Abstract: A method and apparatus, and article of manufacture are provided to process an abstract query of a database abstraction constructed over an underlying physical data storage mechanism. The database may comprise a single data source, or a federated source spanning multiple systems. Embodiments of the invention process an abstract query by generating an intermediate representation of the abstract query. In one embodiment, the intermediate representation comprises an abstract query plan. An abstract query plan includes a combination of elements from the data abstraction model and elements relating to the underlying physical data storage mechanism. Once generated, a back-end component may easily traverse the abstract query plan to generate an SQL statement (or other resolved query) corresponding to the abstract query.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate data retrieved from the logical fields of an abstract database using a timeline. The logical fields specified by a database abstraction model are extended to include attributes that specify where data corresponding to a logical field occurs on a timeline. Query results may be displayed by ordering query results as points (for an event) or segments (for a duration) on the timeline. Further, query processing techniques disclosed by the present invention allow users to include temporal operators such as “before,” “after,” “during,” and “within” in an abstract query. Temporal operators provide users with the ability to include temporal relationships in an abstract query, without having to construct a complex conditional expression from more primitive logical operators (e.g., “ands” and “ors”).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems and articles of manufacture for transforming a physical query (e.g., written in SQL) into an abstract query than can be run against an abstract database described by a database abstraction model. In one embodiment, the transformation occurs as a multiple step process: first, transformation of the physical query into an intermediate representation, such as an abstract query plan, and second, transformation of the intermediate representation into an abstract query. There are thousands upon thousands of existing physical (e.g., SQL) queries. Rather than just abandon these existing queries in favor of an abstract database, embodiments of the present invention provide for reverse query processing, that is, for creating an abstract query of the abstract database from a physical query (e.g., an SQL query) of the physical database underlying the abstraction.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for managing metadata associated with a data abstraction model abstractly describing data in a database. One embodiment provides a method of managing metadata describing objects of a data abstraction model with logical fields that define abstract views of physical data in a database. The method comprises traversing a logical tree structure representing the data abstraction model. The logical tree structure has a plurality of nodes, each representing a logical field or a category of logical fields of the data abstraction model. The method further comprises identifying metadata describing logical fields or categories represented by the plurality of nodes. The identified metadata is stored in a queryable database. A user is allowed to query the database to identify objects in the data abstraction model that may be used to construct an abstract query.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for associating a virtual column with a target physical table. The data for the virtual column originates from a source physical table where the data physically resides. In this way, users can access the data in a manner consistent with the users' logical perspective of the data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for increasing the flexibility and reusability of parameterized queries. A user may be allowed to select and run a predefined query. If the query is a parameterized query, the user may be prompted to input one or more parameters. Embodiments of the invention allow the user to recommend a parameter that retrieves maximum or minimum results for the query instead of specifying a parameter. In response to such a user selection, a predefined parameter may be inserted as a parameter for the query. Alternatively, the query may be modified by changing or removing one or more query conditions to achieve the desired results.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for processing requests in web applications and, more particularly, for processing requests between two different applications. One embodiment provides a computer-implemented method of processing a copy request in a distributed environment including at least a first and a second application. The method comprises receiving, from the first application, a copy request for a copy of a selected object. A fully defined instance of the selected object resides in the second application and only a representation of the fully defined instance resides in the first application. The method further comprises generating, by the second application, an object descriptor representing the fully defined instance. At least a portion of the fully defined instance is excluded in the object descriptor. The object descriptor is transmitted from the second to the first application. Thereby, access by the first application to the fully defined instance is prevented.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for query processing and, more particularly, for managing execution of a query against data in a database. One embodiment comprises receiving a query having (i) at least one result field configured to return data from at least one data record included with the database, and (ii) a query condition comprising a field and a query object associated with the field by an operator configured to select values for the field from the query object. The method further comprises determining whether the query object is configured to provide one or more valid values for the field. If the query object is not configured to provide one or more valid values for the field, the query object is transformed into a transformed query object that is configured to provide one or more valid values for the field. Then, the query is executed against the database.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for reducing load time of a program in a highly-parallelized or distributed computer. In one embodiment, this is accomplished by selectively reusing entries in a page table generated during a previous invocation of the program at a particular compute node of the highly-parallelized or distributed computer system.

Abstract: An apparatus and method modify a saved query based on a change in a query value meaning that changes over time. In preferred embodiments a graphical query interface displays an option to adjust query values of a saved database query. A query adjustment mechanism then adjusts the value of the query to compensate for the change in the meaning of the query value since the query was created such that the adjusted query will have the same basic meaning as when the query was originally created. Preferred Embodiments allow the user to specify to adjust the query to the current date or to a specified date in the past.

