Abstract: Representing an XML Schema Definition and Data within a Relational Database Management System using a Reusable Custom-Defined Nestable Compound Data Type. These Data Types provide a natural representation and storage of an XML schema definition and the corresponding XML data. Data Types are created in a RDBMS to store the hierarchical data of a XML data file. Hierarchical data may be imported into a RDBMS by populating the Data Type Fields with the values of data held in the XML data file. The data contained in the RDBMS may also be published to an XML data file.

Abstract: System and method for performing Unicode matching for comparing and merging similar data objects having Unicode strings that are equivalent yet not exact matches. Unicode characters are characterized by number of strokes, stroke order, radicals, geometry, phonemes in association with input method editor and keyboard characteristics such as location of a character on an IME or keyboard (or number of GUI interface interactions used in entering the character, e.g., via tapping where “a” on a mobile device keyboard takes 1 tap of a key, “b” takes 2 taps). These characteristics associated with code points and IME's/keyboards are utilized to create subdomains for matching and determining “distance” to other Unicode code points (e.g., number of keyboard keys away). Allows for determining whether close, yet incorrect data entry may have taken place. Enables merging of duplicate data objects into master data object where minor differences or spelling errors introduce actually represent duplicate data.

Abstract: A method for generating and using a reusable custom-defined nestable compound data type for use as a database qualifier provides significant advantages over using traditional non-reusable structured tables of RDBM systems is described. The method and data structures of the invention may be used to define and instantiate flexible nested-record structures that reverse and better expose the relationship between parent records and private child sub-records in a database schema to provide improved referential integrity and visibility into database structure.

Abstract: The reusable custom-defined nestable compound data type for construction of database objects of one or more embodiments of the invention provide advantages over traditional non-reusable structured tables of RDBM systems. The data structure of one or more embodiments of the invention may be thought of in part as a generalized form of a user defined compound data type that may be used to model various “exotic” data structures, such as flexible hierarchies and networks, in database schema. Thus, the system, methods and data structures of one or more embodiments of the invention may be used to define and instantiate structures that support the creation of flexible nested records that expose the relationship between parent records and private child sub-records in a database schema.

Abstract: Methods and structures for utilizing reusable custom-defined nestable compound data types to permit product variations within an existing taxonomy are described. Multi-attribute Tuples representing individual product variations provide an efficient way to represent an irregular subset of all attribute permutations. Tuples, using the system, methods and structures of one or more embodiments of the invention, provide an elegant solution to efficiently represent the many variations.

Abstract: A lightweight, flexible, aerating, compressive, thermal material. Perforations allow the treatment area to aerate. Thermal capacity of the invention allows for hot or cold treatment in a manner that compressively supports the object undergoing thermal treatment while maintaining maximum mobility. The material is made from an elastomer such as polyurethane with the addition of silicon and vegetable oil. Resin is used to color the product.

Abstract: A system and method for incremental backup storage. The systems and methods include one or more incremental backup servers comprising a current version store configured to store data corresponding to a most recent backup and a historical version store corresponding to a prior backup to said most recent backup. One or more incremental backup clients are configured to communicate with one or more incremental backup servers . The one or more incremental backup clients each comprise a localized data set. The incremental backup server is configured to back up the localized data set of the one or more incremental backup clients.

Abstract: A lightweight, flexible, aerating, compressive, thermal material. Perforations allow the treatment area to aerate. Thermal capacity of the invention allows for hot or cold treatment in a manner that compressively supports the object undergoing thermal treatment while maintaining maximum mobility. The material is made from an elastomer such as polyurethane with the addition of silicon and vegetable oil. Resin is used to color the product.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention enable a user to search for at least one value in layers of audience specific data comprising language, regional, regulatory and/or cultural specific values per layer. The word “audience” for the purposes of this specification means a group of document consumers such as people or computers that are associated with a language, country, region, regulation or culture. A search utilizing at least one embodiment of the invention occurs with respect to data that makes use of rule-based inheritance. For a three level inheritance embodiment, there are 8 permutations involving a NULL value in at least one of the layers, instead of making the user calculate the proper mask, the Current Audience Layer mask can be logical ORed with the Primary Audience Layer Mask or the Secondary Audience Layer Mask in order to create the desired search combination.

Abstract: A method for performing expression-based validation with records in a computer system database, eliminating the need to write programs or scripts. A validation expression can define complex intra-record tests and inter-record tests and may be performed manually against one or more records and have a success or failure indicated for each record in an interface. A validation expression may be placed into one or more groups and performed as a group with the success or failure indicated for each record. A validation expression may be initiated from workflows to implement a business process with system-enforced data integrity. A validation expression may be manually executed or automatically executed when attempting record update to prevent the entry of invalid data and ensure data integrity. A validation expression may also be used to search using the Boolean result of validation expressions.

Abstract: A method for creating a self-configuring database system using a reusable custom-defined nestable compound data type of the invention provides significant advantages over using traditional non-reusable structured tables of RDBM systems. A data structure concept and associated method support creating a self-configuring database system programmatically responsive to importing data using schema descriptions in multiple formats. Thus, the method and data structures of the invention may be used to define and instantiate flexible nested record structures that reverses and better exposes the relationship between parent records and private child sub-records in a database schema.

