Relational database extenders for handling complex data types

摘要

This invention is directed to relational extenders for a computer-based relational database. Each relational extender includes at least one column, in a first, business, table containing a user defined application database, dedicated to object handles for defining the complex data type of an object; a second, attribute, table containing at least one column defining a unique characteristic associated with the one object and one column dedicated to containing the object handle; and a third, metadata, table containing at least one column defining a common characteristic associated with all objects defined within the business table and one column dedicated to containing the object handle and at least one column dedicated to containing a reference to object data associated with the object. The relational extender further includes a fourth table containing a reference to each object handle column defined in the first table, and a fifth table containing the names of the second and third tables for each object defined in the first table.