Patent ID: 6938052

Claim:
A method for accessing non-relational resources from client computer systems, the resources being connectable to a distributed application network having at least one relational data base server system connectable to a plurality of said client systems, the method comprising: specifying access specifications related to non-relational data resources in procedure means associated with said at least one relational database server system; and accessing, by at least one client system of said plurality of client systems, said non-relational resources via an invocation of said procedure means, wherein said invocation uses a platform independent relational interface at one of the plurality of said client systems, and wherein said procedure means comprises an encapsulated proprietary interface at the at least one relational database server system which facilitates client system access to at least one of the non-relational resources and allows said access without using one or more individually maintained, proprietary interfaces residing at one or more client systems of the plurality of client systems.