Method and system arrangement for efficiently querying database system

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for controlling and efficiently querying a database system, which makes it possible not to initiate various queries for a particular data set but to store iteratively checked configuration data. Thus, according to the present invention, it is not always necessary to repeatedly perform a complete query with all parameters, but rather separate configuration data can have been implemented in the dataset and a response is sent once all specified configuration data is available. This increases system throughput because, on the one hand, not always must check all search criteria, and on the other hand, queries may be stored in a monitoring unit that actively searches the database system and provides results once all configuration data has been found. In this manner, a database system is queried particularly efficiently and system throughput is improved. The invention further relates to a suitably configured system arrangement comprising a database system, and further to a computer program product having control instructions for performing the proposed method or operating the proposed system arrangement. In addition, a computer readable storage medium is proposed.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling and efficiently querying a database system, which enables various queries to be initiated not necessarily for a specific data set, but rather configuration data that is iteratively checked can be stored. Thus, according to the present invention, it is not always necessary to repeatedly perform a complete query with all parameters, but rather individual configuration data can already be implemented in the data set and a response is sent once all the specified configuration data is available. This increases the system throughput because, on the one hand, it is not always necessary to check all search criteria, and on the other hand, the query can be stored in a monitoring unit that actively searches the database system and provides the result once all the configuration data has been found. In this way, the database system is queried particularly efficiently and the system throughput is improved. The present invention further relates to a suitably configured system arrangement including a database system, and further to a computer program product having control instructions for performing the proposed method or operating the proposed system arrangement. In addition, a computer-readable storage medium is proposed.

[0002] EP 1877932 B1 shows a method for aggregating and analyzing decentralized stored multimedia data by storing one or more linkable search terms in a data memory.

[0003] EP 2538347 B1 shows a data processing system for dynamically obtaining weighted correlations between data representing information in at least one data set.

[0004] Database monitoring programs for checking the functionality of a database and then performing fault detection are known from the state of the art. Such programs are also referred to as watchdogs. For this purpose, system parameters are read out regularly and, for example, the response time is measured. If the database or the database management system is not operating properly, an error message is transmitted to the administrator or the system is restarted. It is also known that a standby system takes over in the event of a failure of the first database system.

[0005] From the state of the art, it is known that a user specifies multiple parameters in a search query and then sends this search query to a database management system. The existing data records in the database management system are then evaluated against the search criteria and a result is returned. In general, the returned result does not necessarily have to exactly correspond to the search query, but it is known to calculate the degree of match between the existing data records and the search query and then return a list sorted by priority in such a way that the result with the highest degree of match is ranked higher.

[0006] If a user searches for a specific data record that does not yet exist, results are usually returned anyway and weighted accordingly. However, if the user wants to precisely view the specified data record, this is not what they want. The return value is usually irrelevant to the user because they typically want to receive a specific data set rather than settle for a certain degree of match. This means that in this scenario, the user's expectations are not met, and the user receives useless search results and must also specify their query again at a later time. Therefore, it is expected that the user will find the data record they are looking for at a later time point, and if it is not found again, the user must iteratively submit the query again at a later time point. However, this procedure reduces the acceptance of the provided system and also reduces the system throughput. One reason for this is that the search query must be completely re-specified and sent each time. Then a brand-new database query is executed, which in turn consumes system resources. The workload increases with each new search query, and thus the system throughput is reduced.

[0007] In the state of the art, therefore, the problem is that due to insufficient return parameters, a large number of requests are issued, and each of these requests imposes a workload on the user and also consumes system resources. This can only be achieved by increasing the system capacity, which in turn requires technical effort.

[0008] It is also known from the state of the art to temporarily store search queries and at the same time store search results. Thus, if a first user makes a query, the query is calculated and the result is persistently stored. If a second user now makes the same query with a certain time delay, the actual database query is not executed, but the previously saved result is returned. Therefore, this return does not necessarily take into account the currency of the current data state, but only presents the past result again.

[0009] In the state of the art, there is a need to create a system that enables the provision of an up-to-date database query that meets all search query specifications and does not expect the user to make repeated queries. There is also a need to create a method or system that actively queries the database and returns a corresponding response only if the search results are correct.

[0010] Therefore, the object technical task of the present invention is to provide a method for implementing an efficient query of a database or a database system. To this end, system resources are to be saved, and unnecessary database queries are to be avoided. In addition, the task of the present invention is to provide a correspondingly equipped system arrangement, a computer program product, and a storage medium.

[0011] The problem is solved by using the features described in claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

[0012] Accordingly, a method for controlling and querying a database system with improved system throughput is proposed, the method comprising: establishing a communication channel between a query unit and a monitoring unit connected upstream of the database system; structuring a query to the database system by the query unit in such a way that a plurality of configuration data specifying data sets to be provided but not yet existing are specified; persistently storing the structured query in the monitoring unit by means of the communication channel established by the query unit; iteratively checking, by the monitoring unit, the configuration data of the data sets to be provided; and reading, by the monitoring unit, the data sets from the database system and, once the data sets are available according to all specified configuration data, sending the data sets to the query unit by means of the established communication channel.

