Patent ID: 6560595
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for querying a database, stored in a memory coupled to a computer, and containing a plurality of records, so as to specify that the fields in a sub-query must share the same context or logical grouping within a record in order for that record to satisfy the criteria embodied in the sub-query, the method comprising:receiving the query for the database, the query containing a correlation operator &THgr; and a sub-query comprising the operand for the correlation operator &THgr;, the correlation operator &THgr; achieving contextual relatedness by matching field paths; resolving the correlation operator &THgr; across the operand for the correlation operator &THgr;; evaluating the query with the correlation operator &THgr; against at least some database records; and retrieving the database records that satisfy the query expression.