Method for enhanced data dependencies in an XML database

摘要

A method and system for building a database to be queried by a parametric search engine begins by receiving data concerning a set of products. Each product is mapped by a set of attributes representing characteristics of the products and values for those characteristics. For some attributes, there can be multiple values. Each of the multiple values is associated with a corresponding multiple value for another attribute, and thus defining a variation of the product. The data is inserted into a database such that the relationship among the interrelated values is retained, permitting a parametric search engine to provide a correct solution set for a query to the database. In one embodiment, the database is an XML database and the products for which the database stores are components for use by engineers during the Discovery phase of Research and Development.