Method and apparatus for providing shared data to a requesting client

A method of providing object data accessible to a relational database management system to a client, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a database query from the client on a first communication path;
• transforming the database query into a relational database management system command and an object server command;
• transmitting the relational database management system command to a relational database management system and the object server command to an object server;
• transmitting an object locator responsive to the database query to the client;
• transmitting data identified by the object locator to the client on a second communication path.

A method of providing object data accessible to a database management system to a client, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a query from the client on a first communication path;
• transmitting an object locator responsive to the query to the client;
• receiving a data request from the client comprising the object locator;
• and transmitting data identified by the object locator to the client on a second communication path, the step of transmitting data identified by the object locator to the client on a second communication path comprising the steps of:
• accepting a request to open a transport connection via the second communication path, the request comprising the object locator;
• validating the request to open a transport connection;
• initiating a transport agent in the object server, the transport agent comprising an address;
• and
• transmitting the address to the client.

An apparatus for providing object data accessible to a relational database management system to a client, comprising:

• means for receiving a database query from the client on a first communication path;
• means for transforming the database query into a relational database management system command;
• and
• means for transmitting the relational database management system command to a relational database management system, the relational database management system comprising a relational database storing an object locator;
• means for receiving the object locator from the database management system;
• means for transmitting the object locator to the client;
• means for receiving a data request from the client comprising the object locator;
• and
• means for transmitting data identified by the object locator to the client on a second communication path.

An apparatus for providing object data accessible to a relational database management system to a client, comprising:

• means for receiving a database query from the client on a first communication path;
• means for transforming the database query into a relational database management system command and an object server command;
• means for transmitting the relational database management system command to a relational database management system and the object server command to an object server;
• means for transmitting an object locator responsive to the database query to the client;
• means for receiving a data request from the client comprising the object locator;
• and
• means for transmitting data identified by the object locator to the client on a second communication path.

An apparatus for providing object data accessible to a database management system to a client, comprising:

• means for receiving a query from the client on a first communication path;
• means for transmitting an object locator responsive to the query to the client;
• means for receiving a data request from the client comprising the object locator;
• and
• means for transmitting data identified by the object locator to the client on a second communication path, the means for transmitting data identified by the object locator to the client on a second communication path comprising:
• means for accepting a request to open a transport connection via the second communication path, the request comprising the object locator;
• means for validating the request to open a transport connection;
• means for initiating a transport agent in the object server, the transport agent comprising an address;
• and
• means for transmitting the address to the client.

A program storage medium, readable by a computer, embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for providing object data accessible to a relational database management system to a client, the method steps comprising the steps of:

• receiving a database query from the client on a first communication path;
• transforming the database query into a relational database management system command;
• transmitting the relational database management system command to a relational database management system, the relational database management system comprising a relational database storing an object locator;
• receiving the object locator from the database management system;
• transmitting the object locator to the client;
• receiving a data request from the client comprising the object locator;
• and
• transmitting data identified by the object locator to the client on a second communication path.

A program storage medium, readable by a computer, embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for providing object data accessible to a relational database management system to a client, the method steps comprising the steps of:

• receiving a database query from the client on a first communication path;
• transforming the database query into a relational database management system command and an object server command;
• transmitting the relational database management system command to a relational database management system and the object server command to an object server;
• receiving an object locator from the database management system;
• transmitting the object locator to the client;
• receiving a data request from the client comprising the object locator;
• and
• transmitting data identified by the object locator to the client on a second communication path.

A program storage medium, readable by a computer, embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for providing object data accessible to a database management system to a client, the method steps comprising the steps of:

• receiving a query from the client on a first communication path;
• transmitting an object locator responsive to the query to the client;
• receiving a data request from the client comprising the object locator;
• and
• transmitting data identified by the object locator to the client on a second communication path, the method step of transmitting data identified by the object locator to the client on a second communication path comprising the method steps of:
• accepting a request to open a transport connection via the second communication path, the request comprising the object locator;
• validating the request to open a transport connection;
• initiating a transport agent in the object server, the transport agent comprising an address;
• and
• transmitting the address to the client.