Abstract: The present invention generally is directed to a method, system and article of manufacture for controlling the access to data granted to a requesting entity based upon data accessed by the entity in the past. Additionally, embodiments of the present invention allow for access control independent from the particular manner in which the data is physically represented. Generally, abstraction layers are provided to represent various data sources available for use by an application and to compose queries used by the application to access and/or update information contained in these data sources. A runtime component is responsible for resolving an abstract query into concrete data access requests to one or more data repositories using information contained in a data repository abstraction component (one of the abstraction layers). Typically, data is organized into a series of domains. Within each domain, data is associated with an account.

Abstract: A method, and apparatus are provided for implementing a directory organization to selectively optimize performance or reliability in a computer system. A directory includes a user selected operational modes including a performance mode and a reliability mode. In the reliability mode, more directory bits are used for error correction and detection. In the performance mode, reclaimed directory bits not used for error correction and detection are used for more associativity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a mechanism for selecting an authorization filter to apply when executing a database query, based on the focus of the database query. Based on the focus specified for a given of the query, different conditions may be added during query processing to a database query. Doing so provides a flexible approach to managing data access requests where queries may focus on the same underlying data from many different perspectives.

Abstract: A method, system, and article of manufacture to process database queries are disclosed. One embodiment comprises receiving an abstract query against a database having a multiplicity of data records. The abstract query identifies a model entity that defines a focus of the abstract query. The method further comprises receiving a limitation request configured to restrict a result set for the abstract query. The limitation request specifies a limitation on data records that are returned for one or more instances of the underlying model entity. From the abstract query, an executable query capable of being executed by a query engine is generated. The executable query is modified on the basis of the limitation request. The modified executable query is executed against the database to obtain the result set, whereby the result set is restricted as requested by the limitation request.

Abstract: A method and apparatus improves the block allocation time in a parallel computer system. A pre-load controller pre-loads blocks of hardware in a supercomputer cluster in anticipation of demand from a user application. In the preferred embodiments the pre-load controller determines when to pre-load the compute nodes and the block size to allocate the nodes based on pre-set parameters and previous use of the computer system. Further, in preferred embodiments each block of compute nodes in the parallel computer system has a stored hardware status to indicate whether the block is being pre-loaded, or already has been pre-loaded. In preferred embodiments, the hardware status is stored in a database connected to the computer's control system. In other embodiments, the compute nodes are remote computers in a distributed computer system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for representing a continuum of data as a rolling column within a relational model is disclosed. Data from a continuous data source may be used to populate a rolling column. Metadata defining the rolling column specifies the correct portion of data from the continuum of data that should be used to populate the rolling column. Whenever data from the rolling column is included in a data access request, such as a database query, a database management system may be configured to update the rolling column, according to the metadata.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for managing presentation of query results. One embodiment comprises receiving, from a requesting entity, a query having at least (i) one result field for which data from one or more databases is to be returned, (ii) one or more conditions for filtering which of the data contained in the one or more databases is returned for each result field, and (iii) a conditions object defining at least one expression for at least one of the conditions. The query is executed against the one or more databases to obtain a query result having one or more data records. The query result is returned in a format relating the data records to respective expressions on the basis of which conditions the data records satisfy. Thereby, it is exposed which of the data records satisfy respective conditions having defined expressions in the conditions object.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for processing a database query. Database queries are submitted with an indication of a selected output format, To process the query, data records are retrieved and formatted according to the selected output format, as well as formatted for additional output formats supported by a given a query application. Once returned, query results may be presented in the selected format. A user may switch the presentation of the query result from the selected format to others, without having to re-execute the database query.

Abstract: A method, system and article of manufacture for data processing and more particularly for managing access to data in a database that should be available for a limited number of accesses. One embodiment provides a method comprising receiving, from a requesting entity, a query against a database having consumable data that is configured to be accessible for only a predefined number of accesses. The query is configured to access the consumable data and is executed against the database to obtain a query result that includes the consumable data. The method further comprises determining whether the predefined number of accesses is reached as a result of the execution of the query against the database. If so, the consumable data is made inaccessible. The obtained query result is returned to the requesting entity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow the results of a query to an operational datastore to be augmented with relevant data that may be stored in a staging area datastore. Upon receiving a query to the operational datastore, it is determined whether data relevant to the query is present in the staging area datastore. If relevant data is present, such data may be transformed, transferred and combined with data in the operational datastore. The query is then run against the combined data and the results displayed to the user.