Result set formatting and processing
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsAnthony R. Trappen, Dempsey Swan, Raymond Holzhey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The select list for the query is thus constructed such that it produces a result set having a predefined structure. Columns representing identifier properties of an entity are added to the select list. If the entity is an inheritance entity or a collection, then entities from a least derived entity to all descendants are identified and columns representing their identifiers are added to the select list and columns representing non-inherited properties for those entities are added. If the entity is not an inheritance entity or a collection, then columns representing properties of the entity are added to the select list.
Claims13
A computer-implemented method of constructing a relational database select list from a query expressed in terms of entities, comprising:
- selecting an entity or entity collection to be queried;
- adding columns representing identifier properties of the selected entity or entity collection to the select list;
- and
- if the selected entity or entity collection involves inheritance,
- then identifying entities from a least derived entity corresponding to the selected entity or entity collection to all descendants, and adding columns representing the identifiers of the identified entities to the select list;
- adding columns representing non-inherited properties for the identified entities to the select list;
- and further comprising:
- if the selected entity or entity collection does not involve inheritance, then adding columns representing properties of the selected entity or entity collection to the select list.
A computer readable medium storing instructions that cause a computer to construct a relational database select list from a query expressed in terms of entities, by performing the steps of:
- selecting a unit, that comprises an entity or entity collection to be queried;
- adding columns representing identifier properties of the selected unit to the select list;
- and
- if the selected unit involves inheritance,
- then identifying entities from a least derived entity corresponding to the selected unit to all descendants, and adding columns representing the identifiers of the identified entities to the select list;
- adding columns representing non-inherited properties for the identified entities to the select list;
- and further comprising:
- if the selected unit does not involve inheritance, then adding columns representing properties of the selected unit to the select list.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.