Manipulation of an object as an image of a mapping of graph data

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for effectively reflecting a manipulation of an object in graph data. In one example, a method enables a manipulation performed on an object as an image of a mapping of at least a part of graph data including nodes and edges to be reflected in the graph data. The method includes the step of specifying, from among nodes in the graph data that are related to the object being modified by the manipulation, a shared node that may be related to another object as well, and the step of reflecting the manipulation in the graph data while preventing the shared node from being modified.

1 . A method for causing a manipulation performed on an object as an image of a mapping of at least a part of graph data including nodes and edges to be reflected in the graph data, the method comprising the steps of:
 specifying, from among nodes in the graph data that are related to the object being modified by the manipulation, a shared node that may be related to another object as well; and   reflecting the manipulation in the graph data while preventing the shared node from being modified.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing a graph matching pattern corresponding to the object. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
 specifying a graph matching pattern corresponding to the modified object; and   generating a query for specifying a shared node on the basis of the specified graph matching pattern.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of reflecting the manipulation includes a step of reflecting the manipulation in the graph data by using a table that includes an entry of correspondence between a node variable included in the graph matching pattern and a node in the graph data that matches the node variable. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the manipulation is generation of an object, and   the step of reflecting the manipulation includes a step of reflecting the manipulation in the graph data by forming a link to the specified shared node without generating a new node.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the manipulation is generation of an object, and   the method further comprises the step of newly creating the table corresponding to the generated object.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the step of adding to the table an entry corresponding to the specified shared node. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the step of adding to the newly created table an entry corresponding to a representative node variable included in the graph matching pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein an entry corresponding to a node other than a representative node variable and a shared node variable included in the graph matching pattern is added to the created table, and the manipulation is reflected in the graph data on the condition that entries included in the table are all filled. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the manipulation is updating of an object, and   the method further comprises the steps of:
 specifying the table corresponding to the modified object; and 
 reflecting the object updating performed on the object in the specified table. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the manipulation is deletion of an object, and   the step of reflecting the manipulation includes a step of reflecting the manipulation in the graph data while preventing the specified shared node from being deleted.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the manipulation is deletion of an object, and   the method further comprises the steps of:
 specifying the table corresponding to the modified object; and 
 on the basis of information other than information on the shared node included in the table, reflecting the manipulation in the graph data while preventing the shared node from being deleted. 
   
     
     
         13 . A computer program product for causing a computer to perform the steps in the method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A program for causing a manipulation performed on an object as an image of a mapping of at least a part of graph data including nodes and edges to be reflected in the graph data, the program causing a computer to perform the steps of:
 specifying, from among nodes in the graph data that are related to the object being modified by the manipulation, a shared node that may be related to another object as well; and   reflecting the manipulation in the graph data while preventing the shared node from being modified.