Method and apparatus for coupling object state and behavior in a database management system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for coupling object state and behavior in a DBMS is provided such that an object's class definition, behavior information, and state information are included in the DBMS. An object is instantiated using an object class definition, state information, and behavior information from the DBMS. In addition, an object can be stored in the DBMS by storing its class definition along with its state and behavior information in the DBMS. The behavior information stored in the DBMS can be used within and without the DBMS environment.

1 . A method of coupling an object's method and state stored in a Database Management System (DBMS) having one or more relations that store schema and data, said method comprising the steps of: 
 storing in said one or more relations in said DBMS a class definition for an object;    storing in said one or more relations in said DBMS a method of said object; and    storing in said one or more relations in said DBMS a state of said object.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1    further comprising the step of: 
 activating said object using said method and said state in response to a request for said object.  
 
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2    wherein said step of activating is performed in a client environment.  
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 2    wherein said step of activating is performed in a DBMS server environment.  
     
     
         5 . The method of    claim 2    wherein said step of activating further comprises the steps of: 
 retrieving from said one or more relations said class definition, said method and said state of said object; and  
 copying said object's class definition, said method and said state into an executable address space.  
 
     
     
         6 . The method of    claim 1    wherein said method is in the form of an executable module.  
     
     
         7 . The method of    claim 6    wherein said executable module is in the form of Java byte codes.  
     
     
         8 . The method of    claim 1    further comprising the step of: 
 invoking said object.  
 
     
     
         9 . The method of    claim 8    wherein said step of invoking occurs within said DBMS.  
     
     
         10 . The method of    claim 8    wherein said step of invoking occurs in a client process.  
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 1    wherein said class definition and method are stored as part of a schema of said DBMS.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 1    wherein said state is stored in a data portion of said DBMS.  
     
     
         13 . An article of manufacture comprising: 
 a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for coupling an object's method and state stored in a Database Management System (DBMS) having one or more relations that store schema and data, said article of manufacture comprising: 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store in said one or more relations in said DBMS a class definition for an object;  
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store in said one or more relations in said DBMS a method of said object; and  
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store in said one or more relations in said DBMS a state of said object.  
   
     
     
         14 . The article of manufacture of    claim 13    further comprising: 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to activate said object using said method and said state in response to a request for said object.  
 
     
     
         15 . The article of manufacture of    claim 15    wherein said program code configured to cause said computer to activate is performed in a client environment.  
     
     
         16 . The article of manufacture of    claim 13    wherein said program code configured to cause said computer to activate is performed in said DBMS.  
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of    claim 16    wherein said program code configured to cause a computer to activate further comprises: 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to retrieve from said one or more relations said class definition, said method and said state of said object; and  
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to store in said DBMS said class definition and said method;  
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to copy said object's class definition, said method and said state into an executable address space.  
 
     
     
         18 . The article of manufacture of    claim 13    wherein said method is in the form of an executable module.  
     
     
         19 . The article of manufacture of    claim 18    wherein said executable module is in the form of Java byte codes.  
     
     
         20 . The article of manufacture of    claim 13    further comprising: 
 computer readable program code configured to cause a computer to invoke said object.  
 
     
     
         21 . The article of manufacture of    claim 20    wherein said program code configured to cause a computer to invoke occurs within said DBMS.  
     
     
         22 . The article of manufacture of    claim 20    wherein said program code configured to cause a computer to invoke occurs in an application process.  
     
     
         23 . The article of manufacture of    claim 13    wherein said class definition and method are stored as part of a schema of said DBMS.  
     
     
         24 . The article of manufacture of    claim 13    wherein said state is stored in a data portion of said DBMS.  
     
     
         25 . The article of manufacture of    claim 13    wherein the computer usable medium is a computer network.  
     
     
         26 . A object coupling apparatus comprising: 
 a DBMS server;    a schema of said DBMS server having a class definition and behavior definition of an object;    a state portion of said DBMS server having a state definition for said object.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of    claim 26    further including: 
 a client coupled to said DBMS server.  
 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of    claim 27    further including: 
 a behavior initiator coupled to said client.  
 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of    claim 28    wherein said behavior initiator is a interpreter.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of    claim 28    wherein said behavior initiator is a “just-in-time” compiler.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of    claim 27    further including an object manager coupled to said DBMS server and said client.  
     
     
         32 . A method of manipulating an object said object including state and behavior stored in one or more relations in a DBMS comprising the steps of: 
 performing one or more DBMS operations on said object.    
     
     
         33 . The method of    claim 32    wherein said one or more DBMS operations comprise an insert operation, said step of performing further comprises the steps of: 
 inserting in said one or more relations in said DBMS a class definition for said object;  
 inserting in said one or more relations in said DBMS state of said object; and  
 inserting in said one or more relations in said DBMS behavior of said object.  
 
     
     
         34 . The method of    claim 32    wherein said one or more DBMS operations comprise an update operation, said step of performing further comprises the steps of: 
 creating a modified object;  
 replacing said object with said modified object in said one or more relations in said DBMS.  
 
     
     
         35 . The method of    claim 34    wherein said step of storing comprises the step of executing a plurality of update statements.  
     
     
         36 . The method of    claim 32    wherein said one or more DBMS operations comprise a delete operation, said step of performing further comprises the step of performing a plurality of delete statements to remove said object from said one or more relations.  
     
     
         37 . The method of    claim 32    wherein said one or more operations are performed as a unit.  
     
     
         38 . The method of    claim 32    wherein said one or more DBMS operations comprise a retrieve operation, said step of performing further comprising the steps of: 
 retrieving from said one or more relations in said DBMS a class definition for said object;  
 retrieving from said one or more relations in said DBMS state of said object; and  
 retrieving from said one or more relations in said DBMS behavior of said object.  
 
     
     
         39 . The method of    claim 38    wherein said steps of retrieving are performed using select statements.