Patent ID: 6047291
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A computer-readable storage medium storing a relational extender for a computer-based relational database, the relational extender providing the relational database with access to object data of a complex data type, comprising:a first table having a user defined application database, and at least one column dedicated to containing an object handle uniquely identifying an object associated with the object data, the object handle and the at least one column of the first table both having a data type of the complex data type;a second table containing at least one column defining a unique characteristic associated with said object and one column dedicated to containing said object handle;a third table containing at least one column defining a common characteristic associated with all objects defined within said first table and one column dedicated to containing said object handle and at least one column dedicated to containing a reference to the object data associated with said object; anda function strongly typed against the complex data type wherein the function takes the object handle as a parameter and manipulates the object data.