heterogeneous datastores with the ability to map concepts between datastores, and the federated collection object represents results from a federated query in a hierarchy that maintains sub-grouping information from each datastore to allow accessing of results by datastore or as a single collection of results. The federated objects thus provide user applications with enhanced accessibility of different hierarchies of information, as well as more robust search capabilities.

Federated searches of heterogeneous datastores using a federated datastore object

A computer method and system capable of searching multiple heterogeneous datastores with heterogeneous data types by employing an object oriented data model to define a federated query object, a federated collection object and a federated datastore object. The federated query object translates a generic query into the appropriate queries for each datastore, the federated datastore object acts as a virtual datastore for multiple heterogeneous datastores with the ability to map concepts between datastores, and the federated collection object represents results from a federated query in a hierarchy that maintains sub-grouping information from each datastore to allow accessing of results by datastore or as a single collection of results. The federated objects thus provide user applications with enhanced accessibility of different hierarchies of information, as well as more robust search capabilities.

Managing results of federated searches across heterogeneous datastores with a federated collection object

Federated searching of heterogeneous datastores using a federated datastore object

Federated searching of heterogeneous datastores using a federated query object

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, a fifth table containing the names of the second and third tables for each object defined in the first table, a sixth table containing a reference to each object handle removed from the first table and including one column dedicated to containing a reference to the location of the object data associated with the removed object handle, and a seventh table having at least one column which describes a property of the data type of each object defined in the first table. The relational extender further includes an eighth table as a temporary holding table for the second table, and a ninth table as a temporary holding table for the third table. Both the eighth and ninth tables are used in conjunction with the extender triggers to ensure data integrity.

Computer program product for database relational extenders

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 handles 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.

Relational database extenders for handling complex data types

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.

Growing community of inventors

Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Frank C Tung