WO1999027679A2 - Data architecture and transfer of structured information in the internet - Google Patents

Abstract

Structured information relating to similar objects is stored in data bank tables and non-structured, extensive information is stored separately in www pages. The tables are arranged in isolated trees in the table explorer in every work station. In order to reduce the m : n to 1 : n relation and to simplify data reception, content tables are created, from which data is transmitted to the user tables by means of transfer channels. Filtered new and modified data is systematically and automatically transmitted by the sender to the recipient. Instead of non-structured and extensive information, only references pertaining said information is transmitted. The invention makes it possible to develop new standard data banks for the Internet and PCs. This enables data exchange of structured information between computers thereby offering new possibilities for further Internet developments.

Description

DATA ARCHITECTURE AND DATA TRANSFER OF STRUCTURED INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET

1. Today's state of IT

1 1 Databases for structured information

Conventional operating systems for EDP systems (computers) normally store the data unstructured in the form of files that are not mutually compatible. The files are summarized in directories or folders. These directories or folders are displayed as tree-like structures (e.g. as with Explorer in Windows 95)

In order to treat the data in a structured way, which are related to each other, various database systems were developed. The data is stored there in table form from columns (fields) and rows (data records). For each data record a unique key (pπmary key) and an or several

Foreign key defined to establish connections to data records from other tables (relational DB systems)

In the specialist literature, the relationships between tables are reduced to two different types. L: n one (1) data record in the superordinate table is assigned several (<= n) data records in the subordinate (or additional) table (special case n = l ), m: n one (1) data record in the higher-level table, several (<= n)

Records in the subordinate (or additional) table assigned The reverse

In the same case, one (1) data record in the subordinate (or additional) table is assigned to several (<= m) data records in the superordinate (or main) table

In practice, data is entered into tables manually, with readers or from the international network (eg the Internet) in tables. Using the above connections, tree-like or network-like user systems can be created The databases enable large amounts of data, which are summarized in table form (columns and rows) to be handled. In these tables, the data can be quickly sorted in any field in ascending or descending order. According to any term, only the desired ones could be filtered out from many data records There are several database systems where these important properties of the databases are used in practice everywhere today. Today's database systems enable users to display the data in forms and reports, to make various extensions quickly. The databases have become indispensable for IT systems. which are initially geared towards economic conditions

1 2 History of database development

In order to better imagine the weaknesses of the conventional database systems, the history of database development is first described.The first database systems were geared towards mainframes, because in the past there were no PCs, which had a corresponding effect on database development Access shared databases. Each user can create some database objects (tables, forms, reports, queries, etc.) that should be partially or completely protected by other users. Therefore, different data security systems are developed for such computers. In these systems for each database object (Table, form, etc.), various authorizations can be assigned (read data only, change data, assign authorizations to database objects, etc.) The users with the same authorizations were brought together in so-called user groups To program all of this, appropriate objects, functions were created. Later, all these objects and functions were automatically transferred to the PC without changes, although the PC belongs to only one user

The database systems were developed by various manufacturers, often based on different platforms have been developed so that not all database systems were compatible. It was often not particularly important, since in the past, networking computers was always the exception as a rule. Later, however, when networking was more common, special tolls were made that enable communication between databases (e.g. ODBC), which, however, can only connect known database systems and are slow.

Local networking of computers in earlier times left practically only one way to communicate between computers in different networks using external data carriers. Since the floppy disk with the smaller capacity was most often used for this, the database files should not be larger either. That is why all database systems make it possible to create many database files instead of one, which would be easier for building the database system. The need to break the databases down into many database files is the main cause of the excessive complexity of conventional database systems. In order to use the scattered database objects in a program for a common purpose, various objects for administration, integration of the table and transfer of the database objects from one database to another were developed. These options were also introduced in the database language. So-called objects such as Dbengine, Workspace, Database etc. (example from MS-Access) are developed with appropriate methods and properties. Everything becomes particularly complicated when the database objects have different access rights. Without appropriate training and experience, you cannot write effective programs for today's databases, let alone trust the inexperienced user.

Another problem with database development arose due to the smaller capacity of the computer hard drive. As a result, it can be said that database systems were oriented towards saving hard disk space. The highest requirement of the database developer and according to the database programmer was to avoid data redundancy on the hard disk at all costs, which was often achieved by trick programming.

For example, to minimize the space requirement, some tables are based on so-called servers are placed, which are connected to the current computer (.workstation) in a network. Common data is usually stored in such tables, with the aim of avoiding data redundancy and repeated entries and making the data accessible to all network participants at the same time. The data from the server is called up directly or through SQL queries (according to Microsoft terminology) to the workstation. The SQL queries are sent from the workstation to the server, where appropriate selection of the data records is made and sent to the workstation. At the moment of access, the user really gets the latest data, but if later on the server z. For example, if the data is changed, the user will not be informed. Therefore, one must admit that the client / server application does not guarantee the current state of the data. This can result in inconsistent databases for different users.

The tables on the server can also be integrated direlct on the workstation. In this case, they do not differ from ordinary tables from the user or programming perspective. Despite the minimal data redundancy, this principle has little future, since the computer network is prompted for communication each time the integrated table is accessed. Although the network is less loaded in the client / server technology compared to file server technology, the server has to deal more with processing the SQL queries, which requires the server to perform accordingly. The client / server concept that is often used today has another major disadvantage. If the server fails, the entire system is paralyzed. To avoid this, one or even two computers are often used in the reserve, which take over immediately if the server fails. In order to avoid the possible loss of data, the copies of the hard disk for servers and all workstations are made on other data carriers, which will cost additional time and money.

The program creation for the treatment of conventional user systems (see FIG. 2) is made more difficult, since there are generally different types of relationships between tables

(1: 1, l: n, m: n) exist. For example, to create two tables with the relationship m: n, (m and n are equal or greater than 1). To link, you have to create a third table with the keys from the two basic tables. Because of an urgent need to save disk space, this problem was not elegantly resolved. Third table is added, which holds keys from both tables. In conventional databases, the data is entered directly (mostly by hand) in each user table. This procedure would be poorly suited for the inclusion of international networks (eg the Internet), which can offer much more information. Multiple insertion of the same data in different tables will also take more time in

to take. When the data is automatically inserted directly from an international network (also referred to as the Internet) into each user table, the memory space is wasted, which affects the productivity of the computer, especially when it is taken into account that usually not all data from the Internet originate, are usable.

In summary, the client / server concept has the following disadvantages with regard to databases:

1) The server guarantees the user the latest data only at the moment of

Access, but later changes to this data on the server, the user receives no messages. This can lead to unequal data sets among different users, although the users believe that they are the same 2) Since the user often has to fetch the same data from the server repeatedly, it will unnecessarily burden the computer network and additional telephone charges (for W.AN networks and the Internet).

3) In order to be able to serve all clients quickly, the server's computer must be very powerful. 4) If the server fails, the entire user system is shut down.

