Internet-enabled generic application program for accessing hierarchical data

Assignee: International Business Machines Corp

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Filing: 1998-04-30

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Granted: 2000-10-03

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Expires: 2018-04-30

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Abstract

Abstract A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for accessing a hierarchical database. An objects framework models the database as one or more objects. An Internet-enabled generic application program accesses the database via the objects framework. The present invention introduces an Internet-enabled generic application program for accessing hierarchical databases, such as an IMS™ database, by modeling the database into an objects framework and then accessing the database via the objects framework using standard tools, such as the DL/I™ query language for the IMS™ database. The Internet-enabled generic application program dynamically builds a DL/I™ query string based on web browser inputs. The generic application program loads the objects framework to instantiate IMS™ objects and dynamically constructs DL/I™ calls to access the IMS™ database. The generic application program can be used in a number of different environments, such as: (1) DL/I™ batch processing and (2) on-line transactions including both IMS™ and CICS™ transactions. Moreover, the generic application program and objects framework can be executed in any MVS address space, including IMS™ and non-IMS™ address spaces, such as web server address spaces. With this invention, customers can continue to access their business data in IMS™ databases using the latest Internet technology, without relying on legacy application programs and without developing new application programs. Thus, the present invention offers improved IMS™ application programming productivity by supporting IMS™ business objects and data objects, by eliminating complicated DL/I™ programming, and by supporting use of object-oriented programming tools.

Inventors

👤 Bach Dinh Doan
👤 Shyh-Mei Fang Ho

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction US

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 05:22

CPC Classifications

G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/95; G06F16/958; G06F16/972; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/912; Y10S707/944; Y10S707/953; Y10S707/955; Y10S707/956; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99934; Y10S707/99939

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 42

Claim 1

Independent Claim 79 words

A computerized apparatus for accessing a hierarchical database, comprising: (a) a computer; (b) one or more data objects that: (i) provide a direct mapping of data within the hierarchical database; and (ii) encapsulate data retrieved from the hierarchical database; (c) an objects framework, executed by the computer, for modeling the hierarchical database as the one or more data objects; and (d) an Internet-enabled generic application program, executed by the computer, for accessing the hierarchical database via the objects framework.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 79 words

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the objects framework comprises a C++ class library that interfaces to the application program.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Internet-enabled generic application program further comprises means for dynamically instantiating data from the database as the one or more data objects using the objects framework.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data objects correspond to application views, database definitions, and data defined and stored in the database.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the application program dynamically loads previously defined objects into the objects framework to access the database during execution time.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an application program directly accesses the data in the database by interacting with the data object.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data object comprises a business object that provides business logic for the application program.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the business object invokes one or more methods of the data object to perform the necessary operations on the database.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the data object isolates the business object from specifics of the database.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 55 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Internet-enabled generic application program further comprises means for accepting input from a web browser, means for dynamically constructing queries to access the database using the accepted input from the web browser, and means for generating a response to the accepted input using results from the dynamically constructed queries.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the Internet-enabled generic application program and the objects framework are executed by the computer in an address space separate from a web server.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 29 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Internet-enabled generic application program and the objects framework are executed by the computer in a same address space as a web server.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the Internet-enabled generic application program accesses the hierarchical database via a web server executed by a second computer connected to the computer.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 74 words

A computerized method for accessing a hierarchical database, comprising: (a) executing an objects framework in a computer to model the database as one or more data objects, wherein the one or more data objects: (i) provide a direct mapping of data within the hierarchical database; and (ii) encapsulate data retrieved from the hierarchical database; and (b) executing an Internet-enabled generic application program in the computer to access the hierarchical database via the objects framework.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 74 words

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The computerized method of claim 14, wherein the objects framework comprises a C++ class library that interfaces to the application program.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

The computerized method of claim 14 further comprising the Internet-enabled generic application dynamically instantiating data from the database as the one or more data objects using the objects framework.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

The computerized method of claim 14, wherein the data objects correspond to application views, database definitions, and data defined and stored in the database.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 27 words

The computerized method of claim 14 further comprising the application program dynamically loading previously defined objects into the objects framework to access the database during execution time.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

The computerized method of claim 14 further comprising the application program directly accessing the data in the database by interacting with the data object.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

The computerized method of claim 14 further comprising the data object providing a business object with business logic for the application program.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 28 words

The computerized method of claim 20 further comprising the business object invoking one or more methods of the data object to perform the necessary operations on the database.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 20 words

The computerized method of claim 20 further comprising the data object isolating the business object from specifics of the database.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 59 words

The computerized method of claim 14 further comprising: the Internet-enabled generic application program accepting input from a web browser; the Internet-enabled generic application program dynamically constructing queries to access the database using the accepted input from the web browser; and the Internet-enabled generic application program generating a response to the accepted input using results from the dynamically constructed queries.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 30 words

The computerized method of claim 23, wherein the Internet-enabled generic application program and the objects framework are executed by the computer in an address space separate from a web server.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 30 words

The computerized method of claim 14, wherein the Internet-enabled generic application program and the objects framework are executed by the computer in a same address space as a web server.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 29 words

The computerized method of claim 14, wherein the Internet-enabled generic application program accesses the hierarchical database via a web server executed by a second computer connected to the computer.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 96 words

A program storage medium readable by a computer, the medium embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for accessing a hierarchical database, the method comprising: (a) executing an objects framework in a computer to model the database as one or more data objects, wherein the one or more data objects: (i) provide a direct mapping of data within the hierarchical database; and (ii) encapsulate data retrieved from the hierarchical database; and (b) executing an Internet-enabled generic application program in the computer to access the hierarchical database via the objects framework.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 96 words

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 22 words

The program storage medium of claim 27, wherein the objects framework comprises a C++ class library that interfaces to the application program.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 32 words

The program storage medium of claim 27, the method further comprising the Internet-enabled generic application dynamically instantiating data from the database as the one or more data objects using the objects framework.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 25 words

The program storage medium of claim 27, wherein the data objects correspond to application views, database definitions, and data defined and stored in the database.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 30 words

The program storage medium of claim 27, the method further comprising the application program dynamically loading previously defined objects into the objects framework to access the database during execution time.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 27 words

The program storage medium of claim 27, the method further comprising the application program directly accessing the data in the database by interacting with the data object.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 25 words

The program storage medium of claim 27, the method further comprising the data object providing a business object with business logic for the application program.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 31 words

The program storage medium of claim 33, the method further comprising the business object invoking one or more methods of the data object to perform the necessary operations on the database.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 23 words

The program storage medium of claim 33, the method further comprising the data object isolating the business object from specifics of the database.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 62 words

The program storage medium of claim 27, the method further comprising: the Internet-enabled generic application program accepting input from a web browser; the Internet-enabled generic application program dynamically constructing queries to access the database using the accepted input from the web browser; and the Internet-enabled generic application program generating a response to the accepted input using results from the dynamically constructed queries.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 31 words

The program storage medium of claim 36, wherein the Internet-enabled generic application program and the objects framework are executed by the computer in an address space separate from a web server.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 31 words

The program storage medium of claim 27, wherein the Internet-enabled generic application program and the objects framework are executed by the computer in a same address space as a web server.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 30 words

The program storage medium of claim 27, wherein the Internet-enabled generic application program accesses the hierarchical database via a web server executed by a second computer connected to the computer.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-10-03	2004-04-03	2004-10-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-10-03	2008-04-03	2008-10-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-10-03	2012-04-03	2012-10-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

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