Patent ID: 7051033

Claim:
A method for managing data in a database system, comprising the steps of: receiving at a database server (a) data that identifies one or more relational tables as tables that store data associated with the content of resources that belong to an information hierarchy, and (b) connection criteria that indicates what constitutes a relationship in the information hierarchy; wherein said one or more relational tables include at least one table that stores, along with the data associated with the content of the resources, certain data that serves as an external hierarchy definition that establishes hierarchical relationships between said resources; using said data that identifies said one or more relational tables, and said connection criteria, to capture the hierarchical relationships within said hierarchy by performing the steps of executing one or more queries against the one or more relational tables to retrieve said certain data; and based on said certain data and said connection criteria, storing information that captures said information hierarchy, as an internal hierarchy definition, in one or more hierarchy structures separate from said one or more relational tables.