5) Conventional database development is complicated, requires special training, long-term experience and is unreasonable for amateurs. 1 3 Internet vulnerabilities

Nowadays, EDP is basically geared towards the Internet, where you can find practically any information. And without a doubt it really is. But euphoria can go away quickly if surfing takes a few hours after urgently needed information. The search engines that can be used to search for entered terms have become very useful for the Internet. But the search engines usually provide unstructured information, many of which are superfluous or unusable. The useful data found afterwards cannot be transferred directly to a structured database.

Surfing the Internet and searching with search engines takes a lot of time, which causes corresponding telephone charges. Companies have to pay additional wage costs for surfing. And what is often neglected, the information provided by search engines has to be checked, systematized and filtered leave, which also takes a lot of time and causes additional wage costs for the companies. Since the same information is searched for again and again on the Internet, the negative effects for companies would be more apparent. Since many companies from the same industry often have to search, systematize and filter the same information, many people are unnecessarily busy with repetitive work.

The agent programs of the search engines have to read the data from the WWW pages for days, which places a significant burden on the international network. Search engine performance is very dependent on the performance of its computer. Today, the most powerful computers in the world are used for this

In so-called catalogs on the Internet, documents with structured and unstructured information are created by specialists and linked together

Separate software must be created for each catalog. Creating documents for catalogs takes a lot of time, which is why they have few entries Another major disadvantage of the Internet is that the well-evaluated databases of conventional databases are completely ignored when searching. In principle, one can talk about two worlds in EDP, which nowadays develop practically independently: old EDP and new Internet. The Internet develops practically without a connection to conventional databases, which are built on different platforms and often have different formats, so that the use of special tools such as ODBC is necessary. The type of connection between the conventional databases and the Internet is shown in FIG. 3a. A connection is made on the WWW page to the selected table, which is to be displayed on the WWW page. If the user changes the data in the database table, the changes will be seen immediately on the WWW site. The user can read in the data directly on the WWW page or send SQL expressions to the server. The server evaluates the printout and sends the result back to the customer. The customer sees the result on the screen and can save it in a table or read the results manually and continue to use them.

The main disadvantages of this procedure: the user must always carry out the search online and therefore pay corresponding telephone charges; the results cannot simply be used without creating a new table. To summarize, the following weaknesses of the Internet can be listed:

1) The Internet search engines provide a lot of unstructured information that is mostly useless. This trend is increasing as more and more private WWW pages are created on the Internet. This will inhibit swirling on the

Spread the Internet in business channels. 2) Since many users will often search for the same terms, they have to do the same work, namely to find necessary information from a large number of hits, to manually enter the data found in the corresponding database or in another document or program.

3) Surfing the Internet takes a lot of time, causes corresponding telephone charges and the companies have to bear additional wage costs. 4) Agent programs of the search engines put a strain on the computer network and the tendency due to constant growth of the number of WWW pages is increasing.

5) There is no acceptable method today that allows the data supplied by search engines to be conveniently transferred to databases and thereby systematized. 6) A lot of information is now stored in structured databases that are well evaluated, but there is no acceptable concept that allows the existing databases to be connected to the Internet. The client / server concept is poorly suited for this (see also section 1.2).

7) Today's catalogs on the Internet as an alternative to the search engines are unsatisfactory because the creation of the catalogs is very complex.

Vulnerabilities of the Internet can be overcome by integrating the databases with their sorting and filtering functions. But first you have to develop a standardized database that would be free from many disadvantages of conventional databases. These problems could be solved using the following invention.

2. Data architecture and data transfer of structured information on the Internet according to the invention

2.1 Representation of the objects in the electronic data processing system

Each real object can always be described by a number of properties (e.g. weight, width, height, etc.), which can be of the simple type number, date, boolean, text. These properties will be of the same type for objects of the same type, which makes it possible to enter information for these objects in a structured table consisting of columns (e.g. property names) and rows with concrete values of the properties for each object. Each row (data record) of a table in the proposed EDP is clearly represented by a master key. Possibly the data records can be saved by so-called Key candidates are additionally identified. The best key of the table is a counter z. use u, which when inserting a new object on 1 z. u increase. In addition to these properties, which are of a simple type, each object can also be represented by a special type of information (e.g. film about Objelct or an image where various buttons are created that can display different images when clicked). An object from the group of objects of the same type can additionally be represented by different media. Such information usually takes up a lot of space. In order to separate such unstructured information from structured information, the unstructured information is stored on WWW pages on the Internet, if it is also intended for other users, or in the opposite case simply on its own hard drive. As a link between the two types of information, URL fields are created in a table, where corresponding URLs of the WWW pages are stored on the Internet. For example, in EDP systems whose users use different languages, the corresponding number of URL fields are created to represent the objects in different languages on the Internet. Structured information can also be assigned to unstructured information, but this must take up a lot of storage space. For example, all objects in the table are additionally represented by an image. Usually you could create a bitmap type field for these images. But pictures take up a lot of storage space, so you should assign such data to unstructured information. The unstructured and extensive data, which must be stored separately from structured tables, together can be described as immovable data. According to the invention, all structured tables on the computer are to be stored in a database which can be referred to as a PC database or communication database. This eliminates the need to transport or connect the database objects from one database file to another, as is the case in all conventional database systems. This removes all objects from the database system that support the fragmentation of the databases. It is also important to hide the only database file on the computer so that it is not deleted or moved to another directory. This file can e.g. B. on the c: drive. O 99/27679 10

Since the PC normally only has one user, you do not need to set objects in the PC database that would manage and check authorizations for database objects. This, together with the elimination of fragmentation of the databases on the PC, will significantly simplify the structure of the database systems.

2.2 Data architecture of the PC database

EDP system according to the invention consists of a set of equal computers that z. B. can send structured information in tabular form to each other through the Internet or within a local network. Each table consists of rows (data records) and columns (fields). Each data record represents a real existing object of reality. All structured tables of the computer are collected in a PC database. The multimedia applications, which represent stored objects in a different way, are always stored in addition to the PC database on the Internet or on your own computer, which is also connected to the Internet.

Various forms for displaying the information in the table, data filters for restricting the display of data in the form, reports, for displaying the evaluations, etc. are also stored in the PC database.

The actually existing objects in reality can have different relationships with one another, which could generally be called an expression m: n.

You can explain that with an example. If there are two tables (entity narrow) A and B, in table B an object can only be connected with a maximum of m objects from A and vice versa in table A an object can only be connected to n objects from B. In order to be able to establish such relationships, an additional field must be entered in table B that contains the connection key (e.g. master key) from table A. Such a field in specialist literature and in the invention is referred to as a foreign key. According to the invention, table A is the parent Table and Table B referred to as subordinate. According to the invention, it is also provided that there could be objects in tables A and B that have no relationships to objects in another table. This is prohibited in most database concepts because it contradicts the well-known term "referential integrity". Zero values for foreign keys are also permitted in the invention. On the other hand, the invention does not allow changing the main keys of the tables, which are normally created as an enumeration type should.

