Virtual database of heterogeneous data structures

Database receiving information in the form of arbitrarily structured data sets in at least one storage device of one or more data processing devices, having hierarchy levels, whereby

• a superior hierarchy level contains information elements for a definition of the structure of information elements of a subordinate hierarchy level, and
• a subordinate hierarchy level contains information elements in an instantiation in accordance with a structure which is defined by at least one information element of the superior hierarchy level,
• a first hierarchy level contains information elements for the definition of the structure of information elements of a second hierarchy level,
• a second hierarchy level contains information elements for the definition of the structure of information elements of a third hierarchy level,
• a third hierarchy level contains information elements for receiving information, and
• a link structure connects the information on different hierarchy levels, characterized in that
• the link structure contains in a first internal data field a first attribute for the unique association of an information element with an information element or with a set of information elements of the first hierarchy level, in a second internal data field a second attribute for the unique association of an information element with an information element or with a set of information elements of the second hierarchy level, in a third internal data field a third attribute for the unique association of an information element with a set of information elements of the third hierarchy level, and
• the allocation of an information element to a hierarchy level is determined from the existence of and/or the values of the attributes in the first, second and third internal data fields of the link structure.