System and method for the storage, indexing and retrieval of XML documents using relational databases

A data structure embodied in computer-readable medium for storing a node representing an XML element of an XML document, the data structure comprising:

• data that indicates a name of an element, and an identified node instantiating the element;
• data that indicates in a first manner a path from a root node to the identified node, the path comprising one or more elements;
• data that indicates, in a second manner the path;
• and
• data that indicates a value of the identified node.

A data structure embodied in computer-readable medium for storing an XML document, the data structure comprising a plurality of sub-data structures, wherein a sub-data structure comprises:

• data that indicates a name of an element, an identified node instantiating the element;
• data that indicates in a first manner a path from a root node to the identified node, the hint path comprising one or more elements;
• data that indicates, in a second manner the path;
• and
• data that indicates a value of the identified node.

A computer-implemented method for manipulating an XML document, the method comprising:

• determining a tree data structure that represents the XML document, wherein the tree data structure comprises one or more nodes, each node representing an XML element of the XML document;
• converting the tree into a table by:
• identifying a node of the tree;
• generating name path data and order path data for the identified node, the name path data and the order path data indicating in two different manners a path of nodes from a root node of the tree to the identified node;
• and
• storing in the table the name path data and the order path data;
• and storing the table in a relational database.

A computer-implemented method for manipulating an XML document, the method comprising:

• determining a tree data structure that represents the XML document, wherein the tree data structure comprises one or more nodes, each node representing an XML element of the XML document;
• converting the tree into a table by:
• identifying a node of the tree and a path of nodes from a root node of the tree to the identified node;
• generating order path data for the identified node, the order path data denoting, for a first node in the path of nodes, a breadth-wise enumerated order of the first node in the identified path;
• and
• storing in the table the order path data;
• and
• storing the table in a relational database.