Field-to-field join constraints

A method of processing an abstract query that includes a group of logical fields specified by a field-to-field join constraint, comprising:

• receiving, from a requesting entity, the abstract query, wherein the abstract query is composed from a plurality of logical fields specified in a database abstraction model, and wherein each logical field defines at least an access method that maps the logical field to data in an underlying physical database;
• generating, from the abstract query, a resolved query of the underlying physical database;
• issuing the resolved query to the underlying physical database to retrieve a set of query results;
• grouping the query results according to the field-to-field join constraint, wherein the field-to-field join constraint specifies how query results retrieved for the group of logical fields should be joined together for purposes of being output;
• and
• returning the grouped query results to the requesting entity.

A method of processing an abstract query that includes a group of logical fields specified by a field-to-field join constraint, comprising:

• receiving, from a requesting entity, the abstract query, wherein the abstract query is composed from a plurality of logical fields specified in a database abstraction model, and wherein each logical field defines at least an access method that maps the logical field to data in an underlying physical database;
• generating, from the abstract query, a resolved query of the underlying physical database;
• modifying the resolved query according to the field-to-field join constraint, wherein the field-to-field join constraint defines how the set of query results retrieved for the group of logical fields should be joined together for purposes of being output;
• executing the resolved query to retrieve a set of grouped query results from the database;
• and
• returning the grouped query results to the requesting entity.

A computer-readable medium containing a plurality of instructions which, when executed on a computer system is configured to perform operations:

• providing an interface for composing for composing an abstract query of a database abstraction model, wherein the database abstraction model defines a plurality of logical fields, wherein each logical field specifies (i) name for the logical field and (ii) at least an access method that maps the logical field to data in an underlying physical database;
• receiving, an abstract query composed from the plurality of logical fields;
• generating, from the abstract query, a resolved query of the underlying physical database;
• issuing the resolved query to the underlying physical database to retrieve a set of query results;
• grouping the query results according to the field-to-field join constraint, wherein the field-to-field join constraint specifies how query results retrieved for the group of logical fields should be joined together for purposes of being output;
• and
• returning the grouped query results to the requesting entity.

A system for accessing a database storage mechanism, comprising:

• a database;
• a database abstraction model, wherein the database abstraction model defines (i) a plurality of logical fields for composing an abstract query, wherein each logical field specifies (a) a name for the logical field and (b) at least an access method that maps the logical field to data in the database, and (ii) at least a field-to-field join constraint based on a relationship between a group of logical fields, wherein the field-to-field join constraint defines how a set of query results retrieved for the group of logical fields should be joined together for purposes of being output
• an interface for composing an abstract query that includes the group of logical fields;
• and
• a runtime component configured to generate, from the abstract query, a resolved query of the database used to retrieve a set of query results from the database, wherein the query results are organized according to the field-to-field join constraint.