Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
326 words
In a computer database system, a method of monitoring an object in a database in response to a request from any of a plurality of client programs, the method comprising the following steps carried out by the system: keeping a record of any request from a client to monitor an attribute of the object; keeping a record indicating any interdependence relationships between the attribute being monitored and other attributes; keeping a record of a value of each attribute being monitored by accessing said interdependence relationship record; during a database update session, keeping a record of any database update transactions initiated by a client; and if a client which has initiated an update transaction requests that said update transaction be stored in the database, determining whether a predetermined criterion pertaining to a monitored attribute has been satisfied and, if the criterion has been satisfied, notifying any client which had requested monitoring of that attribute; wherein said criterion comprises either of: a) a minimum change value in said monitored attribute and determining whether the criterion has been satisfied comprises: determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction; and if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by an amount which exceeds a minimum change value by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record; or b) a minimum time interval and determining whether said criterion has been satisfied comprises: determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction; if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether an amount of time that exceeds a minimum time interval has elapsed subsequent to a previous event; if the minimum time interval has elapsed, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
326 words
In a computer database system, a method of monitoring an object in a database in response to a request from any of a plurality of client programs, the method comprising the following steps carried out by the system: keeping a record of any request from a client to monitor an attribute of the object; keeping a record indicating any interdependence relationships between the attribute being monitored and other attributes; keeping a record of a value of each attribute being monitored by accessing said interdependence relationship record; during a database update session, keeping a record of any database update transactions initiated by a client; and if a client which has initiated an update transaction requests that said update transaction be stored in the database, determining whether a predetermined criterion pertaining to a monitored attribute has been satisfied and, if the criterion has been satisfied, notifying any client which had requested monitoring of that attribute; wherein said criterion comprises either of: a) a minimum change value in said monitored attribute and determining whether the criterion has been satisfied comprises: determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction; and if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by an amount which exceeds a minimum change value by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record; or b) a minimum time interval and determining whether said criterion has been satisfied comprises: determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction; if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether an amount of time that exceeds a minimum time interval has elapsed subsequent to a previous event; if the minimum time interval has elapsed, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the previous event comprises a previous change in the value of said attribute.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
116 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the criterion comprises a minimum change value in said monitored attribute and a minimum time interval, and determining whether the criterion has been satisfied comprises: determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction; if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether an amount of time that exceeds the minimum time interval has elapsed subsequent to a previous event; if the minimum time interval has elapsed, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by an amount which exceeds the minimum change value by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the criterion comprises any change in a specified relation in the database and determining whether the criterion has been satisfied comprises determining whether there has been an update to said relation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein determining whether there has been an update to a specified relation comprises determining whether there has been an update to a specified item in the relation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein: the criterion comprises a change in the value of said monitored attribute; determining whether the criterion has been satisfied comprises determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction, and if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record; and notifying a client comprises notifying the client synchronously with storing the update transaction in the database.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein: the criterion comprises a minimum change value in said monitored attribute; determining whether the criterion has been satisfied comprises determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction, and if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by an amount which exceeds the minimum change value by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record; and notifying a client comprises notifying the client synchronously with storing the update transaction in the database.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
329 words
In a computer database system, a method of monitoring an object in a database in response to a request from any of a plurality of client programs, the method comprising the following steps carried out by the system: keeping a record of any request from a client to monitor an attribute of the object; keeping a record indicating any interdependence relationships between the attribute being monitored and other attributes; keeping a record of a value of each attribute being monitored by accessing said interdependence relationship record; during a database update session, keeping a record of any database update transactions initiated by a client; and if a client requests notification of any changes which have occurred in an attribute then being monitored for said client, determining whether a predetermined criterion pertaining to a change in the monitored attribute has been satisfied and, if the criterion has been satisfied, notifying said client that the criterion has been satisfied; wherein said criterion comprises either of: a) a minimum change value in said monitored attribute and determining whether the criterion has been satisfied comprises: determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction; and if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by an amount which exceeds a minimum change value by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record; or b) a minimum time interval and determining whether said criterion has been satisfied comprises: determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction; if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether an amount of time that exceeds a minimum time interval has elapsed subsequent to a previous event; if the minimum time interval has elapsed, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
329 words
In a computer database system, a method of monitoring an object in a database in response to a request from any of a plurality of client programs, the method comprising the following steps carried out by the system: keeping a record of any request from a client to monitor an attribute of the object; keeping a record indicating any interdependence relationships between the attribute being monitored and other attributes; keeping a record of a value of each attribute being monitored by accessing said interdependence relationship record; during a database update session, keeping a record of any database update transactions initiated by a client; and if a client requests notification of any changes which have occurred in an attribute then being monitored for said client, determining whether a predetermined criterion pertaining to a change in the monitored attribute has been satisfied and, if the criterion has been satisfied, notifying said client that the criterion has been satisfied; wherein said criterion comprises either of: a) a minimum change value in said monitored attribute and determining whether the criterion has been satisfied comprises: determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction; and if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by an amount which exceeds a minimum change value by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record; or b) a minimum time interval and determining whether said criterion has been satisfied comprises: determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction; if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether an amount of time that exceeds a minimum time interval has elapsed subsequent to a previous event; if the minimum time interval has elapsed, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein the previous event comprises a previous change in the value of said attribute.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein the criterion comprises a minimum change value in said monitored attribute and a minimum time interval, and determining whether the criterion has been satisfied comprises: determining whether said monitored attribute may have been affected by said transaction; if said attribute may have been affected, determining whether an amount of time that exceeds the minimum time interval has elapsed subsequent to a previous event; if the minimum time interval has elapsed, determining whether the value of the attribute has changed by an amount which exceeds the minimum change value by computing an updated value for the attribute and comparing the updated value with the value in the attribute value record.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein the criterion comprises any change in a specified relation in the database and determining whether the criterion has been satisfied comprises determining whether there has been an update to said relation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 11 wherein determining whether there has been an update to a specified relation comprises determining whether there has been an update to a specified item in the relation.