Polymorphic database
AssigneePolymorphic Data Corporation
InventorWilliam Edward Weinman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A database contains an application program operative with data stored in a records data set (RDS) and a categories data set (CDS). The RDS contains an arbitrarily organized series of RDS entries, each having at least one data field configured for representing data. The CDS contains CDS entries configured for defining the schematic data types and data relationships of the RDS entries. Data is thus isolated from its definition, thereby permitting the underlying schematic form of the database to be changed based on modifications in the CDS, without requiring any actual changes to the schematic structure of the RDS or the underlying database. By virtue of this same isolation, it is also possible to reduce data redundancy with varying levels of granularity and create an object-oriented data model.
Claims14
A polymorphic database comprising:
- an application program;
- and
- data accessible by the application program and on which the application program is operative, wherein the data comprises:
- a records data set (RDS) containing at least two RDS entries, each of said at least two RDS entries comprising data fields configured for representing data, a unique record identifier, and a field configured for storing the unique record identifier of each other RDS entry with which each respective RDS entry is associated;
- and
- a categories data set (CDS) containing at least one CDS entry configured for being associated with the at least one RDS entry and having at least one data type field sufficient to describe the type of data contained by the at least one associated RDS entry.
A method for defining data/type associations, the method comprising the steps of:
- defining an application program;
- and
- defining data accessible by the application program and on which the application program is operative, wherein the data comprises:
- a records data set (RDS) containing at least two RDS entries, each of said at least two RDS entries comprising data fields configured for representing data, a unique record identifier, and a field configured for storing the unique record identifier of each other RDS entry with which each respective RDS entry is associated;
- and
- a categories data set (CDS) containing at least one CDS entry configured for being associated with the at least one RDS entry and having at least one data type field sufficient to describe the type of data contained by the at least one associated RDS entry.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.