Tables in the user database are divided into two broad categories: container tables and box tables. Container tables are tables that are not in any

Relationship to other tables. These tables are most often used for temporary storage of data from the outside world (container tables). The box tables, however, are only those tables that are 1: 1; l.n or m: n,. stand to each other and are therefore arranged in trees.

Since in reality the relationships between objects can be very complex to represent these relationships, tree-like and network-like data structures are built up in conventional databases. Since the user tables can appear in different trees, the whole system can be represented as isolated trees (Fig. 4a). Optimization (see FIG. 4b) divides each network-like data architecture into isolated hierarchically arranged trees.

Every box table except user-specific fields, in which information about Objelct is stored, must e.g. can contain the following mandatory fields: a master key and possibly also other unique ones

Key candidates; a connection key (topkey) for each higher-level table;

User field for identifying the current user e.g. B. user's email;

Field for registering the time when the data record is created;

Updatetime field for registering the time of the last changes in the data record; Flag activ, which is always set to true for active data sets (default to 'true'); Flag view, which is set to true if the data record is temporarily hidden by the program;

Flag exist, which is set to false when the record is to be deleted (default to true);

URL fields with URL of the WWW pages on the Internet, where the immovable information is stored.

If in the container or box table a new data record by hand or by

When the program is added, the new data record is assigned a new master key, which always becomes 1 higher than the last data record added. The value of the parent key (master key or unique key candidate from the higher-level box table) is assigned to the connection key in the subordinate box table. The data records are assigned in a subordinate and superordinate table using a connection key.

The filtered or unfiltered data is displayed in the form (called the box form). To limit the display in the box table, box filters can also be defined, which is normally saved as a query. The overall box table, box filter and box form form a unique unit, which is also referred to as a box and is identified by a unique number (for the entire user database). Box filters normally only have to be constructed on the basis of the boy table. In exceptional cases, it can be a complex query that can be connected to other tables in a simple way (without checking, for example, the referential integrity), which also has to cover all the mandatory fields of the box table mentioned above. This process is often used in conventional databases to save hard disk space. Boxes with complex queries from two or more connected tables slow down the performance of the computer and can only be recommended if the hard disk space is scarce. For example, according to the conventional principle, the box ".Articles of the suppliers" could be based on .two keys on the key table (Supplier key and article key), which is related to the table 'article' (for entire company). Undoubtedly, in this case, the space requirement on the hard disk would be minimal, since it is only occupied by the key table. But the gain in hard disk space is paid for by a higher processor load. You can explain it with a simple example. Company has 10,000 items stored in a table. The employee creates an invoice, where he enters information for 10 articles. If this bill after z. For example, if it is opened for viewing, the program to create the Dynaset for displaying the 10 articles must find the corresponding article key for every specified article among 10,000 articles. The working memory must always take into account all 10,000 articles, even though there are only 10 articles from this quantity.

With consequent application of the invention in the above example, one proceeds as follows. The box table 'Article of the supplier' has the same structure as the table 'Article', which is supplemented with the foreign key 'Supplier keyF' and the master key of the box table. The 'Articles' table is declared as a container for the 'Articles of suppliers' table. The employee selects the desired 10 ^ items from the container, the complete details of which are transferred to the box table. Later, each time the 'Supplier's article' box is viewed, the computer's main memory only deals with 10 articles instead of 10,000 according to the conventional principle.

Each box table, box filter or box form and any combination of these can appear in different boxes in the system. When the user views the data in a box form, only data records that are subordinate to the current data record in a higher table are displayed. The filter printout is represented semantically as follows

"Boxfilter.activ = true and box table. Association Key = Parent Key ".

For BOaX tables that have no parent tables, this filter expression will look simpler:

"Box filter. activ = true " The information for user system boxes is stored in the system table for trees and box data.

Information about boxes and user trees

Table 2.1

Field / field group purpose

Box number Counter that uniquely identifies the box in the entire user system

Tree Unique name of the tree in the database

- Form number Unique number (within the tree) of the box

Box table Table that is basically the box

Key name Unique counter as the master key of the box table

Key value Stored value of the master key

Boxfilter. Ad filter as a query that filters the displayed data records in the Bo.x table. If not specified, no filter is set and the box table data is displayed directly in the box form without filtering.

Form name Name of the form in which the box data is displayed and entered

Parent form number of the parent box form number

Connection key Foreign key from the parent box (if available) Parent key Master key or key candidate in the parent box that is connected to the connection key of the current box m, n parameters that represent the relationship between the linked tables. In the special case 'no connections' the relation filter is used switched off.

Block transfer data If true, data transferred in the box table are updated before updating or Deletion protected. Other fields Fields that do not affect the essence of the invention.

2.3 Use of the container tables

It will often be necessary to update the data in one table with data in the other table. For this purpose, between such tables becomes more permanent in the invention

77 Transfer channel created, where one table is referred to as the source table and another as the target table. For this transfer channel it is determined which fields of the target table are updated and which fields of the source table. Such a transfer is e.g. B. necessary if the same data has to be entered in some tables. In this case, it is advisable to create a container table where the

78 general data must be entered. The master key of this table is used as the transfer key for the data source. From this container table transfer channels to corresponding z. B. Box tables set up. In each table, transfer keys must also be created as foreign keys, which are assigned to the main key of the container table in the transfer channel. After entering data in the

Corresponding fields in the target table are updated by corresponding fields in the container table.

Container tables can also be used to resolve the relation m: n, where m and n are greater than 1. If the relationship between box tables is 1: n, where n is an arbitrarily large number, the data can be entered in both tables without any problems

To be 80. Example: customers and their invoices. A customer can have multiple invoices, but each invoice can only be associated with one customer. In this case, we can assign the selected customer appropriate invoices, to which the customer key is automatically assigned as a connection key. It will look different, e.g. B. if it concerns suppliers and their .Article. 81 Usually, each supplier can deliver some .articles and one .article can be supplied by different suppliers. This relationship is called m: n, where the numbers m and n could be any positive numbers. Eg 5:10, where an .article can be delivered by a maximum of 5 suppliers and each supplier can deliver up to 10 .articles. In conventional database systems to solve this problem

82 a key table is installed between two connected tables, which holds both main keys of the connected tables. This minimizes data redundancy, but in order to display the data in these tables, complex queries have to be built, which complicates programming and affects computer performance. That is why in the invention it is based on

83 certain data redundancy. For example, in the example above, the container table ".Article master" with all possible articles is created

Articles from the table "Article Master", which will serve as a container for "Articles", obtained by the user.

