Core data services extensibility for entity-relationship models
View Patent ↗Embodiments extend the relational model and query language to recognize features of tables and higher level entity-relationship models (ERMs). Extension language is implemented in the data design language (DDL) to incorporate tables, entities (and views) having custom-defined/semantic structure, rather than being limited to primitive types (e.g. flat tables as in standard SQL). The extension language includes an indication that a query is to include all active elements for each table extension or entity extension that is active. The extension language can be chained to extend a table or entity that has been extended.
1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
providing a database comprising a core data services (CDS) component including a data definition language (DDL) compiler and overlying a lower layer organized according to a relational model and including a first table comprising a base artifact;
providing a database engine in communication with the database utilizing a data definition language describing the relational model and including a structural extension element associating the first table with a second table;
providing an application comprising an entity-relationship model including the second table;
a query engine communicating a query to the database engine utilizing an extended query language accommodating the entity-relationship model, the extended query language comprising an alias;
the DDL compiler referencing the alias to uniquely identify that the structural extension element is referenced by the query, and
the database engine returning a query result including data from the first table to the query engine based upon the extended query language.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the extended query language is an extension of structured query language (SQL).
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the query is a view query.
4. A computer-implemented method as in claim 1 wherein the alias comprises an explicit alias indicating extension of the relational model.
5. A computer-implemented method as in claim 1 wherein the query includes a context annotation in the extended query language.
6. A computer-implemented method as in claim 1 wherein the query includes an entity extension identifying the second table as an entity of the entity-relationship model.
7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium embodying a computer program for performing a method, said method comprising:
providing a database comprising a core data services (CDS) component including a data definition language (DDL) compiler and overlying a lower layer organized according to a relational model and including a first table comprising a base artifact;
providing a database engine in communication with the database utilizing a data definition language describing the relational model and including a structural extension element associating the first table with a second table;
providing an application comprising an entity-relationship model including the second table;
a query engine communicating a query to the database engine utilizing an extended query language accommodating the entity-relationship model, the extended query language comprising an alias;
the DDL compiler referencing the alias to uniquely identify that the structural extension element is referenced by the query, and
the database engine returning a query result including data from the first table to the query engine based upon the extended query language.
8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 7 wherein the extended query language is an extension of structured query language (SQL).
9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 7 wherein the query is a view query.
10. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 7 wherein the alias comprises an explicit alias indicating extension of the relational model.
11. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 7 wherein the query includes a context annotation in the extended query language.
12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium as in claim 7 wherein the query includes an entity extension identifying the second table as an entity of the entity-relationship model.
13. A computer system comprising:
one or more processors comprising a database engine and a query engine;
a software program comprising code stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, executable on said processors, the software program configured to:
provide a database comprising a core data services (CDS) component including a data definition language (DDL) compiler and overlying a lower layer organized according to a relational model and including a first table comprising a base artifact;
provide the database engine in communication with the database utilizing a data definition language describing the relational model and including a structural extension element associating the first table with a second table;
provide an application comprising an entity-relationship model including the second table;
cause the query engine to communicate a query to the database engine utilizing an extended query language accommodating the entity-relationship model, the extended query language comprising an alias;
cause the DDL compiler to uniquely identify that the structural extension element is referenced by the query; and
cause the database engine to return a query result to the query engine including data from the first table based upon the extended query language.
14. A computer system as in claim 13 wherein the extended query language is an extension of structured query language (SQL).
15. A computer system as in claim 13 wherein the query is a view query.
16. A computer system as in claim 13 wherein the alias comprises an explicit alias indicating extension of the relational model.
17. A computer system as in claim 13 wherein the query includes a context annotation in the extended query language.
18. A computer system as in claim 13 wherein the query includes an entity extension identifying the second table as an entity of the entity-relationship model.