# US 8,572,123 B2 · Database system, particularly for multimedia objects > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,572,123 B2 - Document ID: US8572123B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/475,603 - Filed: 2006-06-27 - Published: 2008-01-24 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2000-06-28 - Assignees: Knapp Investment Company Limited - Applicants: Anthony Paul Brock; Max Hoat; Gregory Kenneth Willis - Inventors: Anthony Paul Brock; Max Hoat; Gregory Kenneth Willis - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8572123B2 ## CPC - G06F 16/483: using metadata automatically derived from the content - G06F 16/40: of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data (retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70) - Y10S 707/915: Image - Y10S 707/916: Audio - Y10S 707/917: Text - Y10S 707/954: Relational - Y10S 707/955: Object-oriented - Y10S 707/956: Hierarchical - Y10S 707/99944: Object-oriented database structure - Y10S 707/99945: Object-oriented database structure processing - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract A database system stores data relating to media objects and includes a meta table, a supplementary meta table, a content table, a supplementary content table, each supplementary content data record being linked to a supplementary metadata record and to a content data record. An object type link table links together records in the meta table, and a content data link table links together records in the content data table. An information retrieval system analyzes the tables and provides, for a selected instance of an object, information about that object's attributes and relationships with other objects in a hierarchical form. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for managing data objects, the apparatus comprising: a memory configured to store a meta table and a content table, the meta table including metadata records, wherein the content table specifies an instance of each of the data objects, each of the instances being linked to a metadata record stored in the meta table and including a parameter associated with the metadata record, wherein the content table further specifies relationships between the instances, wherein the meta table specifies definitions for subsets of the data objects and hierarchical relationships between the subsets of the data objects. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the metadata records specifies an object type. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the object type includes a subject and a story. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the object type identifies a media content. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the media content includes textual information, visual information, or audio information. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the media content includes a web page, a broadcast or a publication. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the metadata records includes an attribute that specifies one of a permission right, a version, an available format, or a description. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the metadata records specifies a hierarchical relationship of the data objects. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the metadata records includes a behavior that specifies a rule for creating and modifying the data objects. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the data objects include a file object specifying a provider of the file object, a source parameter of the file object, a format of the file object, data import and manipulation processes of the file object, and refresh rate of the file object. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an interface coupled to the memory, wherein the interface is configured to provide retrieval of values of attributes for one of the instances for presentation of relationship information between one of the data objects and remaining ones of the data objects in a hierarchical structure. ### Claim 12 A method for managing data objects, the method comprising: storing a meta table, wherein the meta table includes metadata records; and storing a content table that specifies an instance of each of the data objects, each of the instance being linked to a metadata record stored in the meta table and including a parameter associated with the metadata record, wherein the content table further specifies relationships between the instances, wherein the meta table specifies definitions for subsets of the data objects and hierarchical relationships between the subsets of the data objects. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein each of the metadata records specifies an object type. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, wherein the object type includes a subject and a story. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein each of the metadata records includes an attribute that specifies one of a permission right, a version, an available format, or a description. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein each of the metadata records specifies a hierarchical relationship of the data objects. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein each of the metadata records includes a behavior that specifies a rule for creating and modifying the data objects. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein the meta table includes a user group, a user group application, a system setting, a meta control type, or a meta action table specifying behavior of the data objects. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein the data objects include a file object specifying a provider of the file object, a source parameter of the file object, a format of the file object, data import and manipulation processes of the file object, and refresh rate of the file object. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, further comprising: permitting retrieval of values of attributes for one of the instances for presentation of relationship information between one of the data objects and remaining ones of the data objects in a hierarchical structure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, further comprising: storing a folder object as a virtual container for the data objects. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) A method according to claim 12, wherein the meta table includes a meta item table including definitions for each of the data objects and a position of each of the data objects in hierarchical relationships. ### Claim 23 A system comprising: a database configured to permit update of a metadata record in a meta table, wherein the database is configured to store the meta table and a content table that includes a plurality of data objects, wherein an instance for one of the data objects is updated, wherein the instance includes a link to the metadata record, the instance including a parameter associated with the metadata record, wherein the database is further configured to store a content link table defining relationships between the instances, and to store a meta link table defining hierarchical relationships between a first subset of the data objects and a second subset of the data objects. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein the instance includes a reference to media content data.