Database system, particularly for multimedia objects
View Patent ↗A database system stores data relating to media objects and includes a meta table, a supplementary meta table, a content table, a supplementary content table, each supplementary content data record being linked to a supplementary metadata record and to a content data record. An object type link table links together records in the meta table, and a content data link table links together records in the content data table. An information retrieval system analyzes the tables and provides, for a selected instance of an object, information about that object's attributes and relationships with other objects in a hierarchical form.
1. An apparatus for managing data objects, the apparatus comprising:
a memory configured to store a meta table and a content table, the meta table including metadata records,
wherein the content table specifies an instance of each of the data objects, each of the instances being linked to a metadata record stored in the meta table and including a parameter associated with the metadata record,
wherein the content table further specifies relationships between the instances,
wherein the meta table specifies definitions for subsets of the data objects and hierarchical relationships between the subsets of the data objects.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the metadata records specifies an object type.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the object type includes a subject and a story.
4. An apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the object type identifies a media content.
5. An apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the media content includes textual information, visual information, or audio information.
6. An apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the media content includes a web page, a broadcast or a publication.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the metadata records includes an attribute that specifies one of a permission right, a version, an available format, or a description.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the metadata records specifies a hierarchical relationship of the data objects.
9. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the metadata records includes a behavior that specifies a rule for creating and modifying the data objects.
10. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the data objects include a file object specifying a provider of the file object, a source parameter of the file object, a format of the file object, data import and manipulation processes of the file object, and refresh rate of the file object.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an interface coupled to the memory, wherein the interface is configured to provide retrieval of values of attributes for one of the instances for presentation of relationship information between one of the data objects and remaining ones of the data objects in a hierarchical structure.
12. A method for managing data objects, the method comprising:
storing a meta table, wherein the meta table includes metadata records; and
storing a content table that specifies an instance of each of the data objects, each of the instance being linked to a metadata record stored in the meta table and including a parameter associated with the metadata record,
wherein the content table further specifies relationships between the instances,
wherein the meta table specifies definitions for subsets of the data objects and hierarchical relationships between the subsets of the data objects.
13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein each of the metadata records specifies an object type.
14. A method according to claim 13 , wherein the object type includes a subject and a story.
15. A method according to claim 12 , wherein each of the metadata records includes an attribute that specifies one of a permission right, a version, an available format, or a description.
16. A method according to claim 12 , wherein each of the metadata records specifies a hierarchical relationship of the data objects.
17. A method according to claim 12 , wherein each of the metadata records includes a behavior that specifies a rule for creating and modifying the data objects.
18. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the meta table includes a user group, a user group application, a system setting, a meta control type, or a meta action table specifying behavior of the data objects.
19. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the data objects include a file object specifying a provider of the file object, a source parameter of the file object, a format of the file object, data import and manipulation processes of the file object, and refresh rate of the file object.
20. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
permitting retrieval of values of attributes for one of the instances for presentation of relationship information between one of the data objects and remaining ones of the data objects in a hierarchical structure.
21. A method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
storing a folder object as a virtual container for the data objects.
22. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the meta table includes a meta item table including definitions for each of the data objects and a position of each of the data objects in hierarchical relationships.
23. A system comprising:
a database configured to permit update of a metadata record in a meta table, wherein the database is configured to store the meta table and a content table that includes a plurality of data objects,
wherein an instance for one of the data objects is updated, wherein the instance includes a link to the metadata record, the instance including a parameter associated with the metadata record,
wherein the database is further configured to store a content link table defining relationships between the instances, and to store a meta link table defining hierarchical relationships between a first subset of the data objects and a second subset of the data objects.
24. A system according to claim 23 , wherein the instance includes a reference to media content data.