Hierarchical Data Server Using CRUST Operators

The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the query language from SQL's relational model to a hierarchical model with CRUST operators. This involves changing the data model parameters (from tables to hierarchical structures), the query syntax parameters (from SELECT-WHERE to CRUST operators), and the operational parameters (from set-based operations to recursive traversal operations). These parameter changes enable the system to natively support hierarchical data structures while maintaining query effectiveness.

The query language is segmented into distinct CRUST operators (Cast, Restrict, Unique, Sort, Traverse) that can be independently applied and combined. Each operator handles a specific aspect of hierarchical data manipulation, allowing the system to build complex queries from simpler, well-defined components. This segmentation makes the query language more constructible and easier to implement than a monolithic SQL-like approach.

The hierarchical data structure serves itself through the CRUST operators that are specifically designed to work with hierarchical patterns. The Traverse operator automatically navigates the hierarchical structure, the Cast operator automatically converts data types appropriate for hierarchical data, and the Unique operator automatically handles duplication issues in hierarchical contexts. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex manual query construction and optimization that would be required with SQL-like languages.

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining the CRUST operators and their behavior patterns for hierarchical data. The operators are pre-configured to understand hierarchical relationships, traversal patterns, and data conversion requirements. This preliminary preparation of the query language infrastructure makes subsequent data retrieval operations more efficient and easier to construct, as users don't need to reinvent hierarchical query logic for each operation.