Patent ID: 7089235
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method for restricting queryable data in a database to a subset of all available data in the database when a query is executed against the database, comprising: providing a logical representation of all the available data defining a plurality of logical fields abstractly describing associated physical entities of all the available data, wherein each logical field is defined by a logical field name, at least one location attribute identifying a location of physical data corresponding to the logical field and a reference to an access method selected from at least two different access method types; wherein each of the different access methods types defines a different manner of exposing the physical data corresponding to the logical field, independent from the schema of the database; providing, for a requesting entity, a query specification defining an interface to the plurality of logical fields, thereby allowing abstract queries to be composed on the basis of the plurality of logical fields; receiving a previously executed abstract query comprising at least one logical field of the plurality of logical fields and at least one condition; extracting the at least one condition from the previously executed abstract query and storing the at least one condition, wherein the at least one condition is used to restrict the scope of the queryable data in the database; receiving an abstract query comprising at least one logical field of the plurality of logical fields; retrieving the at least one condition; associating the at least one condition with the abstract query; and in accordance with the at least one condition, restricting the queryable data to the subset of all the available data when executing the abstract query.