Abstract: A system and method for encoding data into a digital file includes identifying an input digital file, an output digital file, and data to be encoded into the output digital file. The data that is to be encoded is masked based on a masking algorithm and encoded into the output digital file at bit locations identified by an encoding algorithm, starting from pre-identified start location. The start location, the masking algorithm, and encoding algorithm are encoded into a metadata file, and the metadata file is also encoded into the output digital file. The input and output digital files are sent to a receiving device that is configured to extract the data from the output digital file, and apply the extracted data to perform an action. The action may be authenticating or authorizing a user based on the extracted data, or completing a transaction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing object data stored in a database management system to a receiving client. The method comprises the steps of receiving a database query from the client on a first communication path, transforming the database query into database management system commands, transmitting the database management system commands to the database management system, receiving a response from the database management system, the response comprising an object locator identifying data responsive to the database query, compiling an answer set comprising the database management system response, transmitting the answer set to the client on the first communications path, receiving a data request from the client comprising the media object locator, establishing a transport session with the client on a second communication path, and transmitting data identified by the media object locator to the client on the second communication path.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for executing a database query in a database management system. The method comprises the steps of generating a plurality of query plans for the database query, evaluating the plurality of query plans using a measured value for the resource metric, selecting a query plan from the evaluated query plans based on the measured resource metric, and executing the selected query plan. The apparatus comprises a query plan generator for generating a plurality of query plans, each query plan optimized with respect to at least one resource metric, and a query plan evaluator, communicatively coupled to a resource object and a database management system node, the evaluator selecting a query plan from the optimized query plan according to a measured resource metric obtained from the global resource object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing access to object data stored in a database management system to a receiver client. The method comprises the steps of receiving a database query from a submitting client on a first communication path, transforming the database query into database management system commands, transmitting the database management system commands to a database management system, receiving a response from the database management system comprising a media object locator, compiling an answer set comprising the database management system response, and transmitting the media object locator to the receiver client on the first communication path.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer implemented query optimizer. A query is to be executed containing user defined functions and abstract data type parameters to retrieve data from a database. Optimization information is received from a user. Then, the execution of the query is optimized based on the received optimization information for execution within a massively parallel, shared nothing architecture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing object data stored in a database management system to a receiving client. The method comprises the steps of receiving a database query from the client on a first communication path, transforming the database query into database management system commands, transmitting the database management system commands to the database management system, receiving a response from the database management system, the response comprising an object locator identifying data responsive to the database query, compiling an answer set comprising the database management system response, transmitting the answer set to the client on the first communications path, receiving a data request from the client comprising the media object locator, establishing a transport session with the client on a second communication path, and transmitting data identified by the media object locator to the client on the second communication path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending a database management system to operate with diverse object servers. The apparatus comprises a federated coordinator for accepting client commands and translating client commands into relational database commands and object server commands, a plurality of object servers coupled to the federated coordinator, each object server for storing and retrieving data objects identified by object data surrogates in response to the object server commands from the federated coordinator, and a relational database management system coupled to the federated coordinator for storing and retrieving object data surrogates and for transforming relational database commands into an answer set comprising an answer set data surrogate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extending a relational database management system performed by a computer to manage object data stored in an object server having a processor and a data storage device. The method comprises the steps of receiving a database command including a store command and object data from a client at a federated coordinator, generating a data surrogate unique to the object data, associating the data surrogate with the object data, and storing the data surrogate and the object data in the data storage device in the object server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing object data.