The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 18, 1996
Paul M Nelson, San Diego, CA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An improved method for value derivation allows for the definition of derived and defaulted information as database table columns. Derivation formulas are defined independently to the database management system. A derivation formula is assigned to each derived or defaulted column during their definition. Derivation formula parameter value assignments are also defined for each derived or defaulted column, if required by the derivation formula associated with the column. In addition, a derivation type is assigned to each derived or defaulted column specifying the conditions under which the value of the column is to be derived. During key processes, such as while inserting a row into a database or retrieving a row from a database, the database management system will determine whether a value is to be derived for each affected column. The database management system makes this determination through the examination of the derivation type associated with the column. If the database management system determines that the value for a derived or defaulted column is to be derived, it automatically invokes the derivation formula assigned to the column using any derivation parameter value assignments specified in the column definition. The database management system will then assume the values resulting from the derivation formula as the values of the derived or defaulted column.