[0013] The method is for efficiently controlling and querying a database system. A database system is the database together with the functions enabling access to the data. Thus, it is the database itself together with a database management system or a module enabling read and write access to the database. The query is particularly efficient because a query can be made once and then stored persistently. The database system returns a value only if all search criteria are available. Thus, the return is likely to be delayed, which is even typical here because data records are usually not yet available. Thus, there is no iterative query (for which the user receives a return value not exactly corresponding to his query), but the user has to be content with the fact that a certain period of time may pass before the data record is available. For this purpose, a timeout can also be specified, for example, indicated after a return error message. This is the case if the requested data record is not available within the specified period.

[0014] In a preparatory process step, a communication channel is established between a query unit and a monitoring unit connected upstream of the database system. The query unit can be the user's technical device, or human intervention may be unnecessary and the query unit automatically creates the query. For this purpose, a connection is established between the query unit and the monitoring unit, whereby the monitoring unit can in turn access the database system. The database system can also be only the database itself, and the monitoring unit takes over the function of accessing the database in read and write mode.

[0015] The communication channel can be established in such a way that a so-called token is created, with which the requesting unit sends a request to the monitoring unit. This enables separate rights allocation to be implemented and corresponding security precautions to be created. For example, the communication channel can be particularly protected.

[0016] In addition, the query unit structures the query to the database system in such a way that multiple configuration data are specified. Thus, this is the creation of a search query, but not only a single criterion is provided. Instead, multiple configuration data are provided, i.e., at least three configuration data. This specifies the data set requested but not yet available in the database system or database. If the data set is available or exists, a conventional technical scale can be used and the specified data set can be returned immediately. The configuration data describe the nature of the data set, and in particular, precisely describe which data set the query unit or user expects. The data set should be provided by the database system and sent to the request unit via the monitoring unit.

[0017] The structuring can occur in such a way that the configuration data are structured hierarchically and then the configuration data are queried according to this hierarchy. In this way, the configuration data that are usually also implemented in existing data records can be queried first, and the more specific configuration data can be queried last. In this way, the configuration data can be prioritized so that the query can run in a structured manner. The hierarchy (e.g., a tree structure) can also have multiple levels, such that the configuration data are structured in such a way that the configuration data are checked first at a first configuration level and then at a second configuration level.

[0018] According to another process step, the structured request is persistently stored in the monitoring unit via the communication channel established by the request unit. This means that the request is stored in a persistent data memory, not just in a buffer memory. This is the case because the requested data set is not yet available, and thus, the requested data set cannot be returned in real time. Instead, the request is stored at least until the available data record is available or a timeout occurs.

[0019] Once the structured request is persistently stored in the monitoring unit, it can iteratively check the configuration data in the database system. This means that the database system checks whether it can provide a data record that meets all the configuration data. The iterative check can be performed at intervals specified in such a way that these intervals are executed after regular times, or an iterative check occurs once a new data record is found in the database system or an existing data record is changed with respect to its configuration data.

[0020] Once the data record is available, i.e., the data record containing the specified configuration data is stored in the database system, the data record is read out and returned. Correspondingly, the monitoring unit reads the data set from the database system and transfers the data set to the requesting unit. For example, there is a data record in the database system that contains two of the three configuration data. Then a request is issued, and the system recognizes that a data record containing almost all the configuration data is available. If this data record is now modified in such a way that all three configuration data are available, the data record is returned. It is also possible to create a data set that does not exist, and the system then recognizes that a new data set containing all the configuration data is available. Then the new data set is returned. According to the present invention, instead of sending a new request each time, the user saves the request and, if a time delay in the data set is detected, answers the request. This means that it is recognized that the request will only be answered at a later point in time. The user does not have to search the database again each time, but can rely on the method according to the present invention to actively return the searched data record (if the data record is available).

[0021] According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to search for data records created by a specific person and created at a specific location according to the stored location information. Additionally, the time when the data record is to be created is specified. The proposed method checks all the configuration data and transfers the data record only if all three criteria are met. The configuration data can be, for example, a person, a group, a concept, an object, a geographical location, a technology, an event, or a time point. Since the query is structured, it is also possible to specify the dependencies between the configuration data. This dependency can in turn be encoded as a configuration data unit.

[0022] According to one aspect of the present invention, the persistent storage occurs in a decentralized data memory. This has the advantage that different database systems can be addressed in a distributed manner, and thus, load management or optimized load distribution can be performed. Additionally, the monitoring unit can be distributed across multiple units, and thus, it can be read out from different data sources in the computer network whether the data set to be provided is available. The database system can generally have different data sources that can be distributed in the computer network.

