Method and apparatus for using a static metadata object to reduce database accesses
US6393424B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 21, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99945
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that retrieves metadata from a memory within a server, so that the server does not have to access a database in order to retrieve the metadata. The system operates by receiving a request from a client, which causes an operation to be performed on data within the database. In response to the request, the system retrieves the metadata through a metadata object, which retrieves the metadata from a random access memory in the server. Note that this metadata specifies how the data is stored within the database. The system then performs the operation on the data within the database by using the metadata to determine how the data is stored within the database. Note that this metadata object can be used to service requests from a plurality of clients. Hence, client sessions can share the same metadata, which can greatly reduce the amount of memory used by client sessions. In one embodiment of the present invention, the metadata object contains static metadata specifying how tables and views are organized within the database. In one embodiment of the present invention, the system accesses the metadata object through a generic object …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.