Database system and methods

Abstract

In general, in one aspect, the invention relates to a method for transaction processing. The method includes specifying metadata and storing the metadata. An index is created in response to the stored metadata. The method also includes receiving a transaction, generating an index log of changes to the index in response to the received transaction, and modifying the first index in response to the generated index log.

1 . A method for transaction processing, comprising the steps of: 
 specifying metadata describing database elements and relationships between the database elements;    storing the metadata;    creating a first index in response to the stored metadata;    receiving a transaction;    generating an index log of changes to the first index in response to the received transaction; and    modifying the first index in response to the generated index log.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising specifying database elements required for a query.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the specifying step further comprises specifying data dependencies between database elements.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the specifying step is performed by a user interface subsystem.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the receiving step, the generating step, and the modifying step are performed by a transaction subsystem.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transaction is an insert.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transaction is an update.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the transaction is a remove.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
 determining, based on the metadata and the log, additional database changes required by the transaction.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of modifying the first index is performed when the transactions are complete.  
   
   
       11 .- 38 . (canceled)