Incorporating external data into a database schema
AssigneeRed Hat, Inc.
InventorsFilip Nguyen, Filip Elias
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various examples are directed to systems and methods for managing a database to include data from an external data source. A database engine may receive a request to add a reference column to a database described by a database schema. The request may comprise a location parameter describing a location of the external data source comprising data for populating the reference column and a data identifying parameter describing data at the external data source for populating the reference column. The database engine may modify the database schema to include the reference column, send a query to the external data source to obtain at least one data item for populating the reference column, and populate the reference column with the at least one data item.
Claims19
A system for managing a database containing data organized with a logical table structure described by a database schema to include data from an external data source, the system comprising:
- at least one processor and an operatively associated computer-readable-medium, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to execute a database engine, and wherein the database engine is configured to:
- receive a request to add a reference column to a preexisting internal table included in the database, wherein the request comprises:
- a type parameter describing a type of an external data source;
- a location parameter describing a location of the external data source comprising data for populating a cache column associated with the reference column;
- a credential parameter for accessing the data at the external data source;
- and
- a data identifying parameter describing data at the external data source for populating the associated cache column;
- responsive to the request, modify the database schema to include in the preexisting internal table the reference column and the associated cache column;
- store the type parameter, the location parameter, the credential parameter, and the data identifying parameter as parameters in the reference column;
- send a query including the parameters in the reference column to the external data source to obtain a value for at least one data item for populating the associated cache column;
- populate the associated cache column in the preexisting internal table included in the database with the value for the at least one data item;
- and
- periodically update the associated cache column with the query including the parameters in the reference column.
A system for managing a database containing data organized with a logical table structure described by a database schema to include data from an external data source, the system comprising:
- at least one processor and an operatively-associated computer-readable-medium, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to execute a database engine, and wherein the database engine is configured to:
- receive a request to add a reference column to a preexisting internal table included in the database, wherein the request comprises:
- a location parameter describing a location of the external data source comprising the further data for populating a cache column associated with the reference column;
- and
- a data identifying parameter describing the further data at the external data source for populating the cache column associated with reference column;
- responsive to the request, modify the database schema to include the reference column and the associated cache column in the preexisting internal table;
- store the location parameter and the data identifying parameter as parameters in the reference column;
- send a query including the parameters in the reference column to the external data source to obtain at least one data item for populating the associated cache column;
- and
- populate the associated cache column in the preexisting internal table included in the database with the at least one data item;
- and
- periodically update the associated cache column with the query including the parameters in the reference column.
A system for managing a database, the system comprising:
- at least one processor and an operatively-associated computer-readable-medium, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to execute a database engine, the database engine is configured to manage a database containing data organized with a logical table structure described by a database schema, the data including data from a source outside the database, the logical table structure including an internal table having a reference column and a cache column associated with the reference column, the reference column comprising a pointer to an external data source and a data identifying parameter describing a value for the data item stored at the external data source, the cache column including data item values retrieved from the external source identified by the reference column, and wherein the database engine is further configured to:
- receive from a client a query, wherein the query identifies a data item from the internal table included in the database schema;
- determine that the data item identified by the query corresponds to the reference column of the table included in the database,
- send a request to the external data source, wherein the request comprises an indication of the data identifying parameter and obtains the value for the data item for populating the associated cache column;
- receive a reply from the external data source, wherein the reply includes the value for the data item;
- populate the associated cache column of the table included in the database with the value for the data item;
- and
- return to the client a reply, wherein the reply confirms that the query has been serviced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.