Tag Database Querying via XML Agent and Namespace Cache
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional query languages, such as SQL, are inadequate for querying tag databases as they lack temporal capabilities, feature discovery, extensibility, and efficiency, especially when dealing with large datasets.
Innovation Solution
A unified query language supported by an agent that processes XML documents to perform read/write operations on tag databases, enabling features like historical data retrieval, feature discovery, and extensibility through directives like RETRIEVE, AGGREGATE, and STORE, while utilizing a namespace cache for efficient query execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional query language (e.g., SQL) is used to query a tag database, then the query structure is standardized and widely supported, but the system cannot handle temporal data, lacks feature discovery capability, and performs slowly with large datasets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an XML-based query language as an intermediary between the user and the tag database. This XML query language serves as a mediator that enables efficient querying of temporal and statistical data while maintaining a standardized interface. The XML structure allows for expressive temporal queries and statistical operations without directly using conventional SQL, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and query performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the query language from SQL syntax to XML syntax. This parameter change enables the system to handle temporal data through XML elements and attributes that represent time periods, trends, and statistical measures. The XML format allows for more efficient data representation and processing in the context of tag databases, improving productivity while maintaining ease of operation through a structured query interface.
2Ease of manufacture
If a conventional query language is used, then implementation is simple and familiar to users, but the system lacks extensibility and cannot add custom commands or features
Solution Approach 1:
The XML-based query language is designed to be universal and multi-functional. It can handle not only basic data retrieval but also temporal queries, statistical operations, and custom feature discoveries. The XML structure allows for flexible extension with custom elements and attributes, enabling the system to adapt to different querying needs while maintaining a unified interface. This resolves the contradiction by providing a single query language that performs multiple functions and can be extended without changing the fundamental implementation approach.
3Ease of operation
If conventional query language is used to access tag database, then basic read/write operations are supported, but temporal querying and feature discovery are not enabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the query functionality into distinct XML elements and attributes that handle different aspects of data access. Basic read/write operations are represented by fundamental XML structures, while temporal querying is handled by specialized time-related elements, and statistical operations use dedicated aggregation elements. This segmentation allows the system to maintain basic operation support while simultaneously enabling access to temporal and statistical data without loss of information.
Solution Approach 2:
The XML query language acts as an intermediary that preserves and translates various types of data access requirements. It mediates between the user's information needs (including temporal and statistical data) and the tag database's data structure. Through XML elements representing time periods, trends, and statistical measures, the intermediary ensures that no information is lost during the querying process while maintaining ease of operation through a consistent interface.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for querying a tag database. The tag database is stored in a storage. An XML document including a database query is received. The database query is written in a query language supported by an agent of the tag database. The XML document is parsed to extract the database query from the XML document. The tag database is accessed to perform at least one or a read or write operation on the tag database, based on the database query.