System for representing hierarchical structures

A method for identifying the location of a functional entity in a hierarchy within a computer system said hierarchy having a plurality of levels, each level having one or more positions, said method comprising:

• providing a computer system including functional entities having hierarchical relationships, each of said functional entities corresponding to a position in said hierarchy;
• defining a DOMKEY for each position in said hierarchy wherein each DOMKEY is unique string of information said Step of defining further comprising the steps of:
• defining one or more logical positions within said DOMKEY:
• assigning data to each said logical position, said data being capable of representing the maximum number of functional entities which can be defined to a given level in said. hierarchical structure:
• incorporating the DOMKEYs of higher positions in the hierarchy in their entirety into the DOMKEYs of positions below them in the hierarchy;
• and assigning a unique DOMKEY to each of the positions which are at the same level in the hierarchy:
• assigning each functional entity to said position in said hierarchy to which it corresponds;
• assigning to each functional entity in said hierarchy one of said DOMKEYs which has been assigned to said position corresponding to said functional entity in said computer system's hierarchy;
• and
• for any selected first and second functional entities in said hierarchy where the second functional entity has a DOMKEY that is longer than that of the first functional entity using said DOMKEYs to verify that the second functional entity is at a position below said first functional entity in said hierarchy by determining if the DOMKEY for the first functional entity is contained for its full length in the DOMKEY for the second functional entity.

A method for identifying if one functional entity in a hierarchy within a computer system has domination over a second functional entity in said hierarchy, said hierarchy having a plurality of levels, each level having one or more positions, said method comprising:

• providing a computer system including functional entities having hierarchical relationships, each of said functional entities corresponding to a position in said hierarchy;
• defining a DOMKEY for each position in said hierarchy wherein each DOMKEY is a unique string of information said step of defining further comprising the steps of:
• defining one or more logical positions within said DOMKEY:
• assigning data to each said logical position, said data being capable of representing the maximum number of functional entities which can be defined to a given level in said hierarchical structure;
• incorporating the DOMKEYs of higher positions in the hierarchy in their entirety into the DOMKEYs of positions below them in the hierarchy;
• and
• assigning a unique DOMKEY to each of the positions which are at the same level in the hierarchy;
• assigning each functional entity to said position in said hierarchy to which it correspond;
• assigning to each functional entity in said hierarchy one of said DOMKEYs which has been assigned to said position corresponding to said functional entity in said computer system's hierarchy;
• and
• for any selected first and second functional entities in said hierarchy where the second functional entity has a DOMKEY that is longer than that of the first functional entity using said DOMKEYs to verify that the second functional entity is at a position below said first functional entity in said hierarchy by determining if the DOMKEY for the first functional entity is contained for its full length in the DOMKEY for the second functional entity,

A method for determining hierarchical relationships between functional entities in a hierarchy within a computer system, said hierarchy having a plurality of levels, each level having one or more positions, said method comprising:

• providing a computer system including functional entities having hierarchical relationships, each of said functional entities corresponding to a position in said hierarchy;
• defining a DOMKEY for each position in said hierarchy whereto each DOMKEY is a unique string of information said step of defining further comprising the steps of:
• defining one or more logical positions within said DOMKEY:
• assigning data to each said logical position, said data being capable of representing the maximum number of functional entities which can be defined to a given level in said hierarchical structure:
• incorporating the DOMKEYs of higher positions in the hierarchy in their entirety into the DOMKEYs of positions below them in the hierarchy;
• and assigning a unique DOMKEY to each of the positions which are at the same level in the hierarchy;
• assigning each functional entity to a position in said hierarchy to which it corresponds;
• assigning to each functional entity in said hierarchy one of said DOMKEYs which has been assigned to said position corresponding to said functional entity in said computer system's hierarchy;
• and
• for any selected first and second functional entities in said hierarchy where the second functional entity has a DOMKEY that is longer than that of the first functional entity using said DOMKEYs to verify that the second functional entity is at a position below said said functional entity in said hierarchy by determining if the DOMKEY for the first functional entity is contained for its full length in the DOMKEY for the second functional entity.

A system for defining relationships between entities in a hierarchy, said hierarchy having a plurality of levels, each level having one or more positions, said system comprising:

• means for defining a DOMKEY for each position in said hierarchy, wherein each DOMKEY is a unique suing of information, and wherein the DOMKEYs of higher positions in the hierarchy are incorporated in their entirety into the DOMKEYs of positions below them in the hierarchy said means for defining further comprising;
• means for defining one more logical positions within said DOMKEY;
• means for assigning data to each said logical position, said data being capable of representing the maximum number of entities which can be defined to a given level in said hierarchical structure:
• and means for assigning a unique DOMKEY to each position which is at the same level in the hierarchy;
• means for assigning each entity to one of said positions in said hierarchy;
• means for assigning to each entity in said hierarchy one of said DOMKEYs which corresponds to the position of said entity in said hierarchy;
• and
• means for comparing the DOMKEY for a first entity to determine if it matches for its full length with that of the DOMKEY for a second entity, whereby if said determination results in a match, it is confirmed that the second entity is at a position below said first entity in said hierarchy when said second entity has a DOMKEY that is longer than that of first entity.