Just like the box, a container has a container table as the main table, possibly the

84 container filters and one or two some container forms that are used to display and enter the data. In addition to user-specific fields, a container table should have the following mandatory fields:

Master key of the container table, which in this case is also called the transfer key;

85 Field for identification of the current user who made the last changes;

Field for registering the time the data record was created;

Field for registering the time of the last change in the data record;

Flag activ, which is set to true for .active records;

86 Flag view, which is set to true for the data records to be displayed;

Flag exist, which is set to false if the data record in the container is to be deleted;

URL fields with the URL of the WWW pages on the Internet, where the immovable information is stored. 87 Instead of URL fields, fields can be created where e.g. B. Network addresses (for local networks) of the executable files are displayed.

The container filter will usually be a simple filter or, as an exception, a saved query, which e.g. the container table with other tables (possibly also with other container tables) by simple (regardless of z.

88 B. referential integrity) temporary relationship.

2.4 Data transfer between tables within the PC database

As already mentioned, there will often be a need to transfer the data ZU between two tables (e.g. from a container table in the direction of the box table). So-called transfer channels are set up for this. Such transfer channels can

89 also set up between. Two box tables,. Two container tables or from the box table to the container table.

The data collected (by hand or by import from another computer, as described in section 2.5) in the data source is regularly (e.g. after each update of the data record or after a command from the user) in the target table

90 transferred. For this purpose, a transfer channel (e.g. as in footnote 5 on FIG. 1) is established for each pair provided (data source - target table), which defines a list of communication fields and their arrangement between the data source and target table. With each data transfer between the data source and the target table, the data is transferred through communication fields of the transfer channel. In the data source as

91 Transfer key is usually taken the master key. A corresponding field for the transfer key must be created as a foreign key in the target table. A user filter and selection form for data source are assigned to each transfer channel. Information for all transfer channels is summarized in table 2.2 for transfer data, where it is taken into account, that as

92 data source and target table any container or Box tables could be. Information for inner transfer channels

Table 2.2

If in fields' after record update 'and' after

If the source dragonfly is false, the transmission can only be carried out if the user specifically instructs it to do so

93 or the program. In order to monitor and execute the data transfers, a subroutine 'inner transfer server' must be developed. According to the specified criteria, the internal transfer server will initiate the data transfers accordingly.

There is a common system table for transfer fields for all internal transfer channels

94 created.

Field assignment in inner transfer channels

Table 2.3

The main key of the source table must always be entered under source fields

95 be present. Accordingly, the target is in the box table

Transfer key. If it is unstructured and for some objects of the table extensive information is stored separately, corresponding references (e.g. URL fields) must also be available in the target and source fields. This gives the possibility to move the information of the objects into any tables,

96 without transferring the extensive and unstructured data. The source table le (e.g. container table) with a corresponding data filter can be used as the data source. All target and source fields with flag view = true are excluded from the internal data transfer. Between tables, which is accordingly in the SQL - Printout of the data filter is taken into account. This allows additional data transfer

97 reduce user filter can in principle as a selection query, which serves as a data record source (transfer filter) for selection form, and (or)

Program filter can be defined that sets the flag view of the data records to true or false. In the second case, the following SQL expression is set as the data source:

"Transfer source. activ≡true and transfer source. vιew = true ",

98 where transfer source is the above-mentioned selection query or simply the source table itself if no selection query is specified

The selection query 'Transferfilter' must always contain all of the above-mentioned mandatory fields in the source table and can define the user conditions (eg "Data records in which the turnover is greater than 100,000 DM per year")

The selection query can also be linked to other tables by a simple relationship

The following transfer actions can be carried out

1) Update the transfer fields of the target object by transfer fields of the source object, which have the same transfer key and have been transferred since the last time

100 were changed This data transfer is carried out regularly, eg after each update of the source object, after a specified time interval or after an express command from the user

2) Append the new data that do not have an identical transfer key in the target object. This data transfer is also regular, as described in point 1, 101 executed and .war for transfer channels with flag add = true .. The flag activ for transferred data sets is always set to false. No connection key is assigned to the attached data.

3) Replace the data in the target table with selected data in the data source. This transaction is only after the user's express command or through

102 corresponding programs completed. When updating, the transfer fields, including transfer keys with corresponding values from the data source, are replaced from the current position in the target table.

The update records are the same as those selected in the container. Transaction 1 is carried out regularly for all internal transfer channels. The transfer usually has to

103 express command, if the user has the appropriate permission. In transaction 1, the relation conditions m and n are not taken into account, since it is only a matter of updating the transfer data in existing data records.

Transfer action 2 is used to transfer the data to the target table with flag activ = false

Append 104. This data attachment is later assigned by the user to the corresponding higher-level data records. To look at this data attachment, the corresponding form of the table and .with filter

"Boxing table. acüv = false and connection key is null "

displayed. For the parent box of the tree, filter "Box table. activ = false "use.

105 Selected data from the form can be assigned to the higher-level data records by assigning the value of the parent key to the 'Connection key' field. In order for the program to be able to use the correct data, one would have to resolve all data attachments by assigning them to the higher-level data records or simply deleting the attachment.

106 Transaction 3 is only used to replace the data in the target table with selected data in the data source. Several transfer channels can be defined between two tables, which have different transfer fields and transfer filters. For example, .Additional transfer channel can be created without a transfer filter with the flag add = * false. In this case, access to all data of the container is guaranteed

107 can only be useful if the user sometimes needs to access third-party data or must ensure that this option makes the virtual user system (user database) extremely flexible and usable everywhere. There may be only restrictions due to the greater need for hard disk space To decrease the outdated data in the following ways

108 box tables can be deleted by automatically executing the corresponding command or the databases can be compressed automatically.As these commands can only be executed automatically under appropriate conditions, this can go unnoticed by the user ) to use

109 2 5 Data transfer between computers

In order to be able to establish communication with a computer in the EDP system, this computer must be entered in the table 'Connected computers'

Connected computers

Table 2 4

110 Each computer can export the data to the other or import data from the other. Data is normally imported into a container table, from where the data is forwarded to other tables (e.g. box tables). Data can also be imported directly into a box table in exceptional cases

To receive the data from other computers, so-called transfer channels are used

111 data import (import channels) created (see Table 2 5)

Most important fields in the table 'Import channels'

Table 2 5

Transfer filter SQL expression that is used as a transfer filter on the sender

Last transmission Time of the last transmission by the current transfer channel

Table 2.6 is kept for all export channels

Most important fields in the table 'Export channels'

Table 2.6

For each import and export channel, the field assignment of the source and target fields is given in corresponding tables 2.7 and 2. Field mapping for import channels

