Advancements in data distribution methods and referential integrity

摘要

An elastic parallel database system where data distribution is container- and container-context based. Container Based Tables are defined and Container Member Tables achieve co-location of data as needed. A polymorphic key may also establish polymorphic key relationships between rows in one table and rows in many other possible tables.

主权项

1. A method for operating a database management system comprising:
a) receiving database queries via a network interface, from two or more client applications, the client applications operating on two or more user client computers, the network interface providing at least one connection into the system for each such client application; b) storing user data in tables and grouping the tables into databases; c) at least one query including a polymorphic key relationship which establishes a relationship between a row in a first table to a uniquely determined row in one of two or more other possible tables, the polymorphic key relationship specifying (i) values in columns of a subject row, and (ii) one or more specified dispatching rules; d) executing the at least one query including a polymorphic key by using values in columns of one row in one table in evaluation of the specified dispatching rules, to determine the table to which a polymorphic key relationship exists for a specified row in the first table; and e) wherein the polymorphic key relationship and the specified rules are expressed in some suitable executable language.