Intelligence Selection and Retrieval Language for Database Interoperability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interoperability issues between different data systems and architectures hinder efficient data retrieval and sharing, particularly in data-rich environments like the Intelligence Community, due to incompatibility and geographical barriers, and existing solutions like middleware are costly to maintain and limited in their applicability.
Innovation Solution
The Intelligence Selection and Retrieval Language (ISRL) enables seamless communication between data sources and applications by providing a common, open language for querying and retrieving data, eliminating the need for middleware and reducing maintenance costs through lightweight tools like the ISRL Developer's Kit and Application Connector Interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If middleware is used to enable communication between different data systems, then interoperability is improved, but maintenance cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the translation functionality from heavy middleware and embeds it directly into the database interfaces. Each database implements a translation layer that converts its proprietary query language to SQL, eliminating the need for complex external middleware while maintaining interoperability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces SQL as a universal intermediary language that all databases can understand. By translating various database query languages into SQL, the system enables communication between different database types without requiring complex middleware specific to each database pair.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom interfaces are developed for each new system, then data access is enabled, but development time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal interface layer based on SQL that can work with multiple database types (relational, object-oriented, hierarchical). This single universal interface replaces the need for developing custom interfaces for each database system, significantly reducing development time and enabling reuse across projects.
3Adaptability or versatility
If data accessibility is limited, then strategic advantage is maintained, but interoperability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality control by allowing each database to maintain its own security policies and access control mechanisms at the local level, while the translation layer ensures standardized access patterns. This enables broad interoperability while preserving each system's ability to control its own data strategically.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a system configured to enable a first entity to query a second entity for a result, the system comprising a language specification component and an interface between the first entity and the second entity. The language specification component defines a communications language by which the first and second entities can communicate with each other. The interface is operable to receive from the second entity an instance of a generic request that is specific to the second entity, the instance of the generic request providing information about at least one query element that is supported in a second-entity specific request; and convert a first query from the first entity to the second entity into a second query, wherein the second query includes the at least one query element that is supported in the second-entity specific request.