Converting a hierarchical data structure into a flat data structure
US6502101B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99943
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Upon receipt of the hierarchical data structure, a shape tree is constructed corresponding to the hierarchical data structure. The shape tree is an intermediate data structure containing only one unique node for each element of the hierarchical data structure. After the shape tree is constructed, it is annotated with properties describing the hierarchical relationships between elements of the hierarchical data structure. The annotated shape tree is used to create the structure of the flat data structure. Once the shape tree is annotated, the column names for the flat data structure are built utilizing the annotated shape tree. With the column names built, data is emitted from the hierarchical data structure into the proper columns and rows of the flat data structure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.