Database model system and method

Abstract

A database model system and method are provided that permit changes to the data model, such as the addition, deletion, or modification of attributes, through changes to the data rather than to the fundamental data model schema. A method of structuring a database comprises providing a category table, a content table containing content corresponding to categories in the category table, and a category contents table containing a mapping scheme that maps content contained in the content table to categories in the category table. An attributes table containing attributes for an application utilizing the database and an attributes values table containing values corresponding to attributes in the attributes table are also provided.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of structuring a computer database, said method comprising: 
 providing an category table;    providing a content table containing content corresponding to categories in said category table;    providing a category contents table containing a mapping scheme that maps content contained in said content table to categories in said category table;    providing an attributes table containing attributes for an application utilizing said database; and    providing an attributes values table containing values corresponding to said attributes in said attributes table.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a category relationships table containing category relationships and rules corresponding to categories in said category table.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing an attribute area table that defines the area of an application utilizing said database which is permitted to use certain of said attributes; and    providing an application area table that defines the areas of an application utilizing said database which may be referenced.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing an attribute pre-defined value table that contains all pre-defined enumerated values for certain of said attributes; and    providing a category pre-defined values table that contains pre-defined values for certain categories in said category table.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a category types table that describes the category type for certain categories in said category table; and    providing a content type table that describes the type of content stored in said content table; and    providing a category relationship rule table that describes the relationship rules for said category types.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a content value table that contains the actual content corresponding to said content in said content table.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a content relationships table that describes the relationship among said content in said content table; and    providing a content relationship type table that defines the rationale for the relationship among said content in said content table.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a parameter names table that defines names of parameters;    providing an application parameter type table that groups parameter types; and    providing a parameter value table that defines values for said parameters in said parameter names table.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a template table that provides templates that are used to present categories and said content;    providing a template types table that defines types of templates; and    providing a presentation method table that identifies which of said templates are used to display said categories and said content.    
     
     
         10 . A computer system for storing and transferring data, said system comprising: 
 at least one server computer connected through a computer network; and    at least one computer program executed by said at least one server computer, wherein said at least one computer program manages data stored in a database having a structure comprising: 
 a category table;  
 a content table containing content corresponding to categories in said category table;  
 a category contents table containing a mapping scheme that maps Content contained in said content table to categories in said category table;  
 an attributes table containing attributes for an application utilizing said database; and  
 an attributes values table containing values corresponding to said attributes in said attributes table.  
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said database structure further comprises a category relationships table containing category relationships and rules corresponding to categories in said category table.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said database structure further comprises: 
 an attribute area table that defines the area of an application utilizing said database which is permitted to use certain of said attributes; and    an application area table that defines the areas of an application utilizing said database which may be referenced.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said database structure further comprises: 
 an attribute pre-defined value table that contains all pre-defined enumerated values for certain of said attributes; and    a category pre-defined values table that contains pre-defined values for certain categories in said category table.    
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said database structure further comprises: 
 a category types table that describes the category type for certain categories in said category table; and    a content type table that describes the type of content stored in said content table; and    a category relationship rule table that describes the relationship rules for said category types.    
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said database structure further comprises providing a content value table that contains the actual content corresponding to said content in said content table.  
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said database structure further comprises: 
 a content relationships table that describes the relationship among said content in said content table; and    a content relationship type table that defines the rationale for the relationship among said content in said content table.    
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said database structure further comprises: 
 a parameter names table that defines names of parameters;    an application parameter type table that groups parameter types; and    a parameter value table that defines values for said parameters in said parameter names table.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said database structure further comprises: 
 a template table that provides templates that are used to present categories and said content;    a template types table that defines types of templates; and    a presentation method table that identifies which of said templates are used to display said categories and said content.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising a web server computer to provide Internet access to said at least one server computer.  
     
     
         20 . A method of structuring a computer database, said method comprising: 
 providing an entity table having a minimal set of attributes;    providing an entity attributes table having attributes corresponding to said entity table; and    providing an entity attributes values table having values corresponding to said attributes.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 providing a content table containing content corresponding to said entity table; and    providing an entity contents table that maps said content to a corresponding entity.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising providing an entity relationships table that contains relationships and rules corresponding to entities in said entity table.  
     
     
         23 . A computer system for storing and transferring data, said system comprising: 
 at least one server computer connected through a computer network; and    at least one computer program executed by said at least one server computer, wherein said at least one computer program manages data stored in a database having a structure comprising: 
 an entity table having a minimal set of attributes;  
 an entity attributes table having attributes corresponding to said entity table; and  
 an entity attributes values table having values corresponding to said attributes.  
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said database further comprises: 
 a content table containing content corresponding to said entity table; and    an entity contents table that maps said content to a corresponding entity.    
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said database further comprises an entity relationships table that contains relationships and rules corresponding, to entities in said entity table.  
     
     
         26 . A method of structuring a database, said method comprising: 
 creating a data objects table containing attributes;    creating an attributes table containing properties of said attributes in said data objects table; and    creating a value table containing values for said properties for specific instances of said attributes.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising creating a relationships table containing object relationships corresponding to said attributes in said data objects table.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising providing at least one foreign key in said value table to identify which value corresponds to a specific instance of said attributes for said properties.  
     
     
         29 . A computer system for storing and transferring data, said system comprising: 
 at least one server computer connected through a computer network; and    at least one computer program executed by said at least one server computer, wherein said at least one computer program manages data stored in a database having a structure comprising: 
 creating a data objects table containing attributes;  
   creating an attributes table containing properties of said attributes in said data objects table; and    creating a value table containing values for said properties for specific instances of said attributes.    
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein said database structure further comprises a relationships table containing object relationships corresponding to said attributes in said data objects table.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said database structure further comprises at least one foreign key in said value table to identify which value corresponds to a specific instance of said attributes for said properties.