System and method for accessing a database from a task written in an object-oriented programming language

Claim 2

A computer-implemented process for accessing a database, said computer including a memory for the storage of data and instructions, said instructions defining (i) an application program interface, for interfacing with said database, (ii) a task requiring access to said database, and (iii) a class comprising data and methods, said data defining variables applying to a plurality of objects, said methods invoked to process said plurality of objects for interfacing between said task and said application program interface, said process comprising the steps of: (a) creating said task; (b) said task thereafter instantiating said class, to create an object of said class, and invoking a first method to make a connection to said database, said first method employing said application program interface and requiring plural handshaking communications with said database, said plural handshaking communications resulting in said database connection being assigned a connection handle enabling subsequent use of said connection, and storing said connection handle; (c) for said task and any subtasks within said task, employing said connection handle to enable said subsequent use of said connection without requiring at least some of said plural handshaking communications.

Claim 3

The process recited in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of said task invoking a second method and passing to said second method a set of input parameters, said second method: (d1) formulating a database interface statement based on said set of input parameters; (d2) executing a database transaction, employing said database interface statement, via said application program interface; and (d3) if said database transaction yields a result, then obtaining a set of output parameters from said second method.

Claim 4

The process recited in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of said task: (d1) invoking a second method and passing to said second method a first set of input parameters, said second method formulating a first database interface statement based on said first set of input parameters, said first database interface statement being stored for repetitive use; (d2) invoking a third method and passing to said third method a second set of input parameters, said third method formulating a second database interface statement based on said second set of input parameters and said first database interface statement; (d3) executing a database transaction, employing said second database interface statement, via said application program interface; and (d4) if said database transaction yields a result, then obtaining a set of output parameters from said third method.

Claim 5

The process recited in claim 3 , further comprising the steps of repeating said steps (d2), (d3) and (d4) one or more times, wherein said second set of input parameters may be different for each of said one or more times.

Claim 6

The process recited in claim 1 , wherein said variables include one or more vectors.

Claim 7

The process recited in claim 1 , wherein one or more of said methods formulate Structured Query Language (SQL) statements.

Claim 8

A computer for accessing a database, said computer comprising: (a) a memory for storing data and instructions and a processor for executing said instructions; (b) said instructions controlling said local processor to: (1) create a task requiring access to said database; (2) instantiate a class to create an object of said class, said class comprising data and methods, said data defining variables applying to a plurality of objects, said methods invoked to process said plurality of objects for interfacing between said task and an application program interface for interfacing with said database; (3) invoke a first method to make a connection to said database, said first method employing said application program interface and requiring plural handshaking communications with said database, said plural handshaking communications resulting in said connection being assigned a connection handle enabling subsequent use of said connection, and storing said connection handle; and (4) thereafter, employing said connection handle to enable said subsequent use of said connection without requiring at least some of said plural handshaking communications.

Claim 9

A computer for accessing a database, said computer comprising: (a) a memory for storing data and instructions and a processor for executing said instructions; (b) said instructions controlling said local processor to: (1) create a task requiring access to said database; (2) instantiate a class to create an object of said class, said class comprising data and methods, said data defining variables applying to a plurality of objects, said methods invoked to process said plurality of objects for interfacing between said task and an application program interface for interfacing with said database; (3) invoke a first method to make a connection to said database, said first method employing said application program interface and requiring plural handshaking communications with said database, said plural handshaking communications resulting in said connection being assigned a connection handle enabling subsequent use of said connection, and storing said connection handle; and (4) thereafter, employing said connection handle to enable said subsequent use of said connection without requiring at least some of said plural handshaking communications.

Claim 10

The computer of claim 7 , wherein said instructions further control said processor to invoke a second method to: (a) formulate a database interface statement based on a set of input parameters; (b) execute a database transaction, employing said database interface statement, via said application program interface; and (c) if said database transaction yields a result, then obtain a set of output parameters.

