Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a data tracking scheme for a database is provided which employs a “last-known location” register as a part of a data block's ID. In certain object-oriented databases embodying the present invention, for example, when an object is created, it is assigned a physical address, which is then included as an extension of the OID, and which is recorded in a logical address register. When the object is moved, rather than identifying every reference to the object within the database, only the physical address in the logical address register is updated. When a reference to the object is encountered during the operation of the database, the last-known-location extension of the OID is consulted for a valid last-known location, that is, a valid physical address. If such a valid last-known location exists, that physical location is accessed in order to retrieve the object.

Abstract: In one form of the invention, a computer database storage system is disclosed, comprising a data storage medium adapted to store a plurality of pieces of information, at least one piece of data stored in the data storage medium, and at least one rule stored in the data storage medium, each said at least one rule comprising a premise, an action, wherein the action is performed if the premise is determined to be true, an alternate action, wherein the alternate action is performed if the premise is determined to be false, and a trigger, wherein the trigger causes evaluation of the premise upon the occurrence of a predetermined event.

Abstract: A multi-model database management system (DBMS) presents to its users a variety of logical models, or views of stored data, using industry-standard interfaces, while the physical storage of data is managed in a manner that closely follows the data model. Databases are built from sets of records using the entity-relationship data model. Space is reserved in each owner record for a set pointer pointing to either a member record or a Dynamic Pointer Array (DPA) structure that relates the owner record to member records. The DPA itself contains set pointers to all of the related member records. Each member record, in turn, has a set pointer pointing back to a particular owner record, or, in certain instances, to another DPA. In such cases, the DPA contains set pointers pointing to all of the related owner records. The DBMS supports a variety of logical models including the relational model, and further supports a plurality of industry-standard Application Program Interfaces using SQL query access language.

Abstract: A multi-model database management system (DBMS) presents to its users a variety of logical models, or views of stored data, using industry-standard interfaces, while the physical storage of data is managed in a manner that closely follows the data model. Databases are built from sets of records using the entity-relationship data model. Space is reserved in each owner record for a set pointer pointing to either a member record or a Dynamic Pointer Array (DPA) structure that relates the owner record to member records. The DPA itself contains set pointers to all of the related member records. Each member record, in turn, has a set pointer pointing back to a particular owner record, or, in certain instances, to another DPA. In such cases, the DPA contains set pointers pointing to all of the related owner records. The DBMS supports a variety of logical models including the relational model, and further supports a plurality of industry-standard Application Program Interfaces using SQL query access language.