Table 2 7

Field mapping for export channels

Table 2.8

In order to initialize the transmission, a corresponding protocol is used that supports the connection between two computers and its tables. This software recognizes the commands and passes them on to the responsible software. The commands are often specified by the sender and processed by the recipient. With the senders the Software 'shipping component' and at the receivers 'recording components' installed, which will communicate with each other and process the data packets. The dispatch component at the sender checks the occurrence of the events 'after record update', 'after table update' and 'before closing the database', if true is specified for them, and accordingly initiates the transfer of data that has changed since the last data transfer. If false is specified for all these fields, the principle must be entered in a special form when and under what circumstances the transfers must take place. The shipping component monitors these conditions and carries out the data transfers or not. Data transfer from sender to recipient can be done without or with the use of the mail server depending on the setting. When initializing the data transfer without using the mail server, the sender's computer performs the following operations

1 shipping component checks whether the recipient's computer is switched on and, if it does, takes further steps

2) For each initialized transfer channel connecting the sender and recipient, a corresponding update package is created, which is shown as a table.This table consists of transfer fields and data records from the table, which have been changed or newly created since the last transfer. 3 All update packages for the same recipient are created put together in a target package and sent to the recipient

Mail servers can be used for data transfer for intermediate storage of the transmission packages (e.g. conventional server for e-mail). The transmission packets are only temporarily stored on the mail server when the recipient's computer is not switched on. In this case, the following steps are carried out

1 For each initialized transfer channel connecting the sender and recipient, a corresponding update package is created, which is shown as a table.This table consists of transfer fields and data records in the table, which have been changed or newly created since the last transfer. 2 All update packages for the same recipient are in Corresponding target packages are put together and addressed to the corresponding mail server 3 The target packets that are addressed to the same mail server are put together in corresponding transmission packets and thus also sent to the mail server. When the recipient's computer is switched on, all the target packets are first automatically picked up from the mail server (if it is used at all), directly received or picked up from the mail server target packets are divided into original update packets. The data records of the update package update the data records of the corresponding target table with the same transfer key. Data records from the update package with new keys are appended to the target table

After the data in the target table has been updated, the recording component returns the sending component of the sender the time of the last change, which is stored in the corresponding field in tables 2 5 and 2 6

2 6 Maintaining the conditions of relations

In order to maintain the relation conditions (1: 1, l: n or m: n), a so-called relation server has to be developed, which immediately deletes all data records from the data attachment after the current data transfer that have the same

Transfer keys appear more than n times in the box table. That is why this data attachment has to be resolved, so to speak. For container tables and master boxes, it means making it visible, which the user explicitly prompts manually. For "resolved" data sets, the flag activ is set to true and they will continue to be visible each time the form is started (active data records) For box tables, the data attachment must be integrated in the box table, which is filled in under the control of the relation server.The user selects a data record in the higher-level box and changes to the data attachment in the lower-level box There he marks desired records and then press the

'Assign' command If there are already m records in the field in the box table 127 "connection key" have the same value as the parent key in the higher-level table, it will be prevented with a corresponding message

Duplicates are created for selected data records, where the flag activ is set to true and in each field 'connection key' the key value becomes the higher one

Table entered

128 With manual data entry, no container keys are inserted and the m-relation parameter is no longer required.When new data sets are inserted manually or through a transfer action, the parent code is assigned to each data set, if available. After each such operation, the relation server deletes all data sets from the data attachment with the same transfer key more than n

Occur 129 times in the box table

For each box that is connected to the data container by transfer channels, corresponding buttons can be created on the box form or toolbar or in the menu bar, which contain commands for executing the transfer actions that have already been described

130 2 7 advantages of the invention

The invention will take up more hard disk space by using the data container and by appending the records to the user tables

Otherwise, the invention will bring the following advantages compared to pure client / server technology

131 1) The temporary storage of the data in recording containers avoids repeated

Inclusion of the same information as is obtained when inserting it directly into user tables. This saves a lot of hard disk space and time when

Paste the data

2) Since only changed and new data (usually also in the box tables) 132 filtered) are transmitted, the user programs will operate with a smaller amount of data and therefore run faster

3) Replacing the queries with box tables will take up less RAM and the user programs will run faster.

4) The user systems are simplified because the relationship relationships are like

133 user-defined conditions are already taken into account when inserting the data into the user table, so that the user can often do without programming

5) In network-like user systems you can make some connections

Replace transfer channels so that the user system will only consist of isolated trees. It makes the creation of the application programs easier because of the consideration

The relationship types between box tables no longer apply.

6) One-time transmission in a package of data from the external container and attaching the container data to the box tables drastically reduces the load on the computer network, accelerates the execution of the user programs and saves telephone fees

135 7) IT systems according to the invention are more viable than pure client / server systems, since the failure of any computer has no effect on the entire system (only the data that is sent to the computer after the failure is missing)

8) On every workstation, external data can be restored from the data sources if required, which is an additional possibility for data backup for

There are 136 user tables

9) Sending the information compared to the client / server system places fewer demands on the performance of the computer

3. Examples of possible applications of the invention

3 1 Further development of the internet In Section 7.3 it was shown that today's Internet ignores practically old databases, where well-evaluated data is collected. The Internet lacks the important ability of databases to sort, filter and search mass data quickly. Because the Internet provides an incredible amount of information today there is a great need to structure mass data from the Internet and so on

138 like in today's structured databases. It becomes possible if the same database system is used in all computers that are connected to the Internet. Such a database must enable the data exchange of structured information between tables on different computers.

According to a new concept, the Internet will consist of two large data layers. PC

139 databases (communication databases) with structured information and conventional WWW pages. Special URL fields are created in the tables of the PC database, where the references to the corresponding WWW page of the Internet are stored. Through these references, the user can call up the corresponding WWW page from the PC database at any time

140 Such a standardized PC database can consist of the following components

1) basic component as a permanent component of all versions of the PC database (see section 5.7.7),

2) Dispatch component for providers of information (e.g. company), which are offered as virtual company catalogs for all Internet users or limited users

141 (see section 3.1.2)

3) Recording component as a standard version for subscribing to the PC database of structured information from the Internet. Section 3.1.3),

4) Project component (see section 3.1 4), which gives the customer the opportunity to define the data architecture, transfer structure, forms and reports themselves

5) Server component for providers of information This component, similar to SQL Server in conventional database systems, gives the recipient the possibility to look directly into the providers' tables, to filter, copy, etc. (see section 3.1.5) 6) Client component that gives the user the opportunity to access the databases at the

143 to see providers directly, to send SQL commands to the provider, etc. (see section 3.1.6)

7) Development component that contains a reduced database language and is intended for the database programmer (see section 3.1.7) This component enables the database programmer to develop database systems of any complexity

144 3 1 1 Basic component of the PC database

According to the new database concept on each computer, instead of many, as is possible in conventional database concepts, it is provided that only one database can be created. That is why this database is referred to as the PC database. This database could also be called the communication database because the

145 This database focuses on the data exchange between computers at the database level (from table to table)

PC database is a hidden file that does not appear as a symbol in Explorer and therefore cannot be renamed, moved or deleted directly by the user. A prerequisite makes database programming much easier because

146 whole series of objects can thereby be eliminated

Since the PC database can only belong to one user, practically all objects associated with authorizations for database objects are removed in the new database concept. This makes database programming even easier and easier to understand

147 Basically every PC database contains the user tables that are handled in a container object. The tables can be divided into table groups, which can make some operations easier (see section 3.1.4). Each user table is identified by key. Foreign keys can also be created. which determine the relations between tables in tables

148 fields with references to WWW pages are created, where additional information for stored objects can be displayed (films, instructions for use, etc.) The user tables are always arranged in isolated table trees (see Fig. 5). The subordination of the tables is defined in a system table ^ Tab. 2.1) The trees can be grouped according to tasks. A tree or individual table can

149 appear in different tasks ^ section 3.1.4)

Data exchange between tables in a PC database is carried out using so-called inner transfer channels. The information for inner transfer channels in the PC database is entered in the corresponding system table 'Information for inner transfer channels' (see Table 2.2).