Claim 11

The computer of claim 7 , wherein said instructions further control said processor to: (a) invoke a second method to formulate a first database interface statement, said first database interface statement based on a first set of input parameters and being stored for repetitive use; (b) invoke a third method to formulate a second database interface statement, said second database interface statement based on a second set of input parameters and said first database interface statement; (c) execute a database transaction, employing said second database interface statement, via said application program interface; and (d) if said database transaction yields a result, then obtain a set of output parameters from said third method.

Claim 12

The computer of claim 9 , wherein said instructions further control said local processor o invoke said third method and execute a database transaction one or more times, wherein said second set of input parameters may be different for each of said one or more times.

Claim 13

The computer of claim 7 , wherein said variables include one or more vectors.

Claim 14

The computer of claim 7 , wherein one or more of said methods formulate Structured Query Language (SQL) statements.

Claim 15

A memory media including a program with instructions for controlling a computer to access a database, said computer including a memory for the storage of said instructions, and a processor for executing said instructions, said instructions defining: (i) an application program interface, for interfacing with said database, (ii) a task requiring access to said database, and (iii) a class comprising data and methods, said data defining variables applying to a plurality of objects, said methods invoked to process said plurality of objects for interfacing between said task and said application program interface, said memory media comprising: (a) a means for controlling said processor to create said task; (b) a means for controlling said processor to instantiate said class to create an object of said class, and thereafter invoking a first method to make a connection to said database, said first method employing said application program interface and requiring plural handshaking communications with said database, said plural handshaking communications resulting in said database connection being assigned a connection handle enabling subsequent use of said connection, and storing said connection handle; and (c) a means for controlling said processor to, for said task object and any subtasks within said task object, employ said connection handle to enable said subsequent use of said connection without requiring at least some of said plural handshaking communications.

Claim 16

A memory media including a program with instructions for controlling a computer to access a database, said computer including a memory for the storage of said instructions, and a processor for executing said instructions, said instructions defining: (i) an application program interface, for interfacing with said database, (ii) a task requiring access to said database, and (iii) a class comprising data and methods, said data defining variables applying to a plurality of objects, said methods invoked to process said plurality of objects for interfacing between said task and said application program interface, said memory media comprising: (a) a means for controlling said processor to create said task; (b) a means for controlling said processor to instantiate said class to create an object of said class, and thereafter invoking a first method to make a connection to said database, said first method employing said application program interface and requiring plural handshaking communications with said database, said plural handshaking communications resulting in said database connection being assigned a connection handle enabling subsequent use of said connection, and storing said connection handle; and (c) a means for controlling said processor to, for said task object and any subtasks within said task object, employ said connection handle to enable said subsequent use of said connection without requiring at least some of said plural handshaking communications.

Claim 17

The memory media recited in claim 13 , further comprising a means for controlling said processor to invoke a second method to: (a) formulate a database interface statement based on a set of input parameters; (b) execute a database transaction, employing said database interface statement, via said application program interface; and (c) if said database transaction yields a result, then obtain a set of output parameters.

Claim 18

The memory media recited in claim 13 , further comprising a means for controlling said processor to: (a) invoke a second method to formulate a first database interface statement, said first database interface statement based on a first set of input parameters and being stored for repetitive use; (b) invoke a third method to formulate a second database interface statement, said second database interface statement based on a second set of input parameters and said first database interface statement; (c) execute a database transaction, employing said second database interface statement, via said application program interface; (d) if said database transaction yields a result, then obtain a set of output parameters from said third method.

Claim 19

The memory media recited in claim 15 , further comprising means for controlling said processor to invoke said third method and execute a database transaction one or more times, wherein said second set of input parameters may be different for each of said one or more times.

Claim 20

The memory media recited in claim 13 , wherein said variables include one or more vectors.

Claim 21

The memory media recited in claim 13 , wherein one or more of said methods formulate Structured Query Language (SQL) statements.