Abstract: In response to the provision of a collection of semi-structured data (or its schema), a mapper generates a structured organization to store the collection of semi-structured data. The mapper further collaterally generates a description of how the semi-structured data are stored under the structured organization. In one embodiment, normalized relational tables are used for the structured organization. In alternate embodiments, non-normalized relational tables or other structured organization may also be used. The reverse, that is, the creation of a semi-structured data organization for a collection of structured data may also be performed.

Abstract: Semi-structured queries in an information page employing semi-structured data are pre-processed to identify the data to be selectively retrieved from the semi-structured data, and the storage locations of the data in a collection of structured data comprising the semi-structured data. The pre-processing references a description of how the semi-structured data are stored in the collection of structured data. Equivalent structured queries to retrieve the data from the collection of structured data are generated; and the semi-structured queries are replaced with the equivalent structured queries. In one application, these pre-processed information pages are stored to fulfill requests from remote clients, to enhance response time to requests. In response to a request, the requested information page is dynamically completed, executing the replacement equivalent structured queries instead, without having to determine in real time where the semi-structured data are stored in the structured organization.