Abstract: A technique for undoing a transaction that changes data in a database. In accordance with the present invention, the database contains at least one data unit. The database is stored in a data storage device connected to a computer. A lock, transaction identifier, transaction operation indicator, and data unit, are associated with the transaction. The invention undoes the transaction using the associated lock, transaction identifier, transaction operation indicator, and data unit.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing transaction control for a computer-implemented database management system. The database management system manages one or more databases, wherein each of the databases contains one or more documents and each document contains one or more objects. The database management system also supports a file cache for those databases. A transaction control system provides transaction control for the databases, documents, and objects managed by the database management system, wherein the transaction control system monitors and controls the file cache to ensure that modified objects are stored on a data storage device in manner that reflects an accurate status for a log file maintained by the transaction control system.

Abstract: A database management method enables an improved efficiency processing action in a computer wherein manipulation of data from a table is required in accord with a query request, wherein the table is stored remotely from said computer and at least some data in the table includes large data objects (LOBs). The method includes the steps of: responding to the request by transmitting a query to the table; configuring a result set from the table in response to the query, wherein the result set includes one or more unique identifiers of any LOB data associated with the result set; receiving the result set and performing a data manipulation action on data contained in the result set to form a response; transferring the response to the query requester; and accessing LOB data from the table that is referenced by the one or more unique identifiers in the result set and causing transfer of the LOB data to the query requester.

Abstract: Many web applications require access to a relational database. The requirements of such web applications are different from conventional applications that access a database. Web applications need to have selective recoverability and need to have support for different transaction structures, other than the flat transaction structure of conventional database applications, including nested and chained transactions. To achieve this, an interface between the application and database has the following functional features: 1) the interface to the database is connection oriented, i.e., the connection is retained across several invocations of the application; 2) the backend of the interface is long living, i.e., it exists across multiple invocations; 3) state information about a session in progress is maintained, and more specifically, it is distributed between the backend of the interface and the hidden fields of the HTML output document.

Abstract: A heterogeneous database system is described which includes plural database systems, one of the database systems acting as an interface (i.e., system manager). The system manager performs functions which provide an application program with transparent access to the entire database system. The system manager includes a memory for storing (i) a matrix of functional capabilities of each of the plural databases, (ii) a catalog of functions that are supportable by various databases and (iii) and entry matrix for providing an interface function between a user and the system manager. A processor is present in the system manager; and is responsive to a user entry, via the entry matrix, with respect to a functional capability of one of the plural databases, to alter a matrix of functional capabilities pertaining to the database. The alteration is carried out in accordance with a corresponding functional capability entry in the catalog.

Abstract: In a distributed database system, at least one of the databases operates as a transaction manager and provides transparent commit coordination between an application program and other connected databases. The transaction manager incorporates a commit alteration procedure which enables selection of either a single phase commit protocol or a two phase commit protocol with respect to each database, during operation of the distributed system. The transaction manager establishes a commit protocol for each connected database; responds to a command from an application program by overriding a commit protocol previously established for a selected database and establishes another commit protocol for the selected database; performs a transaction and utilizes the another commit protocol in connection with the transaction; and upon completion of the transaction as evidenced by a successful commit action, enables establishment of another commit protocol.

Abstract: A method enables a computer to manipulate data from a table in a remote database in accord with a query from a query requestor, wherein at least some data in the table includes large data objects (LOBs).

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for providing access to information stored in a database management system. The method and apparatus uses an intelligent generic query agent to operate with a wide variety of remote users, and to allow implementation of a wide variety of optimization schemes. The method comprises receiving a request from the remote user at the agent, transforming the request into database management system commands optimized in accordance with user-specified optimization criteria, transmitting the database management system commands to the database management system, receiving the database management system command result from the database management system in the agent, transforming the database management system command result into a response message, and transmitting the response message to from the agent to the remote user.