Apparatus for Accessing Data from a Database as a File

Abstract

An Apparatus is provided for allowing data to be operated upon by external file-based programs that are designed to work on files in a file system. The invention provides for an apparatus comprising a processor and memory, configured to perform enrolling File I/O access to a data object in a database for a client application by retrieving from the database a set of data describing a data object, generating a filename using the retrieved data and a file extension supplied by the client application, and correlating the filename with the data object. Another apparatus is provided, comprising a processor and memory, configured to perform receiving, from a program, File I/O requests, specifying a filename, that perform File I/O actions on a file in a file system, translating the received File I/O requests into Data Operations that perform equivalent File I/O actions on data in a database, and executing the Data Operations on a data object in the database, that has been enrolled and correlated with the filename.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform:   enrolling File I/O access to a data object in a database for a client application by:
 a) retrieving from the database a set of data describing a data object; 
 b) generating a filename using the retrieved data and a file extension supplied by the client application; 
 c) correlating the filename with the data object; 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further performs:
 after correlating the filename with the data object, restricting use of the filename to access the data object after a specific date.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further performs:
 after correlating the filename with the data object, restricting use of the filename to access the data object after the data object has been accessed a specific number of times.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the generated filename includes a subdirectory specification. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filename is generated from user supplied text. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filename is randomly generated. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the filename is a combination of user supplied text and randomly generated characters. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor further performs:
 lastly, returning the generated filename to the client application.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus comprising:
 a processor;   a memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform:   receiving, from a program, File I/O requests, specifying a filename, that perform File I/O actions on a file in a file system;   translating the received File I/O requests into Data Operations that perform equivalent File I/O actions on data in a database;   executing the Data Operations on a data object in the database, that has been enrolled and correlated with the filename.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor further performs:
 after receiving File I/O requests, checking that a database session ID, correlated with the filename, is an active session ID.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor further performs:
 after receiving File I/O requests, checking that a system process ID, correlated with the filename, matches client system process ID or group ID, received with the File I/O request.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor further performs:
 after receiving File I/O requests, checking that a client IP address, correlated with the filename, matches an IP address of an accessing client, received with the File I/O request;   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the filename, specified in the File I/O request, includes a subdirectory. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor further performs:
 after receiving File I/O requests, checking that a date of executing the Data Operations is before a valid until date that restricts access to the data object after a specified date.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor further performs:
 after receiving File I/O requests, checking that a number of executions of the Data Operations is less than an access limit that restricts access to the data object after a specified number of times.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor further performs:
 after executing the Data Operations, returning data to the requesting client to satisfy the File I/O request.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor further performs:
 after executing the Data Operations, returning data to the requesting client indicating an error.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein executing the Data Operations includes calling a locator function in the database.