US 7,627,563 B2Granted

Object model-based object hierarchy discovery and navigation

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorMichiel Johannes Wories

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Discoverability and/or navigation of database object hierarchies are provided utilizing database object models based on a common framework. Typical instances also incorporate a standardized interface for interaction with a navigation component (e.g., command line environment), allowing a single navigation component to interface with diverse database object models. Database object hierarchies can be requested and discovered via this interface. The interface can also support navigation of database object hierarchy structures. The database object model can provide the database object hierarchy by utilizing document and/or script mechanisms such as, for example, extensible markup language (XML) files. In some instances, additional metadata can be included to indicate additional structure information such as, for example, navigability of an object. Thus, a command line can be employed to discover database object hierarchy and/or to access management objects representing the database server objects, including its operations.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A system that enables a user to interact with database objects, comprising a memory having stored therein computer executable components and a processor that executes the following computer executable components:

a generic navigation component including a command-line interface, the command-line interface configured to connect the user to a first database server instance and further configured to discover or traverse a first hierarchy of database objects associated with the first database server instance and wherein the command-line interface is configured to connect the user to a second database server instance that is different from the first database server instance and further configured to discover or traverse a second hierarchy of database objects associated with the second database server instance;
a first navigable object model that discovers the first hierarchy of database objects associated with the first database server instance and provides the first hierarchy of database objects to the generic navigation component, wherein the first navigable object model includes a standardized interface that utilizes a common interaction mechanism for interacting with the generic navigation component;
and
a second navigable object model that is different from the first navigable object model that discovers the second hierarchy of database objects associated with the second database server instance and provides the second hierarchy of database objects to the generic navigation component, wherein the second navigable object model includes the standardized interface that utilizes the common interaction mechanism for interacting with the generic navigation component;
wherein the common interaction mechanism of the standard interface is configured to allow the generic navigation component to interact with the first and second navigable object models and with additional navigable object models implementing the common interaction mechanism of the standard interface regardless of the type of database server instance associated with the navigable object model such that the user need only utilize the generic navigation component when accessing the database sever instances.

2 more elements

A method for interacting with database server objects, wherein the method is performed by a processor that executes the following acts:

providing a first database object model that represents first database server objects, the first database object model including a standardized interface that utilizes a common interaction mechanism for interacting with a generic navigation component;
providing a second database object model that represents second database server objects, the second database object model including the standardized interface that utilizes the common interaction mechanism for interacting with the generic navigation component;
employing the first database object model to discover at least one hierarchy of the first database server objects in response to receiving a user's request entered via a command-line interface included in the generic navigation component;
employing the second database object model to discover at least one hierarchy of the second database server objects in response to receiving a user's request entered via the command-line interface;
and
navigating the at least one hierarchy of the first and second database server objects via the command-line interface of the generic navigation component, wherein the at least one hierarchy of the first and second database server objects are presented at the command-line interface in response to receiving the user's request
wherein the common interaction mechanism of the standard interface is configured to allow the command-line interface of the generic navigation component to interact with the first and second database object models and with additional database object models implementing the common interaction mechanism of the standard interface regardless of the type of database server objects represented by the database object models such that a user need only utilize the command-line interface of the generic navigation component when accessing the database object models.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/612,595Filed 19 Dec 2006
Published: US 2008/0147721 A119 Jun 2008
Granted: 1 Dec 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G06F 16/289
Databases characterised by their database models, e.g. relational or object models: object oriented databases
G06F 16/26
Of structured data, e.g. relational data: visual data mining; Browsing structured data
Y10S 707/99933
Database or file accessing: query processing, i.e. searching
Y10S 707/99943
Database schema or data structure: generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface