Relational query of a hierarchical database
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRobert Hoth, John Miller, Joaquin Ramirez
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Relational queries to a hierarchical database having data tables are rapidly processed. A bridging table is created to transform a many to many relationship into a plurality of one to many relationships. The bridging table is stored on a custom semiconductor chip which parses the query and determines by use of the bridging table which records in the data tables match the query using a custom data algorithm stored on the semiconductor chip. For each match, a pointer to a target record in the hierarchical database is stored. Instructions executed on the custom chip read the pointers or the target records and transfer these to the query requester.
Claims12
A method of querying a hierarchical database, comprising the steps of:
- defining a plurality of many to many relationships for said hierarchical database;
- creating a bridging table having records to transform said many to many relationships between a first and second entity into one to many relationships between said first entity and said bridging table, and one to many relationships between said bridging table and said second entity;
- storing said bridging table in a memory in an integrated circuit chip;
- receiving a relational query from a requester;
- parsing said relational query by instructions executed on said integrated circuit chip;
- accessing each of said records in said bridging table and if said each record meets said query, storing a pointer to a target record in said hierarchical database;
- and
- reading all said target records or said pointers and transferring the read target records or the pointers to said requester.
A system for querying a hierarchical database comprising:
- means for defining a plurality of many to many relationships for said hierarchical database;
- an integrated circuit chip having a memory and an instruction processor;
- means for creating a bridging table stored on said integrated circuit chip, said bridging table having records to transform said many to many relationships between a first and second relationship into one to many relationships between said first relationship and said bridging table, and one to many relationships between said bridging table and said second relationship;
- means for receiving a relational query from a requester;
- means for parsing said relational query by instructions executed by said instruction processor on said integrated circuit chip;
- means for accessing each of said records in said bridging table and if said each record meets said query, storing a pointer to a target record in said hierarchical database;
- and
- means for reading all said target records or said pointers and transferring the read target records or said pointers to said requester.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.