Graph-Based XML Data Binding Preserves Type Specificity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing schema compilers are limited in their ability to generate type-specific methods based on complex regular expressions, leading to non-specific data types and loss of information when processing XML documents.
Innovation Solution
The technique automatically generates class interfaces for regular expressions by converting them into graphs, identifying strongly connected components, and creating methods with specific return types based on these components, ensuring that the type-specific information is preserved.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If existing schema compilers process complex regular expressions, then they can handle XML document structures, but they generate non-specific data types and lose type-specific information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the regular expression processing into distinct components: converting the regular expression to a graph representation, identifying strongly connected components, and generating type-specific methods for each component. This segmentation preserves type-specific information by treating each component independently with its own type characteristics, rather than losing information in a monolithic processing approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a graph representation as an intermediary between the regular expression and the generated code. This graph serves as a mediator that preserves the structural and type information from the regular expression, allowing the schema compiler to generate type-specific methods while maintaining the original type constraints through the graph's node and edge relationships.
2Extent of automation
If schema compilers generate class interfaces for complex regular expressions, then they can automate data binding, but they produce non-specific return types like List of Objects
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by generating different return type specificities for different parts of the regular expression based on their strongly connected components. Each component's method returns the most specific type allowed by its structure, rather than using a uniform non-specific type throughout. This allows automatic data binding while preserving type information locally where it matters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of return type specificity dynamically based on the graph structure analysis. By analyzing strongly connected components and their cycles, the system determines the appropriate level of type specificity for each method's return type, transforming the generic List<Object> into more specific types like List<String> or List<Integer> where applicable.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing schema compilers process equivalent regular expressions in different forms, then they can handle various schema representations, but they generate inconsistent class interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal graph-based representation that can handle multiple equivalent regular expression forms. By converting different regular expression syntaxes and structures into a unified graph model, the system achieves versatility in processing various schema representations while maintaining consistency in the generated class interfaces through the standardized graph-to-code translation process.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique in accordance with one embodiment of the invention automatically generates class interfaces for regular expressions based on graphs that correspond to the regular expressions. According to one embodiment of the invention, a graph is automatically generated based on a regular expression. Strongly connected components within the graph are automatically identified. For each strongly connected component within the graph, a separate method is generated within a class interface for the regular expression. In one embodiment of the invention, if a strongly connected component contains a cycle, then the method corresponding to that strongly connected component is generated to return a List of “T,” where “T” is a type that is as specific as the contents of the strongly typed component permit.