XML Values Index Pseudo Keys for Node Non-Presence Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing XML values indices are unable to detect the non-presence of nodes in semi-structured data, leading to inefficient querying and the need for duplicate indexing resources, computational expenditure, and storage space when both XML values and structural indices are required.
Innovation Solution
An enhanced XML values index is created by detecting non-presence of nodes and indicating them with pseudo keys, allowing the index to reflect non-existence and support queries for documents lacking specific elements or attributes, while building upon existing XML values indices to minimize storage space and computational effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If regular XML values indices are used, then indexing speed and storage efficiency are improved, but the ability to detect non-presence of nodes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediator component that bridges the regular XML values index and the structural index. This mediator detects non-presence of nodes by comparing data between the two index types and generates appropriate index entries, thereby enabling the regular index to indirectly detect node non-presence without compromising its indexing efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the indexing function into two parts: the regular XML values index handles present nodes efficiently, while a separate mechanism (using structural index comparison) handles detection of non-present nodes. This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific function
2Reliability
If both XML values indices and structural indices are used, then complete node presence detection is achieved, but storage space and computational resources are doubled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of two separate indices by using the structural index solely as a detection mechanism for non-presence, while the regular XML values index serves as the primary storage structure. This combining approach eliminates the need for duplicate full indexing, reducing storage requirements while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating a complete duplicate structural index, the patent uses a simplified copying approach where only the necessary structural information is maintained for detection purposes, while the full indexing is performed once in the regular XML values index
3Measurement precision
If structural indices are used for detecting non-presence, then query accuracy is improved, but indexing complexity and computational expenditure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential structural information needed for detecting node non-presence, separating this detection function from the full structural indexing process. This extraction allows the system to achieve query accuracy for non-presence detection without the overhead of maintaining a complete structural index
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to detecting non-presence of nodes in a document of semi-structured data and to creating a values index which properly reflects this non-presence. The document of semi-structured data, comprising multiple hierarchically organized nodes, is scanned for values (step 110). Subsequently, these values are indexed (step 120). As non-presence of at least one node is detected (step 140), this non-presence is documented by enhancing the values index (12) by a pseudo key (20) (step 150).