Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-23
2004-05-11
Pardo, Thuy N. (Department: 2175)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C709S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06735594
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to database management systems, and more particularly to accessing a database over the Internet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
With the growing popularity of the Internet, so is the demand for access to relational databases via the Internet.
FIG. 1
illustrates a conventional network environment
10
, which allows access to relational databases
18
over the Internet. One example of this conventional network environment
10
is the Net.Data™ network environment (also known as the “DB
2
® WWW” network environment), developed by International Business Machines, Corp. The Net.Data network environment comprises web clients
12
, a web server
14
, a Net.Data gateway
16
, and relational database management system (RDBMS) servers
18
, such as those for DB
2
databases. DB
2
databases are known in the art and will not be described further here. The Net.Data gateway
16
and the RDBMS servers
18
may be located in the same server as the web server
14
, or the RDBMS servers they may be located on separate machines. The Net.Data gateway
16
facilitates communication between the web clients
12
and the servers
18
executing RDBMS software. The Net.Data gateway
16
enables an application developer to build web applications for the RDBMS software using Structured Query Language (SQL) and either HyperText Markup Language (HTML) or Extensible Markup Language (XML). The application developer creates SQL statements and HTML pages or XML documents and stores them in Net.Data applications, called macro language files, at the Net.Data gateway
16
.
An end user of these applications sees only Web pages, such as HTML input forms, on a web browser for his or her requests and the resulting reports. Users fill out the input forms, point and click to navigate the forms, and to access the RDBMS software and relational database. A complete SQL statement is dynamically built by the Net.Data gateway
16
according to the macro language files and/or the user-provided inputs. The SQL statement is sent to the server
18
executing the RDBMS software. The SQL statement is performed by the RDBMS software, and the resulting output is merged into an HTML page or XML document by the Net.Data gateway
16
for presentation to the user.
For example, assume that a macro language file facilitates the retrieval of information concerning various on-line catalog items. A possible SQL statement contained within a Net.Data application is:
SELECT price FROM catalog WHERE itemnum=‘$(myitem)’. The “$(myitem)” portion of the SQL statement is a Net.Data variable for an item catalog number. The Net.Data gateway
16
receives a value for this Net.Data variable from the end user via an input HTML form. The Net.Data gateway
16
then constructs the SQL statement with this value for $(myitem) according to the macro language file, and sends it to the RDBMS software for execution.
Using this approach, the Net.Data gateway
16
is required to construct a different SQL statement whenever the end user requests access to a different item. The RDBMS software thus must prepare each SQL statement separately. This hinders the performance of the network
10
.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an improved method and system for retrieving data from a relational database over a network. The improved method and system should exploit dynamic SQL statement caching to improve performance. The present invention addresses such a need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method and system for retrieving data from a database over a network. The present invention includes: generating an executable statement at a gateway in accordance with a macro language file, where the executable statement comprises one or more a parameter markers; passing the executable statement from the gateway to database software; and passing a value for each parameter marker from the gateway to the database software. The present invention allows the Net.Data gateway to support parameter markers in place of Net.Data variables. This in turn allows the Net.Data gateway to take advantage of the dynamic Structured Query Language (SQL) statement caching feature available with conventional database systems. With the use of this invention, the execution of the SQL statements occurs more rapidly, saving resources and improving performance. Additionally, the Net.Data variables may be automatically replaced with parameter markers, with the Net.Data variables and their values maintained. This provides transparent support for parameter markers.
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Boykin, Jr. et al., “Enhance Parameter Marker Usage in SQL Date/Time Arithmetic,” IBM Disclosure, Sep. 1991, pp. 1-2.
Sappal, N., “Using a Parameter Marker in the SQL Escape Clause of a Like Predicate,” IBM Disclosure, Apr. 1993, pp. 2-3.
Hall, Jr. Harold Hershey
Nguyen Lynh
Runge Norbert
Zimowski Melvin Richard
Pardo Thuy N.
Sawyer Law Group LLP
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