Method and apparatus for object oriented storage and retrieval of data from a relational database
AssigneePortal Software, Inc.
InventorsGary Owens, David Labuda
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for accessing a relational database through an object-oriented querying interface are provided. A class of objects that are to be stored in the relational database are defined. One or more relational database tables are created and a mapping is produced that maps each data member of an object to one or more columns in a relational database table. Additionally, object-oriented paradigms like inheritance may be supported and the allocation of storage for array elements may be deferred until necessary.
Claims19
In a computer system, a method of storing objects in a relational database, comprising the steps of:
- creating a relational database table configured to store the objects of a class, wherein the objects of the class have at least one data member;
- instantiating a container object to store the data member;
- transiently storing the data member in the container object;
- generating a hierarchical tree that represents a definition of the data member;
- and
- storing a default value for the data member in the hierarchical tree.
In a computer system, a method of storing objects in a relational database, comprising the steps of:
- creating the at least one relational database table to store the objects of the class, wherein the objects of the class have at least one data member;
- abstaining from allocating storage space in the relational database table for the data member;
- later changing the data member to a non-default value;
- and
- later allocating storage space in the relational database table for the data member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.