Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-22
2001-03-06
Homere, Jean R. (Department: 2177)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06199059
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a component and supplier management (CSM) system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a CSM system that uses a three-tier classification model having search schema, a virtual object, and databases. Search schema is interfaced to the databases via virtual object hierarchies to search for components with designated attributes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Companies are constantly producing new and modified products. A large factor in the profitability of a product is the time it takes to complete and market the new product. Most companies have many different components existing at the company that were designed for a different product and are in stock and ready for use. Companies can speed a product's time to market, reduce development costs, and reduce manufacturing costs by reusing these already existing company resources. By utilizing existing information, parts, components, design drawings, documents, processes, statistical information, as well as resources outside the company such as databases of parts suppliers and the like, one can significantly shorten design and production cycles and development costs.
Typically, companies are spread out over the world and include many different sites with different databases listing the components available at that site and outside resources have different databases. Most of the databases organize components by part number, and information is retrievable using only this key. In addition, different databases each require different search schema defined for the particular database. When performing a search with one schema you may not be able to find a part even though it exists in one of the databases. Therefore this search technique is not accurate. The prior art two-tier search model includes search schema defined or hard-wired for a single database instance.
FIG. 1
shows a prior art system that has a two-tier classification system. The two-tier classification model shown in
FIG. 1
consists of a component centralized database
100
and predefined search schema
110
. There can only be a single search schema for searching the single database. Each different database instance requires a different schema.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a system that allows a user to search different types of databases spread out throughout a company and outside the company and to have flexibility to enter search schema in many different forms based on user preferences.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Systems and methods consistent with the present invention include a three-tier classification model having multiple search schema mapped to a virtual object hierarchy mapped to databases. An administrator creates the virtual object hierarchy and database search schemas corresponding to the created virtual object hierarchy. Objects in the virtual object hierarchy have associated attributes. These attributes are mapped to columns of the databases and/or user defined functions. The created virtual object hierarchy may have built in functions to change a format of data read from databases. When searches are carried out using search schemas, the system accesses the data stored in the database at the columns in the mapping and performs any of the built-in or user-defined functions.
Preferably, multiple search schemas may link to the same virtual object hierarchy and the same database. Multiple virtual objects may correspond to one search schema. Virtual object hierarchies may be linked to one another thereby potentially linking multiple databases.
In one embodiment of the present invention data in the database is changed as it is read or written from the database using user-defined functions.
The present invention allows for data to be virtually classified, meaning that the virtual object hierarchy provides classifications for data in the databases without actually moving data. The virtual object hierarchy allows the search schemas to be independent of the database.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and, in part, will be apparent from the description or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the system particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
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patent: 5603019 (1997-02-01), Kish
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patent: 5794232 (1998-08-01), Mahlum et al.
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Dahan Haim E.
Galvin Michael Jeffrey
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner L.L.P.
Homere Jean R.
International Computex, Inc.
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