Method and system for representing and accessing object-oriented data in a relational database system

Abstract

A method and system for representing objects in a relational database is provided. In one aspect, the invention provides a method and system for storing directory information objects in a relational database management system. In addition, a method and system for generating a statement in a database query language to search or manipulate objects or entries that are stored in a relational database is disclosed. An aspect of the invention is directed to a method and system that can automatically generate a SQL statement for an LDAP search filter.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A system for representing data in a relational database comprising: 
 a database table comprising a plurality of rows;    data stored in a first row of said database table; and    metadata stored in a second row of said database table, said metadata comprising definition data for said data stored in said first row.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said data comprises an attribute name defined by said metadata.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said data comprises an attribute value.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein said definition data comprises parameter data for said attribute value.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising data stored in a third row of said database table, wherein said definition data of said metadata stored in said second row describes said data stored in said third row.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising additional data stored in said first row for indicating modification privilege associated with said data.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising additional data stored in said second row for indicating modification privilege associated with said metadata.  
   
   
       31 . A method for representing data in a relational database comprising: 
 storing data in a first row of said database table; and    storing metadata in a second row of said database table, said metadata comprising definition data for said data stored in said first row.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said data comprises an attribute name defined by said metadata.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said data comprises an attribute value.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said definition data comprises parameter data for said attribute value.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising storing data in a third row of said database table, wherein said definition data of said metadata stored in said second row describes said data stored in said third row.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising storing additional data in said first row for indicating modification privilege associated with said data.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising storing additional data in said second row for indicating modification privilege associated with said metadata.  
   
   
       38 . A computer program product having a medium and a set of instructions stored within said medium, wherein an execution of said set of instructions by a processor causes a process to be performed, said process comprising: 
 storing data in a first row of said database table; and    storing metadata in a second row of said database table, said metadata comprising definition data for said data stored in said first row.    
   
   
       39 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein said data comprises an attribute name defined by said metadata.  
   
   
       40 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein said data comprises an attribute value.  
   
   
       41 . The computer program product of  claim 40 , wherein said definition data comprises parameter data for said attribute value.  
   
   
       42 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein said process further comprises storing data in a third row of said database table, wherein said definition data of said metadata stored in said second row describes said data stored in said third row.  
   
   
       43 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein said process further comprises storing additional data in said first row for indicating modification privilege associated with said data.  
   
   
       44 . The computer program product of  claim 38 , wherein said process further comprises storing additional data in said second row for indicating modification privilege associated with said metadata.  
   
   
       45 . A method for representing object-oriented entities in a relational table comprising: 
 storing attribute information for attributes of an object in a database table; and    generating one or more catalog tables associated with said database table, each of said one or more catalog tables corresponding to one of said attributes.    
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said object comprises a directory information object.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said directory information object comprises LDAP information.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein said directory information object comprises X.500 information.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein said one or more catalog tables each comprises a row identifying an object identifier that correlates to an attribute value that is associated with one of said attributes.  
   
   
       50 . A method for representing object-oriented entities in a relational table comprising: 
 storing attribute information for attributes of objects in a database table; and    storing identification data in a distinguished name table, said identification data identifying unique system identification names for said objects.    
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said distinguished name table identifies full paths of parent objects for said objects.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein said full paths of parent objects are stored with higher hierarchical levels of the paths listed before lower hierarchical levels of the paths of said parent objects.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 50 , wherein said identification data from said distinguished name table identifies relative distinguised names of said objects.