Storing and indexing hierarchical data spatially
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorBrian Tunning
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hierarchical data is stored spatially. A flat table may be used to store hierarchical data such that the data's hierarchical organization can be maintained by sorting two integer fields. The data may be positioned in a spatial tree by depth and range. Superior data fields are positioned at higher depths and subordinate fields are positioned at lower depths, depending on their dependencies.
Claims20
A method for storing data, comprising:
- accessing two or more data elements having a hierarchical relationship;
- associating each data element with spatial data;
- and
- storing the spatial data.
A method for accessing data, comprising:
- receiving a query including a desired spatial range parameter;
- accessing one or more sets of hierarchical data having a flat data structure, each set of data associated with spatial range data;
- and
- determining a matching set of hierarchical data corresponding to the desired spatial range parameter.
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising:
- a first spatial data for a first node;
- and
- a second spatial data for a second node, the first node and second node having a hierarchical relationship, said first and second spatial data derived from the hierarchical relationship.
The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein said first and second spatial data includes coordinate data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.