150 For each inner transfer channel, the assignment list for sources and target fields is specified, which are combined for all transfer channels in a system table 'Field.assignment in inner transfer channels' (5th table 2.3)

The basic component of the PC database must contain all the necessary functions that support the internal data transfer and the relationships between

151 maintain user tables More precise information was laid out in the project design of the new database system

The data in tables in the PC database can either be entered directly or imported from conventional databases. For this, appropriate import functions must be installed in the PC database

152 3 1 2 Shipping component of the PC database

When this component is installed, the PC database on the Internet can offer its structured data to the other participants on the Internet, who can automatically subscribe to this data. The company's production is displayed as a virtual catalog. The end customer (e.g. the private

153 person) have the information offered automatically and regularly transferred to his PC database (subscribe). This gives the .supplier .additional advertising options for his production or services and the interested party (subscriber) the price or property comparison for various offers

The shipping component gives the information provider the opportunity to use the tables make the PC database on the Internet accessible only to certain or all Internet participants who, however, only have read access. The provider can set the following access option in properties for each of his tables

The table is blocked for external access (no access from the Internet is possible), the table is accessible to all participants in the Internet (anyone can view and subscribe to the data),

A list of users who have read access to this table is specified for the table

If the last option is selected, a list of users who have read permission for this user table must be specified in the system table 'Read permissions' (see Table 3.7)

Table 3 1

Read permissions

Field name purpose

Table Name of the user table User Name of the PC database of the user who has read access to the table

Address Internet or network address (in the local network) of the user

The participants of the Internet may have import channels set up for the released tables and regularly obtain the changed and new data from there (see Section 3.1 3). To do this, the recipient must be able to view the tables that have been released for him in the data structure shows the shipping component The recipient creates the import channels (see section 3.1.4) by defining the field assignment (source-target fields), the SQL condition that defines his area of interest, and the rules when and how the changed and new data records from the Area of interest will be sent to the provider in the system table 'Export channels' (see table 2.6), in the system table 'Field assignment for export channels' (see Tab. 2.8) and for the recipient in the tables

159 2.5 and 2.7 saved

The provider cannot change the information in the system table for export channels and in the system table 'Field assignment for export channels', but he can block read access to the source table by changing the access option. Then, corresponding entries in the system tables for import channels and

160 'Field assignment for import channels' at the recipient (see section 3.1. 3) and in system tables for export channels and 'Field assignment for export channels' at the sender (see 2.6 and 2.8) deleted. For this purpose, the shipping component sends the appropriate command, which is picked up by the recipient's receiving component and is filled out

The following rules can be used to send the changed and new data records from the

161 Interested parties area between the sender and the recipient agreed immediately upon request of the recipient, immediately after changing the data in the data record, immediately after closing the form based on the table, before closing the PC database of the provider (default),

162 after the specified time interval

With each change in the data record, the shipping component enters the time of the change in the corresponding field in the user table

When an event occurs, the dispatch component forms the update packages, target packages and transmission packages (if mail server is in use) as described in the section

163 2 5 is described

After each transfer in the system table for export channels (see table 2.6), the time of the last transfer is entered for each table concerned

The Internet address or network address in the local network of the recipient, the export channel number from Tab. 2.6, time of the

164 Transmission The transmission packets are sent directly to the recipient when his computer is switched on. Otherwise, the transmission packets are buffered at the sender or on the special mail server (depending on the setting), from where the Receiving component of the receiver picks up and integrates the transmission packets when the PC database is started (see also section 3.1.3)

165 3 1 3 Recording component of the PC database

Section 3.1.2 describes how a company can release its offers as a company catalog on the Internet. The computers with released tables are referred to as providers. Users who are interested in such information are also referred to as interested parties, recipients or subscribers

To be able to receive 166, the recording component must be installed in the PC database. Before the installation, the basic component of the PC database is searched for. If it is not available, it is installed for a fee

The main task of the recording component is to target or Pick up transmission packages and integrate them into the PC database ^ s section 2.6)

167 Data transfer by mail server allows the sender and recipient to communicate with each other completely independently, since it makes no difference whether the other computer is switched on or not. This option must be communicated to the sender (see also section 3.1.2). The current server can also be used as a mail server be used for temporary storage of the e-mail. The recording component manages the system table for

168 import channels (see Tab. 2.5 and communicates with shipping components from information providers.

Each time the PC database is started, the target or transmission packages for all import channels are picked up from the specially configured buffer at the sender (if the mail server is not used) or from the mail server and corresponding

169 User tables of the recipient are updated In the system table 'Import channels' the time of transmission is entered in the field 'Last transmission' in table 2.5. If new data packets appear in the buffer, the protocol software of the recipient is informed and the transmission packet is first stored in the recording buffer recorded and then integrated in the PC database Jo

transmitted data packets are removed from the sender's or the mail server's buffer

3 1 4 Project component of the PC database

By installing the project component, the provider gets Recipients of the information have the opportunity to design the data architecture and data transfer, to create and correct the forms and reports, to export database objects to other PC databases and vice versa to import them from others. The user can create new tables, correct the data structure of the existing tables, create new trees, add new tables to the trees, remove existing tables and trees.This component enables new transfer channels to be set up and existing ones to be corrected Entries made In order to make the work easier for users, details for these operations are made in special system forms, so that they can even be carried out by inexperienced customers Provider who shows the approved tables in a form to the recipient in trees. The recipient selects the source table with the sender and the corresponding target table in their own PC database. In the special form, he assigns the source fields to the target fields. He can also easily enter the data filter as SQL condition in the form. All changes in the transfer channels are also entered in the sender in the corresponding system tables (see section 3.1. 2)

In the project component, the database objects can be classified into special groups.A database object can only be assigned to one group.This makes export operations more convenient.If the number of trees and individual tables becomes very large, the database objects can also be classified according to tasks in several Tasks Occur When the user chooses a specific task, only the list of the relevant database objects is displayed on the screen, for example, only the list of