Abstract: Methods and structures for utilizing reusable custom-defined nestable compound data types to permit product variations within an existing taxonomy are described. Multi-attribute Tuples representing individual product variations provide an efficient way to represent an irregular subset of all attribute permutations. Tuples, using the system, methods and structures of one or more embodiments of the invention, provide an elegant solution to efficiently represent the many variations.

Abstract: The reusable custom-defined nestable compound data type for construction of database objects of one or more embodiments of the invention provide advantages over traditional non-reusable structured tables of RDBM systems. The data structure of one or more embodiments of the invention may be thought of in part as a generalized form of a user defined compound data type that may be used to model various “exotic” data structures, such as flexible hierarchies and networks, in database schema. Thus, the system, methods and data structures of one or more embodiments of the invention may be used to define and instantiate structures that support the creation of flexible nested records that expose the relationship between parent records and private child sub-records in a database schema.

Abstract: Representing an XML Schema Definition and Data within a Relational Database Management System using a Reusable Custom-Defined Nestable Compound Data Type. These Data Types provide a natural representation and storage of an XML schema definition and the corresponding XML data. Data Types are created in a RDBMS to store the hierarchical data of a XML data file. Hierarchical data may be imported into a RDBMS by populating the Data Type Fields with the values of data held in the XML data file. The data contained in the RDBMS may also be published to an XML data file.

Abstract: Expression-based data may comprise data that is processed by a validation expression for example. After a validation expression is created it may then be performed with respect to one or more data values or data records. A validation expression returns a Boolean result that signifies a success or failure result. A validation expression can define complex intra-record tests and inter-record tests with unlimited complexity. In order to improve processing of validations, the system uses virtual data known as calculation fields. Calculation fields are stored in memory at runtime and not in a database thereby eliminating the necessity of selecting and updating records in the database. A dirty bit identifying fields and attributes that need to be calculated based on a dependent data may be used to defer calculation to a later time when the calculation field is displayed or a sort operation occurs for example.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises a method and apparatus for structuring, storing and retrieving data in database systems utilizing relational objects referred to as qualifiers. Catalog data are segregated into one or more primary tables (e.g., main tables), one or more lookup tables, and one or more qualified lookup tables following a predefined set of categories and a taxonomy. Qualified lookup tables comprise a special type of fields referred to as qualifiers. Searches are conducted in embodiments of the invention by determining a set of lookup fields, performing a lookup in one or more lookup tables, and retrieving data values which include association values with records that belong to one or more primary tables. The qualifiers are then used to narrow the search space by selecting only those values that satisfy the selection criteria with regard to the qualifiers. In embodiments of the invention, only a small set in the primary table are traversed to retrieve eligible records.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the invention enable a user to create multiple non-redundant views using metadata targeted at a specific audience that comprises language, regional, regulatory and/or cultural specific values. The word “audience” for the purposes of this specification means a group of document consumers such as people or computers that are associated with a language, country, region, regulation or culture. Audience specific data therefore is data targeted at a specific audience and audience specific metadata is related to the descriptive information related to the data, such as a table name or a field name for example. At least one embodiment of the invention makes use of rule-based inheritance in providing metadata values via layers that comprise audience specific data.

Abstract: Enables locating and merging potential data record matches. Enables locating duplicates through the definition of matching strategies. Each strategy may include transformations, matching rules and scoring thresholds to implement fuzzy matches that match closely related data records that are not exact matches. Performing a search allows for narrowing down the records to a desired set on which to apply a given matching strategy. Merging is performed on the potential duplicates thus located to consolidate data and remove duplicates. By narrowing down the records to a closely related set via a search, merging is simplified to work on a small number of closely related records, thus simplifying the process. The total matching score obtained via execution of match strategies may be utilized to determine which potential record(s) to merge for example. May utilize past user input to provide intelligent inputs for rules, tokens, weights, fields, parameters or any other past user input.

Abstract: Audience specific document targeted at a particular media type are generated by accessing data from an audience hierarchy. When obtaining a data value for a particular audience, if that value does not exist for that audience then the audience hierarchy may be utilized to find the data value for an inherited audience. By adding regional, cultural or regulatory subdivisions within the audience hierarchy and inheriting large portions of existing audience specific data entries, a large number of audience specific documents may be generated with a minimal amount of data entry required. Audiences may be specified in a given order for traversal within the hierarchy and displayed in a data entry and editing application utilizing visual characteristics to inform a user if the value for a particular piece of data is inherited from another layer or utilized from the particular layer in use. Audience specific documents may be masked and accessed by payment.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of invention are directed to a multi-layered data model for generating audience-specific documents will now be described. The invention is used in the context of generating a document such as a catalog or web page for publication across regions and cultures comprising multiple languages. It allows users to rapidly generate multi-language, multi-culture and multi-region documents since fields flagged as multi-lingual may utilize existing buckets that comprise pre-filled multi-language, multi-culture and multi-region values without requiring the user to specify every multi-value when creating a record.