Graph Database Path Query Evaluation via Index-Free Adjacency

The patent introduces an object-relational mapper as an intermediary layer between the application and the relational database. This mapper translates application-level object models into relational database queries automatically, allowing applications to query complex relationships without needing to understand the underlying relational schema. The mapper serves as a mediator that handles the complexity of relationship queries while presenting a simple object-oriented interface to applications.

The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the system automatically generates and maintains the object-relational mapper through schema inference. Instead of requiring manual configuration, the system analyzes the relational database schema and automatically creates the corresponding object model mappings. This self-generating approach eliminates the manual maintenance burden while keeping the mapper synchronized with the underlying database structure, particularly beneficial for large real-time applications where manual updates would be impractical.

The patent segments the data storage and access mechanisms into two distinct layers: a key-value store for simple object access and a relational model layer for complex relationship queries. The key-value store handles straightforward data retrieval with pointer-based navigation, while the relational model layer provides optimized query processing for complicated relationships. This segmentation allows applications to benefit from both the simplicity of object-based access and the power of relational query optimization without the drawbacks of either approach alone.