System and method for storing and managing functions
US5995958A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 30, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99934
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A computer system and method for storing and managing a database that has lambda-definable functions as its foundation. The database is a collection of nodes that are connected by a set of links, and further it is a directed acyclic graph constructed from the nodes and the links. There are two types of links. By ignoring one type of the links, the database can be viewed as a set of trees; and by ignoring another type of the links, the database can be viewed as another set of trees. The directed acyclic graph and the two sets of trees illustrate the dependent relationships among the data and provide means in manipulating the database. A node has a name for the purpose of identification; and a value that carries an unit of meanings of the database application. The value of a node is selected from a regular data type, user-defined data type, and lambda-definable functions. Managing lambda-definable functions allows a database to support infinite data with finite storage. It is proved that a database is an enumeration of the properties of a lambda-definable function; and a lambda-definable function is the abstraction of a database. This gives a database management system the full compu…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.