[0023] According to another aspect of the present invention, the requesting units are distributed decentralized in the computer network. This has the advantage that collective queries can be made, and the query units can also search decentralized in the computer network. In this way, multiple query units can in turn address multiple monitoring units, and thus, efficient search can be performed in the computer network.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present invention, a relative absolute time period is defined after which the method terminates. This has the advantage that termination criteria or timeouts can be defined which specify when the method is terminated. For this purpose, an error message can be returned and the user or requesting unit can be notified that no corresponding data record has been found within this time period.

[0025] According to another aspect of the present invention, the database system accesses data sources distributed in a computer network. This has the advantage that the database system can also query decentralized data sources and, accordingly, the database system can return a unified response which, however, originates from different data sources. Overall, the distributed nature of the computer network enables data records to be combined in such a way that these data records satisfy specified configuration data. For example, if three configuration data sets are specified, a single data set satisfying all three configuration data sets can be compiled from different data sources, whereby each partial data set only implements one configuration data unit. The database system or monitoring unit can thus combine various partial data sets, whereby each partial data set corresponds to at least one configuration data unit and the data set as a whole corresponds to all specified configuration data in its composite form.

[0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, the requesting unit, the monitoring unit and the database system are connected in series for communication purposes. This has the advantage that the monitoring unit mediates between the requesting unit and the database system. Accordingly, security aspects can be implemented in such a way that the requesting unit does not directly access the database system. This means that rights management or filters can be implemented in the monitoring unit.

[0027] According to another aspect of the present invention, the requesting unit, the monitoring unit and the database system are connected in series for communication purposes, wherein at least one unidirectional path is provided. This has the advantage that communication can take place only in one direction and a separate return channel is provided. In this way, the return value can not be received directly on the communication path, but the loop is implemented according to this topology which passes from the requesting unit to the monitoring unit and to the database system and then directly from the database system to the requesting unit or from the monitoring unit to the requesting unit. This means that a separate path is implemented for each communication direction. This can be done using hardware or software.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present invention, the configuration data provides an indication of the geographical location file attributes of the data set. This has the advantage that it can be specified where the data set is to be stored or which file attributes the data set must have. The geographical location is the geographical coordinates where the data set is stored. In this way, a particularly close data center can be specified and, for example, the file size can be specified as a file attribute.

[0029] According to another aspect of the invention, the configuration data specifies the time when a data record is created or modified. This has the advantage that further time information can be stored and thus data records that are only to be created or changed in the future can also be specified. For example, once a data record has been edited by another user, the data record can be retrieved.

[0030] According to another aspect of the invention, the configuration data is provided as a logical expression with different conditions. This has the advantage that structured expressions can be constructed or structured requests can be issued, and in addition to the normal configuration data defined statically, conditions can also be specified that describe dependencies between the configuration data.

[0031] According to another aspect of the invention, the configuration data describes the change history that a data set has undergone. This has the advantage that a sequence of write operations can be specified and, if this sequence of write operations is recognized, the corresponding data set is retrieved. With the change history, it is also possible to specify that a data record is read and then written. This allows specifying sequences of read and write operations that describe the general history of the configuration data. If this sequence of read and write operations is recognized, the corresponding data record is retrieved.

[0032] According to another aspect of the invention, semantic data related to the data set is provided in addition to the configuration data that must also be available before being sent. This has the advantage that it is also possible to provide content specifications that the searched data set and then the retrieved data set must have.

[0033] This task is also solved by a system arrangement with improved system throughput that includes a database system, the system arrangement having: an interface device that is arranged to establish a communication channel between a query unit and a monitoring unit connected upstream of the database system; a query unit that is arranged to structure a query to the database system in such a way that a plurality of configuration data specifying data sets to be provided but not yet existing are specified; a memory unit that is arranged to persistently store the structured query in the monitoring unit by means of the communication channel established by the query unit; a monitoring unit that is arranged to iteratively check the configuration data of the data sets to be provided; and the monitoring unit is configured to read data sets from the database system and to send the data sets to the query unit by means of the established communication channel once the data sets are available according to all the specified configuration data.

[0034] This task is also solved by a computer program product having control commands for implementing the proposed method or operating the proposed device.

[0035] According to the present invention, it is particularly advantageous that the method can be used to operate the proposed devices and units. In addition, the proposed devices and units are suitable for performing the method according to the present invention. Therefore, in each case, the device implements structural features suitable for performing the corresponding method. However, the structural features can also be designed as method steps. The proposed method also provides steps for implementing the functions of the structural features. Additionally, physical components can be provided virtually or physical components can be virtualized.

