Method for allowing simple interoperation between backend database systems

Abstract

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a bridging system ( 100 ) and method provides a way of linking two independent data systems by receiving a dataset from a source data system. The bridging system ( 100 ) translates the dataset from a source schema to a target schema according to a set of mapping rules, and queues the translated data in persistent storage, and then sends the translated dataset to a destination data system. The system ( 100 ) includes an XML bridge ( 114 ), multiple application specific gateways ( 116,118 ), and a web admin interface ( 210 ), all in communication via a wide area network.

1 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a dataset, comprising a set of data elements with corresponding data values, from a source data system;    translating the dataset from a source schema to a target schema, each schema comprising a set of data elements and a set of relationships among the data elements, according to a set of mapping rules, each rule comprising a type and instructions for obtaining one or more target data element values as a function of one or more source data element values, the type containing all the information about relationships among data elements used by the function;    queuing the translated dataset in persistent storage; and    sending the translated dataset from the persistent storage to a destination data system.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dataset comprises an XML document.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein there are a finite number of prespecified rule types that are defined generally for XML documents.  
   
   
       4 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 scanning a database for outgoing requests;    converting source dataset to a neutral dataset according to a source schema; and    sending the neutral dataset to a destination via a network interface.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the neutral dataset is an XML document.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the source dataset is an SQL result-set.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the step of converting is performed according to a computer program that takes as input the dataset to be converted and a preset file derived from a database schema so that when the database schema changes, the computer program can be run on the modified file to accommodate the change.  
   
   
       8 . A system comprising: 
 a central bridge component that transforms XML documents into XML documents; and    a plurality of application specific gateway components, communicatively coupled to said bridge component, each application specific gateway component transforming XML documents to and from documents in application specific formats.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the bridge component remembers XML documents that it has transformed by storing them in persistent storage and the gateway components keep their work in volatile storage, thereby improving the performance of the gateway components relative to the performance of the bridge component.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the bridge component provides a web administrative interface communicatively accessible by means of a browser.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the bridge transforms XML documents according to a set of mapping rules.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the each mapping rule comprises a type and instructions for obtaining one or more target data element values as a function of one or more source data element values, the type containing all the information about relationships among data elements used by the function.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the instructions of each mapping rule comprise a computer program.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the computer program comprises a Java program.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the XML bridge comprises: 
 a set of mapping rules;    an XML to XML translator, communicatively coupled to said mapping rules;    an XML parser, communicatively coupled to said XML to XML translator;    a gateway interface, communicatively coupled to said XML to XML translator and to said XML parser; and    a persistent memory device, communicatively coupled to said XML to XML translator.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each application specific gateway component comprises: 
 a database interface;    an SQL to XML translator, communicatively coupled to said database interface;    a bridge interface; communicatively coupled to said SQL to XML translator; and    an XML to SQL translator, communicatively coupled to said database interface and said bridge interface.