Patent · US Expired

Database processing using schemas

US6052686A · kind A · utility

47Cited by
8References
36Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 18, 1997
Grant dateApr 18, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 18, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99933
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method for efficiently processing a database. A structure of the database is constructed into a schema which only includes those structures of the database that are known. Desired information to be extracted from the database is specified using path expressions and an automaton models the path expression. A composite automaton is generated based on the automaton and the schema. The composite automaton is pruned and portions of the database corresponding to the pruned automaton is searched to obtain the desired information. Points within the database may be identified to begin searching for the desired information. These points correspond to states of the composite automaton. A hybrid automaton may be formed for each set of possible starting states to determine completeness by simulating the hybrid automaton against the composite automaton.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.