[0036] Other advantages, features, and details of the present invention are apparent from the following description, in which aspects of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and the description can each be essential to the present invention individually or in any combination. Similarly, the above-mentioned features and the features further described herein can be used individually or in any combination. Parts or components that are functionally similar or identical sometimes have the same reference numerals. In the description of the embodiments, the terms "left", "right", "top", and "bottom" are referred to the drawings in an orientation with a generally clear drawing name or generally clear reference numerals. The embodiments shown and described should not be understood as conclusive, but are essentially exemplary for the purpose of explaining the nature of the present invention. The detailed description is for reference by those skilled in the art, and therefore known circuits, structures, and methods are not shown or explained in detail in the description so as not to make the description more difficult to understand. The drawings show

[0037] Figure 1 : a schematic flowchart of a method for driving and efficiently querying a database system according to one aspect of the present invention; and

[0038] Figure 2A and 2B : a schematic block diagram of a system arrangement including a database system according to another aspect of the present invention in each case.

[0039] Figure 1 A method for controlling and efficiently querying a database system with improved system throughput is shown in a schematic flowchart. The method includes: establishing 100 a communication channel between a query unit and a monitoring unit connected upstream of the database system; structuring 101 a query to the database system by the query unit in such a way that a plurality of configuration data of a data set to be provided but not yet available are specified; persistently storing 102 the structured 101 query in the monitoring unit by means of the communication channel established 100 by the query unit; iteratively checking 103 by the monitoring unit the configuration data of the data set to be provided; and reading 104 by the monitoring unit the data set from the database system and, once the data set is available according to all the specified configuration data, sending the data set to the query unit by means of the established communication channel.

[0040] Figure 2A A schematic block diagram of a request unit on the left is shown which communicates with a monitoring unit by means of a unidirectional data path. The monitoring unit communicates with three exemplary data sources. The three data sources can be part of a database system. According to the invention, the communication path established can be unidirectional, which is why a further unidirectional return path is established. This request unit is shown here with the reference numeral 1. The communication channel established is therefore two data paths, each of which is unidirectional. The data channels can therefore be described as simplex or dual simplex. The data channels can be established in hardware or software in such a way that each communication direction is implemented via a separate communication channel. In the present invention, Figure 2A The rightmost element in the diagram designates a return unit which, when a data set is present according to the configuration data, returns the data to the monitoring unit by means of the arrow with reference 2. Below this is a unit which optionally provides further parameters, such as a time period, after which the process terminates if no data set is found.

[0041] Figure 2B A similar arrangement is shown, where the database system includes three data sources, shown on the far right. The number 3 is again introduced merely as an example. In this case, a bidirectional path is drawn between the database system and the monitoring unit in the center. The return path from the monitoring unit in the middle to the requesting unit on the left is again exemplary, unidirectional, with a separate communication path.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an improved system throughput and efficiently querying a database system, the method comprising: Establishing (100) a communication channel between a query unit and a monitoring unit connected upstream of the database system; Structuring (101) a query to the database system by the query unit in such a way as to specify a plurality of configuration data for a data set to be provided but not yet existing; Persistently storing (102) the structured (101) request in the monitoring unit by means of the communication channel established (100) by the request unit; Iteratively checking (103) the configuration data of the data set to be provided by the monitoring unit; And Reading (104) the data record from the database system by the monitoring unit and sending the data record to the request unit by means of the established communication channel once the data record is available according to all the specified configuration data.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The persistent storage (102) occurs in a decentralized data memory.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The request units are distributed decentralizedly in a computer network.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Relative and / or absolute time periods are defined after which the method terminates.

5. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The database system accesses data sources distributed in a computer network.

6. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The query unit, the monitoring unit and the database system are connected in series for communication purposes.

7. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The request unit, the monitoring unit and the database system are communicatively connected in series, with at least one one-way path provided.

8. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The configuration data provides an indication of the geographical location and / or file attributes of the data set.

9. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The configuration data specifies the time when the data set is created or modified.

10. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The configuration data is provided as a logical expression with different conditions.

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The configuration data describes the change history throughout the data set.

12. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Semantic data related to the data set is provided in addition to the configuration data which must also be available before sending.

13. A system arrangement with improved system throughput including a database system, the system arrangement comprising: An interface device for establishing (100) a communication channel between a query unit and a monitoring unit connected upstream of the database system; A query unit configured to structure (101) a query to the database system in such a way as to specify a plurality of configuration data for a data set to be provided but not yet existing; A memory unit configured to persistently store (102) the structured (101) request in the monitoring unit by means of the communication channel established (100) by the request unit; The monitoring unit is configured to iteratively check (103) the configuration data of the data set to be provided; and The monitoring unit is arranged to read (104) the data record from the database system and to send the data record to the request unit by means of the established communication channel once the data record is available according to all the specified configuration data.

14. A computer program product comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

15. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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