IP Library Granted Patent US 9,098,515
Granted Patent B2
US 9,098,515 · App. 13/297,011 · Granted Aug 4, 2015

Data destruction mechanisms

Inventors: Matthias Richter (Sinsheim, DE); Mathias Schoenecker (Hambruecken, DE)
Assignee: SAP SE
G06F17/30082G06F17/30117
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,098,515
App. No.
13/297,011
Granted
Aug 4, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for data destruction. In one aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method. The method may include receiving a request to destroy a first data object; determining whether other data objects depend from the first data object; determining a structure for the first data object and the other data objects, when the other data objects depend from the first data object; initiating, based on the determined structure, calls to the other data objects to destroy the other data objects before the first data object; and initiating a call to the first data object to destroy the first data object, when the other data objects have been destroyed. Related apparatus, systems, methods, and articles are also described.

Claims (38)

1. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions to configure a processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving, at a data destruct manager, a request, from a user interface, to destroy a first data object;

determining, by the data destruct manager, whether other data objects depend from the first data object;

determining, by the data destruct manager when the other data objects depend from the first data object, a structure for the first data object and the other data objects by at least traversing the structure from the first data object to at least one leaf node of the other data objects of the structure and determining a data retention time for the other data objects including the at least one leaf node;

initiating, by the data destruct manager, calls, based on the determined structure, to the other data objects to destroy the other data objects before the first data object, when at least one rule and the data retention times of the other data objects including the at least one leaf node indicate destruction is allowed;

initiating, by the data destruct manager when the other data objects have been destroyed, a call to the first data object to destroy the first data object, when the at least one rule and the data retention times of the other data objects including the at least one leaf node indicate destruction is allowed; and

inhibiting, by the data destruct manager, the destruction of at least one of the other data objects and the first data object, when the at least one rule and the data retention times of the at least one other data objects indicate destruction is not allowed, wherein the at least one rule comprises at least one of a legal requirement regarding retention or a company policy regarding retention.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the receiving further comprises:

receiving, at the data destruct manager, the request including an indication to destroy the first data object comprising at least one business object including at least one node and at least one association.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the determining whether further comprises:

accessing, by the data destruction manager, a metadata repository to determine whether other data objects depend from the first data object.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3 , wherein the metadata repository includes a table including at least one of a plurality of registered dependencies to the first data object.

5. A method comprising:

receiving, at a data destruct manager, a request, from a user interface, to destroy a first data object;

determining, by the data destruct manager, whether other data objects depend from the first data object;

determining, by the data destruct manager when the other data objects depend from the first data object, a structure for the first data object and the other data objects by at least traversing the structure from the first data object to at least one leaf node of the other data objects of the structure and determining a data retention time for the other data objects including the at least one leaf node;

initiating, by the data destruct manager, calls, based on the determined structure, to the other data objects to destroy the other data objects before the first data object, when at least one rule and the data retention times of the other data objects including the at least one leaf node indicate destruction is allowed;

initiating, by the data destruct manager when the other data objects have been destroyed, a call to the first data object to destroy the first data object, when the at least one rule and the data retention times of the other data objects including the at least one leaf node indicate destruction is allowed; and

inhibiting, by the data destruct manager, the destruction of at least one of the other data objects and the first data object, when the at least one rule and the data retention times of the at least one other data objects indicate destruction is not allowed, wherein the at least one rule comprises at least one of a legal requirement regarding retention or a company policy regarding retention.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the receiving further comprises:

receiving, at the data destruct manager, the request including an indication to destroy the first data object comprising at least one business object including at least one node and at least one association.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining whether further comprises:

accessing, by the data destruction manager, a metadata repository to determine whether other data objects depend from the first data object.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the metadata repository includes a table including at least one of a plurality of registered dependencies to the first data object.

9. A system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory are configured to provide operations comprising:

receiving, at a data destruct manager, a request, from a user interface, to destroy a first data object;

determining, by the data destruct manager, whether other data objects depend from the first data object;

determining, by the data destruct manager when the other data objects depend from the first data object, a structure for the first data object and the other data objects by at least traversing the structure from the first data object to at least one leaf node of the other data objects of the structure and determining a data retention time for the other data objects including the at least one leaf node;

initiating, by the data destruct manager, calls, based on the determined structure, to the other data objects to destroy the other data objects before the first data object, when at least one rule and the data retention times of the other data objects including the at least one leaf node indicate destruction is allowed;

initiating, by the data destruct manager when the other data objects have been destroyed, a call to the first data object to destroy the first data object, when the at least one rule and the data retention times of the other data objects including the at least one leaf node indicate destruction is allowed; and

inhibiting, by the data destruct manager, the destruction of at least one of the other data objects and the first data object, when the at least one rule and the data retention times of the at least one other data objects indicate destruction is not allowed, wherein the at least one rule comprises at least one of a legal requirement regarding retention or a company policy regarding retention.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the receiving further comprises:

receiving, at the data destruct manager, the request including an indication to destroy the first data object comprising at least one business object including at least one node and at least one association.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the determining whether further comprises:

accessing, by the data destruction manager, a metadata repository to determine whether other data objects depend from the first data object.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the metadata repository includes a table including at least one of a plurality of registered dependencies to the first data object.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 26, 2014
From: SAP AG
To: SAP SE
Reel/Frame 033625/0223 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 27, 2012
From: RICHTER, MATTHIAS; SCHOENECKER, MATHIAS
To: SAP AG
Reel/Frame 027960/0089 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20130124569A1 · May 16, 2013