Query expressions and interactions with metadata
AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation
InventorsPriyamvadha P. Lakshminarayanan, Avner Y. Aharoni, Henricus Johannes Maria Meijer, David N. Schach
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Abstract
This disclosure pertains to the interaction between query expressions and metadata. Metadata, for example provided by one or more schemas, can supply information over a domain to be queried and/or navigated. This metadata can be applied to the query expression, or vice versa, to return information about the domain and/or the query expression.
Claims20
A computer-implemented query expression system comprising the following computer executable components:
- a receiver component that receives a query expression and metadata that pertains to the query expression and a domain, wherein the domain represents at least one of a database or a document, or a combination thereof, comprising data and the metadata is associated with the data and the domain;
- a query engine that applies the query expression to the metadata, retrieves information that corresponds to a type of result that would be returned if the query expression were executed on the data, and provides results based in part on the retrieved information to facilitate at least one of computer program generation, program compilation, generation of a language map, or document updates, or a combination thereof;
- and
- an update component, in conjunction with the query engine, determines prior to updating the data of the domain whether a proposed update contained in the query expression is valid based at least in part on the proposed update and domain type, and if the proposed update is valid, facilitates updating the domain content.
A computer-implemented query analysis system, comprising:
- means for receiving a query expression and metadata of a domain to be queried or navigated, wherein the domain represents at least one of a database or a document, or a combination thereof, comprising data and the metadata is associated with the data and the domain;
- means for executing the query expression on the metadata and extracting information that corresponds to a type of result that would be returned if the query expression were executed on data associated with the domain to facilitate at least one of computer program generation, program compilation, generation of a language map, or document updates, or a combination thereof;
- means for determining if a modification of a domain proposed in the query expression is valid prior to modifying the domain based at least in part on the proposed modification and domain type;
- and
- means for modifying the domain based at least in part on the proposed modification if the proposed modification is valid.
A computer-implemented method of query expression interaction comprising the following computer executable acts:
- receiving a query expression and metadata associated with the expression, the metadata is associated with data in a domain;
- applying the expression to the metadata;
- retrieving information that corresponds to a type of result that would be returned if the query expression were executed on the data;
- determining if the query expression contains a request to update data in the domain,
- determining if the update request is valid prior to updating the domain based at least in part on the requested update and domain type to facilitate updating data in the domain;
- generating results based in part on the retrieved information to facilitate at least one of computer program generation, program compilation, generation of a language map, or document updates, or a combination thereof, and
- caching the query expression and the generated results to facilitate lookup and retrieval of the generated results in lieu of reapplying the query expression to the metadata.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.