You have to show forms that are responsible for the 'customer care' task

176 first click on the appropriate tab for forms and then select the entry 'Customer support' in the list for tasks. At any time you can define new tasks and assign new database objects to each task or remove them from the list the database objects by task will have no effect

177 In the project component, the user can be integrated with the providers of information, so that he will constantly get information from them in the specified prospect area in a collective table. In this component, he can create his own forms and reports based on the specified SQL query, where the Results of the evaluations are shown

178 3 1 5 Server component of the PC database for providers of information

Section 3.1.2 shows the shipping component of the PC database that acts as a publisher for prospective customers.This gives the prospective customer a convenient opportunity to obtain the data from some ./ providers automatically. The server component is functionally similar to the SQL server, but in comparison strong

179 reduced, since the client only has to deal with one selected table at a time. Communication between server and client takes place directly without including the server's table in the WWW site, as is still done on the Internet today (see Fig. 3a) according to a new concept the prospect who owns the client component (see section 3.1.6) is given the opportunity to view the released tables, their

180 Sorting and filtering data The corresponding SQL command is sent to the server each time. This command can only affect one table. The results of the query can be saved in a table of the client (see also section 3.1.6). Client requests have priority the operations of the shipping component

The filtered data is transferred to the client in a temporary table, which he can use in his

181 PC database can be saved (see section 3.1.6) 3 1 6 Client component of the PC database

Subscribing to the data as described in sections 3.1.2,3.1.3 and 5.7.4 may not always be sufficient for the customer

installed the server component (see section 3.1.5), the user can have the client component view, sort and filter the data in the provider's approved tables directly (not on WWW page I)

The client enters the provider's Internet address. The server component shows in a form the tables released for it, which can also be displayed in a tree. The client selects the desired table and enters the SQL command for this table in a form. This command is sent to the provider and the result comes back in the form of a table. The SQL command is processed immediately by the provider and the filtered data is transferred to the client in a temporary table that he can save in his PC database. If the client wants to query several tables, he must create the appropriate number of temporary tables. Then he can go offline Any evaluations make the advantage of the client saves telephone fees for online evaluations that one does today and less stresses the Internet

All temporary tables are a temporary task z. B. assigned under the name 'Temp' (see also section 3.1.4). The temporary tables can also be arranged in temporary trees. When the PC database is closed, all tables that are assigned to the 'Temp' task are deleted. In order to keep a temporary table in the PC database, it must be closed before the PC database removed from the 'Temp' task or assigned to another task

The client component gives the prospect the opportunity to first view the data on the server before subscribing and then to make a decision about creating a transfer channel. The client component should also be used if there is little point in subscribing to the data 3 1 7 Development component for programmers

When this component is installed, the database language is loaded, which allows the programmer to develop any complicated database systems. The reason for this database language can be taken as a conventional database language. All objects or commands that are unnecessary for the PC database will be removed from this language

1) Objects or commands, functions and terms that enable and support fragmentation of the database into many database files in conventional database systems

2) container and database objects and associated commands and functions,

3) transaction logs and related commands and everything related to them;

4) Objects that assign and manage permissions on the database objects, form user groups, etc

Virtually all existing routines that support event functions for forms and reports should be retained

New objects, functions and commands should be introduced in the database language, which can change the data architecture, the data transfer. The specific decisions depend heavily on the chosen programming language and therefore, after the selection of the database language, which is taken as the basis, must be specified

3 2 New organization of advertising through the Internet

Many mail order companies such as Otto Catalog, Quelle and others, which offer a very wide range of goods, are already represented on the Internet

View the Internet and order online by filling out the appropriate form. This form of trading is convenient and attractive, as it can save the customer the trip The private customer can, however, use the Internet on the WWW pages

Take a look at 192 department stores (see Fig. 3a), compare prices and properties of the goods you are looking for, and then buy or order the goods you want in the chosen store or order online. But there is no downside to this option, as customers spend a lot of time on their computers and corresponding telephone costs for research in the WWW pages of the provider must pay Even less attractive

193 this possibility for companies that normally have to research and order various articles, products, materials etc. very often online from suppliers. In addition to telephone charges, companies also have to pay additional wage costs for online research.This is why companies use search engines to find suppliers which is also a lot of phone charges and labor costs for companies

194 cause

In general it can be said that today's Internet trade is forcing customers to

Paying directly for advertising costs (in the form of telephone charges for goods research), which will have an inhibiting effect on Internet trade.Therefore, a new principle for the treatment of structured information is proposed (see Fig

195 3b), which will eliminate this fundamental disadvantage of trading on the Internet According to this principle, all new and changed offers in the form of data records are automatically and regularly transferred to the customer's collection table, so that the customer does not have to pay telephone charges for researching various goods providers In terms of trade, this can be seen as a new, paperless and non-intrusive one

Designate 196 advertising

In order to switch to new organization of advertising on the Internet one has to take the following steps

1) The mailing and project components of the PC database must be installed with the provider of the information

197 providers defined and necessary options entered

2) The recipient of the information (potential customers) must

Recording component installed

Standard programs for the reception of certain information are offered to customers on the Internet. Eg a customer wants to buy a house today You can also do this using conventional search engines. But it is better to organize it as follows. Real estate sellers offer their catalogs with houses that are for sale on the Internet. Each catalog is created as a table in the PC database of the real estate seller. For this, each real estate seller must have the shipping component own the PC database (see section 3.1.2) in this table

199 may be fields for addresses of the house, its owner and owner, the administration, where the interested party can turn to. Doing so

Fields for properties of the house (number of apartments, year of construction, etc.), reference to the WWW page, where the photo of the house can be viewed, etc., can be created. The data structure of the tables at various real estate agents can

200 different

To make the search easier for customers who want to buy a house, the software 'Buy house' is offered. In a similar way, many other regional standard programs (e.g. 'Buy meat', 'Buy car', etc.) can be developed and developed be distributed through the Internet

When installing such standard software, it is checked whether the basic component of the PC database is installed. If it is not the case, the

Basic component of the PC database to be installed During installation, all necessary recording tables are created in the PC database. These tables are automatically linked to source tables by import channels into the PC database

Corresponding forms for data entry and reports for displaying the evaluations are copied from the installation program after the installation of the

The corresponding program is created in the program group for the PC database

Some monitoring functions can be built into the software that

203 customers automatically notified when a specified condition is met For example, when buying the house, the user can enter the desired price as a condition If it is from a real estate seller a house below this price is offered, the customer receives a corresponding message (e.g. when opening the PC database, starting Windows, etc. depending on the setting)

204 In this way, various regional software can be distributed on the Internet, for example, 'shopping for products' that will be of interest to every family. When installing this software, the user enters which foods or other goods he should be regularly informed about. The software creates automatically all necessary connections to the shops where these goods are kept and

205 creates corresponding recording tables in the PC database of the user. The connections are only created for shops that are in the vicinity of the user's place of residence. For example, the user enters the price filter for each product and can also enter the special monitoring filter to find the corresponding one Get message when computer or PC database starts, if the specified condition

