Converter for XML document type definition to internal XML element mapping tree
View Patent ↗An apparatus for and method of accommodating an XML document within a data base management system. The XML document is defined by a Document Type Definition (DTD). It is parsed on an element-by-element basis into an acceptable format for use by a data base management system by information contained in an XML mapping tree in accordance with said DTD. Each element may be accompanied by appropriate attributes. The tree may be saved for future use. An internal form of the DTD may be stored for future use.
1. A data processing system comprising:
a. a user terminal
b. a data base management system having a data base in a format incompatible with XML which accesses said data base in accordance with an ordered sequence of command language script coupled to said user terminal via a publicly accessible digital data communication network;
c. a document containing a plurality of elements formatted in XML (extensible markup language) generated by said user terminal transferred via said publicly accessible digital data communication network to said data base management system;
d. a document type definition (DTD) which defines the format of said document transferred from said user terminal to said data base management system via said publicly accessible digital data communication network; and
e. an XML mapping tree that corresponds to said DTD and which defines the transformation of each of said plurality of elements mapped for use by said data base management system for entry into said data base.
2. A data processing system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of elements further comprises an attribute which is recorded within said XML mapping tree.
3. A data processing system according to claim 2 wherein said DTD is transferred from said user terminal to said data base management system via said publicly accessible digital data communication network.
4. A data processing system according to claim 3 further comprising a storage space in which an internal representation of the XML element tree corresponding to said DTD is stored for future use.
5. A data processing system according to claim 4 wherein said DTD location path is displayed on said user terminal as a window.
6. An apparatus comprising:
a. a user terminal which generates an XML document;
b. a Document Type Definition (DTD) which defines the format of said XML document;
c. a publicly accessible digital data communication network;
d. a data base management system which honors a service request by executing an ordered sequence of command language statements having an input format different from XML responsively coupled to said user terminal via said publicly accessible digital data communication network which receives said XML document and said Document Type Definition via said publicly accessible digital data communication network; and
e. an XML mapping tree responsively coupled to said data base management system which parses said XML document in accordance with said DTD into said input format of said data base management system.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein an internal representation of the XML element tree corresponding to said DTD is stored for future use.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said XML document further comprises a plurality of elements and at least one of said plurality of elements has an attribute.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein an internal representation of the XML element tree corresponding to said DTD is received by said data base management system via said publicly accessible digital data network.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said publicly accessible digital data communication system further comprises the Internet.
11. A method of interfacing an XML document from a user terminal to a data base management system having an incompatible input protocol comprising:
a. transferring said XML document and a corresponding Document Type Definition to said data base management system via a publicly accessible digital data communication network;
b. parsing said XML document into an XML mapping tree in accordance with said Document Type Definition (DTD) corresponding to said XML document; and
c. presenting said parsed XML document to said data base management system for processing.
12. A method according to claim 11 further comprising the step of saving the internal representation of the XML element tree corresponding to said DTD for future use.
13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the internal representation of the XML element tree corresponding to said DTD is retrieved from storage.
14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said XML document further comprises a plurality of elements and at least one element has an attribute.
15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said publically accessible digital data communication network further comprises the Internet.
16. An apparatus comprising:
a. transmitting means for transmitting an XML document;
b. stating means for stating a DTD associated with said document and transmitting said DTD associated with said document via said transmitting means;
c. providing means responsively coupled to said transmitting means for providing data base management functions; and
d. composing means responsively coupled to said providing means for composing said XML document from an XML mapping tree and data in said data base management system based upon said DTD.
17. An apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said composing means further comprises storing means for storing said parsed XML document for future use.
18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said XML document further comprises a plurality of elements and at least one of said plurality of elements has an attribute.
19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said transmitting means further comprises the Internet.
20. An apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising displaying means for displaying a pathway for said DTD storage location.
21. An apparatus for storing an XML document in a data base having a legacy format not compatible with XML comprising:
a. A user terminal which generates said XML document;
b. a Document Type Definition (DTD) which defines the format of said XML document;
c. A legacy data base management system having a data base in said legacy format which receives said XML document from said user terminal responsively coupled to said user terminal via a publicly accessible digital data communication network; and
d. an XML mapping tree responsively coupled to said data base management system which parses said XML document in accordance with said DTD into said legacy format of said data base.
22. An apparatus for storing an XML document according to claim 21 wherein said user terminal transfers said Document Type Definition (DTD) to said legacy data base management system via said publicly accessible digital data communication network.
23. An apparatus for storing an XML document according to claim 22 further comprising a repository within said legacy data base management system for storing said XML mapping tree.
24. An apparatus for storing an XML document according to claim 23 further comprising a window for display of said DTD on said user terminal.
25. An apparatus for storing an XML document according to claim 24 wherein said publicly accessible digital data communication system further comprises the Internet.