Abstract: Methods and a system that provide a network of data sources in terms of a traditional database schema, convert traditional database queries into network messages, and route those messages to those data sources which have relevant data, in some instances through designated query nodes. In the present invention, those data sources accept the message, and then send reply messages to the originator of the query, or via designated join nodes in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the data sources may be able to perform local join operations. The system then collects these reply messages as appropriate at the designated join nodes, designated query nodes, and/or at the data sources, and the reply messages that meet the requirements of the query are sent back to the query originator. The query results provided to the query originator are presented as a traditional database result.

Abstract: A routing protocol, called characteristic routing, which allows data to be transported multi-hop through an internetwork from a sender to a set of receiver nodes using a description of the receiver nodes in the form of multiple arbitrary identifying descriptive names (called characteristics). Host nodes can have multiple dynamic characteristics. Characteristic routing is optimized to make the multiple-name case operate in a fast manner. In particular, characteristic routing creates an efficient routing table index using bit vectors and compression techniques. Using characteristic routing, the sender can choose whether the receiver nodes need to exactly match the characteristic routing address or certain characteristics in the routing address, or whether the receiver nodes can be simply “similar” to the characteristic routing address, or whether the receiver nodes have desired ranges of characteristics.

Abstract: Methods and a system that provide a network of data sources in terms of a traditional database schema, convert traditional database queries into network messages, and route those messages to those data sources which have relevant data, in some instances through designated query nodes. In the present invention, those data sources accept the message, and then send reply messages to the originator of the query, or via designated join nodes in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the data sources may be able to perform local join operations. The system then collects these reply messages as appropriate at the designated join nodes, designated query nodes, and/or at the data sources, and the reply messages that meet the requirements of the query are sent back to the query originator. The query results provided to the query originator are presented as a traditional database result.