Patent ID: 6804680
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for storing data comprising:creating an initial database system having at least one lower-level database having a plurality of data entries and a property; creating a top-level database that accesses the initial database system; determining if a specified dictionary file exists in the top-level database; if the specified file does not exist, creating a dictionary file in the top-level database, wherein the dictionary file contains a list of properties supported by the top-level database; storing in the dictionary file a name of the property in the at least one lower-level database, an open or close status of the at least one lower-level database, a reference to a location of a corresponding lower-level database that stores the property, and a key value for the at least one lower-level database, wherein an offset index related to the key value is used to identify data for a data entry in the at least one lower-level database; adding to the dictionary file a new entry, indicating that the top-level database supports an added property; creating an added lower-level database having the added property; and storing in the dictionary file the name of the added property, an open or close status of the added lower-level database, a reference to a location of the added lower-level database that stores the added property, and a key value for the added lower-level database.