System and method for maintenance and deferred propagation of schema changes to the affected objects in an object oriented database
US5794030A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 4, 1995 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 4, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99944
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for use with object oriented databases provides schema evolution with deferred propagation of schema changes. The method and system provide a schema that persistently maintains class objects by storing an initial class definition, and shape objects associated with particular class objects and storing subsequent class definitions. The shape objects associated with a particular class object form a shape chain, the last shape object in the shape chain being the current shape object, and maintaining the current class definition. Client objects representing actual instances of data in the database, are instantiated from whichever client object or shape object is current at the time of instantiation, so the all newly created client objects always have the current class definition. Existing client objects, which are those that were created prior to one or more subsequent modifications of the class definition and instantiations of the shape objects in the shape chain of the class, are updated to the current class definition only when they are accessed in the database, thereby providing deferred propagation. Updating such client objects includes copying data members for …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.