[AccessD] Database Patent

This is a really old idea, and if it slides through the patent office, so
much the worse for its ability to judge technology. There is not one single
shred of novelty in this concept. It's been done since the days of DOS.

Arthur

On 9/6/07, Rocky Smolin at Beach Access Software <rockysmolin at bchacc.com>
wrote:
>
> This is an existing patent.  The patent  is date Feb. 21, 2007.  Does your
> work predate the patent?  Does it use this two-part scheme of the records
> data set and the categories data set?  Or is yours a different technique
> which would duplicate one of the salient advantages of this patent which
> is
> the ability to alter the design of a database without interruption in the
> service?
>
> Part of what I'm trying to find out here, is knowing if this is a more or
> less common or existing technique or is truly unique.  That would
> determine
> what value, if anything, the patent would have in a sale of the rights.
>
> How much of what you did can you share or want to share?
>
> Rocky
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Drew Wutka
> Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 7:24 PM
> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving
> Subject: Re: [AccessD] Database Patent
>
> Is this an existing patent, or one that is applying for a patent?  I ask,
> because I have actually built databases that pretty much use this
> principle.
>
> Drew
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Rocky Smolin at
> Beach Access Software
> Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 6:48 PM
> To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
> Subject: [AccessD] Database Patent
>
> Dear List:
>
> A client who is a patent and trademark attorney is interested in opinions
> on
> a patent - basically it's a way to update databases on-the-fly by
> disconnecting the data from the data definition.
>
> You can download the patent by going to this web page:
>
> http://www.pat2pdf.org/
>
>
> and entering the patent number 7003524.
>
> I guess I'm looking for opinions on whether this is a solution to a
> problem
> that exists and whether there is something of value in this approach.
>
> I know there's some deep database design talent on this list so I'm
> thinking
> this is the best place to start the research.
>
> Here's a teaser.  From the patent:
>
> TECHNICAL FIELD
>
> The invention relates generally to databases and, more particularly, to
> the
> underlying schematic structure of databases.
>
> BACKGROUND
>
> Large databases running in publicly accessible environments are notorious
> for their inability to accommodate change. In today's world of massive
> access to large databases via the Internet, it is increasingly common to
> encounter messages to the effect of "database is down for maintenance"
> instead of the actual data requested.
>
> In a conventional database environment, when a change needs to be made to
> the schematic structure of a database, the data in the database must be
> extracted from the database in the old structure and re-written to the
> database in the new structure. If new data were to be inserted into the
> database while said changes were being effected, it could cause
> unpredictable effects to the database. Such effects could include
> corruption
> of pre-existing data, misapplication of database changes, misalignment of
> data relative to internal data boundaries, or any number of problems that
> could render the database effectively incoherent. Such results are
> untenable
> in most live database deployments.
>
> Conventionally, the most common solution to the problem of updating during
> changes to the schematic structure is to simply disallow it.
>
> Conventional databases also require a tight bind between the data type and
> the data storage. Users require that the data they request be presented in
> a
> manner consistent with the expected usage of the data. For example, a date
> may be stored in the database as a string of decimal digits (e.g.,
> 20010303), but to present the data to the user in its raw form would be
> unacceptable. A conventional computer user requires that it be presented
> in
> a manner consistent with its usage (e.g., Saturday, 3, Mar. 2001. In order
> for the date to be presented in a manner consistent with its usage, the
> database must carry type-related information along with each unit of data.
>
> Binding between data and type is conventionally accomplished by organizing
> the data into metaphorical rows and columns. Rows of data are divided into
> pre-defined columns, where each column represents a particular data type
> and/or use of the data. Such data/type binding allows a computer program
> to
> make assumptions and inferences about the data appropriate to its type.
> Additional rows of data may be readily added to a database. However, if a
> new column is desired in a database, then the database must typically be
> made unavailable for a period of time so that data can be converted into
> the
> new format. Modifications to pre-existing programs would have to be made,
> along with the requisite testing and debugging necessary to validate any
> new
> code.
>
> It is also worth noting that in conventional databases there tends to be
> redundancy in the storage of data. For example, cities, states, zip codes,
> and telephone area codes may be repeated among a number of rows of data.
> Such redundancy results in inefficient use of memory.
>
> In light of the foregoing, it is apparent that there is a need for a
> system
> and method for modifying the schematic structure of a database without
> making the database unavailable for the entry of new data. Preferably,
> such
> a system and method would, among other things, also minimize redundancy of
> data in a database.
>
> SUMMARY
>
> The present invention, accordingly, provides a database in which an
> application program accesses data stored in a records data set (RDS) and a
> categories data set (CDS). The RDS contains at least one RDS entry having
> a
> data field configured for representing data. The CDS contains at least one
> CDS entry configured for being associated with at least one RDS entry and
> having at least one data type field sufficient to describe the type of
> data
> contained by the at least one associated RDS entry.
>
> The invention thus provides a database whereby data is isolated from its
> definition, thus avoiding the problems associated with the
> rows-and-columns
> model enumerated above, and permits the underlying schematic form of the
> database to be changed based on modifications to the CDS, without
> requiring
> any actual changes to the schematic structure of the RDS or the underlying
> database. By virtue of this same isolation it is also possible to reduce
> data redundancy with varying levels of granularity and create an
> object-oriented data model.
>
>
> MTIA
>
> Rocky
>
>
>
>
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