Method and apparatus for automatic notification of database events
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that automatically sends a notification about a database event. The system operates by receiving a number of items, including a registration of a specified event-type, a subscription of a protocol for the notification, a format for the notification, and a list of recipients for the notification. The system then configures the database to send the notification about the specified event-type to the specified list of recipients in the specified format via the specified protocol. Adding this notification capability at the database-level enhances the functionality and interoperability of many applications as well as providing more robust and timely information to the appropriate audiences.
1. A method for configuring a database to automatically send a notification about a database event, comprising:
creating a rule that includes an event-type, a protocol, a notification format, and a list of recipients;
storing the rule in a subscription table;
receiving a first database event at the database;
determining if the first database event is of the event-type;
selecting the rule in the subscription table using the event-type;
using the rule to determine the protocol, the notification format, and the list of recipients; and
sending a first notification to the list of recipients using the protocol and the notification format.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the first database event includes receiving the first database event at a queue.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the queue is persistent.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the queue includes records stored in a database table.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining by if the first database event is of the event-type is done by an event monitor.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first notification is sent to multiple parties.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first database event is one of:
a client shutting down;
a database shutting down;
a stack overflowing;
a trigger firing; and
a database error occurring.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the protocol is one of:
Oracle Call Interface (OCI);
Programming Language/SQL (PL/SQL);
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP);
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP);
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP); and
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification format is one of:
Extensible Markup Language (XML);
Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML);
Wireless Markup Language (WML);
Structured Query Language (SQL); and
raw data.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first notification includes:
a command sent to a database to perform an action; and
a command sent to a computer to perform a task.
11. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for configuring a database to automatically send a notification about a database event, the method comprising:
creating a rule that includes an event-type, a protocol, a notification format, and a list of recipients;
storing the rule in a subscription table;
receiving a first database event at the database;
determining if the first database event is of the event-type;
selecting the rule in the subscription table using the event-type;
using the rule to determine the protocol, the notification format, and the list of recipients; and
sending a first notification to the list of recipients using the protocol and the notification format.
12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein receiving the first database event includes receiving the first database event at a queue.
13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the queue is persistent.
14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the queue includes records stored in a database table.
15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein determining if the first database event is of the event-type is done by an event monitor.
16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the first notification is sent to multiple parties.
17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the database event is one of:
a client shutting down;
a database shutting down;
a stack overflowing;
a trigger firing; and
a database error occurring.
18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the protocol is one of:
Oracle Call Interface (OCI);
Programming Language/SQL (PL/SQL);
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP);
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP);
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP); and
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the notification format is one of:
Extensible Markup Language (XML);
Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML);
Wireless Markup Language (WML);
Structured Query Language (SQL); and
raw data.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the first notification includes:
a command sent to a database to perform an action; and
a command sent to a computer to perform a task.
21. An apparatus for configuring a database to automatically send a notification about a database event, comprising:
a creating mechanism configured to create a rule that includes an event-type, a protocol, a notification format, and a list of recipients;
a storing mechanism configured to store the rule in a subscription table;
a receiving mechanism configured to receive a first database event at the database;
a first determining mechanism configured to determine if the first database event is of the event-type;
a selecting mechanism configured to select the rule in the subscription table using the event-type;
a second determining mechanism configured to use the rule to determine the protocol, the notification format, and the list of recipients; and
a sending mechanism, recipients using the protocol and the notification format.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the receiving mechanism is configured to receive the first database event at a queue.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the queue is persistent.
24. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the queue includes records stored in a database table.
25. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first determining mechanism resides within an event monitor.
26. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the apparatus is configured so that the first notification is sent to multiple parties.
27. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first database event is one of:
a client shutting down;
a database shutting down;
a stack overflowing;
a trigger firing; and
a database error occurring.
28. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the protocol is one of:
Oracle Call Interface (OCI);
Programming Language/SQL (PL/SQL);
Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP);
Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP);
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP); and
Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
29. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the notification format is one of:
Extensible Markup Language (XML);
Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML);
Wireless Markup Language (WML);
Structured Query Language (SQL); and
raw data.
30. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first notification includes:
a command sent to a database to perform an action; and
a command sent to a computer to perform a task.