206 is reached All this information has to be entered only once and can be changed if necessary

In the same way, other regional software such as "buy a computer", "rent an apartment", "holiday information" and others can be distributed. Such software is sold to millions of customers and this can result in very large sales figures

207 can be achieved

Experienced customers are given the opportunity to choose the stores themselves, where they will get information from, and to create corresponding collection tables in their PC database. To do this, they must have the project component installed (see Section 3.1.4). The client component can also be helpful (see section 3.1.6)

208 With this component, he can first view the information directly in the provider's PC database and then decide whether to set up the transfer channel or not. However, the server component (see section 3.1.5) must then be installed at the provider

For providers of information arise through new organization of advertising

209 following advantages

1) The provider gets a new cheap type of advertising. This means that the provider can save significantly on other types of advertising (e.g. by spreading the advertising leaflet), which also benefits the environment 2) The provider receives detailed information about customer requests that the

210 leaves the customer in the form of the SQL printout with the provider. The provider can evaluate these expressions at any time.

The customer has the following advantages:

1) The customer regularly receives advertising offers from various suppliers without worrying about them. He can do extra with particularly cheap offers

211 will be notified. By comparing the offers from different providers, the customer can shop cheaper and also save travel costs and travel time.

2) The customer practically does not have to pay for online research and spend much less time on the computer.

However for market economy it will have a positive impact as it is the competition

212 will be harder between companies and the customer will get more information about offers.

3.3. International order catalogs

Thanks to the new database system, international order catalogs can also be developed. Among them you don't just have to order catalogs like Otto, Neckermann

213 etc. understand, but also subject-related order catalogs (e.g. spare parts, raw materials, etc.), which are based on the same principle. An example of an Otto catalog is shown below.

A PC database is created on the Internet with all the goods in the Otto catalog. Since the Otto catalog has many sections "Fashion for you", "Linen", "The shoe store" etc.

214 corresponding tables can be created for each category in the Otto database at the company's headquarters. References (URL) to the WWW page are provided in each table. These references should also be available in different languages. When registering with the Otto database, the user enters the desired language and rubrics (usually all). After registration you will be at his place

215 tables and import channels are automatically created for the computer. The most important data must be displayed in tables: name, quality information, Prices, reference to the WWW site, where detailed information can be viewed in multimedia form. Every user can install the program from the Internet. Forms in the specified language are copied from their PC database

216 Catalog, filtered data is transferred from source tables to target tables. URL fields for the specified language are created in this table. In these fields, references to WWW pages are saved in the appropriate language. Commands must be built into the menu bar or toolbar, which make it easy to make and print out orders from the Otto catalog, bank transfers

217 The catalog could be updated every month, for example. The company will of course bear the telephone charges for data transmission

At the moment it is difficult to assess how quickly the virtual catalogs would replace today's excellent catalogs like Otto catalog. But what could be safely said, the virtual catalogs become more important over time

218 increase, because they were incomparably cheaper and in any case can also be seen as an effective advertising medium, which can always be presented in multimedia form. Many private individuals and companies often only want to buy certain goods and only after comparing prices with different companies User proceed as follows He reports to several competing

219 catalogs, he specifies the same user filter for each catalog and sets up appropriate tables and transfer channels for himself. Even standardized ones could

Software can be sold if it is a well-known catalog.

3 4 Virtual phone book for families and specialists

Today in Germany there are approximately 38 million practical telephone connections

220 every phone there are 2-3 phone books, which are exchanged every six months. If we assume that a package of these phone books with shipping costs costs more than 25 DM, then the German state has to spend at least DM 1,000 million annually

The expenses for telephone bookers can be drastically reduced, if due to the 221 Invention regional or local address databases must be created for private people. Special software must be available free of charge on the Internet, where the user can select the district during installation (also from the Internet). The installation program creates all the necessary tables in the user database and automatically sets up the import channels to corresponding regional address databases for private

As in the past, 222 people must use the services of this database completely free of charge. For each address, a reference to the WWW page can be given, if such is available for the respective company or private person so that the user can choose the language Users choose company or private addresses. In the displayed form there will be the possibility to

223 Sort, search and filter data in any column. For example, all telephone bookers can be updated monthly so that the user does not have to worry about them

For specialists and specialists, software can be developed that allows the connection to address databases from different countries. For each existing database

224 the user enters his conditions, which are converted into SQL printouts and stored in tables 2 5 and 2 6. In existing address databases for companies, it is recommended to use every official language of the region (e.g. European

Union) set up the appropriate WWW page for important addresses on the Internet. It is a prerequisite for further internationalization of the Internet, because it means

225 chosen subject international phone bookers and namely to design in their own language according to their wishes Electronic phone bookers especially for professionals can also be created for mobile phones

Regularly changed and new addresses (since the last data transfer) are transferred from the regional address database on the Internet. The user does not need

226 Starting the Internet software for addresses In the virtual phone book, the addresses could be sorted, searched and filtered in any way. The user does not need to worry about updating the data in the virtual phone book, since it is automatically carried out at night, for example, from the Internet becomes

In the form where the address or telephone book is displayed, the menu bar and toolbar can be built in, which enables the creation of standard letters, sending of faxes, e-mail, etc.

3 5 Structured offline search in WWW pages instead of conventional search engines

Today practically all information on the Internet is concentrated in WWW pages. Search engines are used today to find the information you want. To overcome the disadvantages of search engines (see section 1.3), a new principle of searching in WWW pages of the Internet is proposed

To do this, all customers must be registered in a special PC database. Everyone

Customer can only belong to one class ("companies", "families and private persons", "freelancers", "offices and institutions" etc.). The classes can also be arranged in directories with subdirectories such as news on the Internet

Each class in the registration database corresponds to a table with the same name. Class-specific fields are created in the class table, which can provide the most important information about customers and their WWW pages. Fields for the URL of the homepage are essential for all languages that are common in the specified customer class , be created It is also important to create general fields such as name, city, zip code, etc. for each class. For better identification of the objects in the class, you should also create the "Keywords" and "Short description" fields for all common languages in the class In this field, all frequently occurring words are automatically entered in the customer's WWW pages. The customer can then manually delete some entries or enter new ones

After creating or changing a WWW page, the corresponding server program offers the customer to register with the registration database in the offered form or to make changes if an existing WWW page has been updated.The registration of legal entities, e.g. companies, should be made chargeable, for families and private individuals, on the other hand, the registration should be free of charge. This makes the customer classes legal Protected against unwanted intruders wherever only high quality information should be available

The customer can have information entered for each of his web pages that he can at any time

233 may change later. At regular intervals, the new and changed customer data are transferred and accumulated in a higher-level registration database, which is created, for example, for the domain or TopLevel domain and institutions ") organized by the

234 subordinate registration databases that receive customer data. However, the last one is only useful for legal entities (companies, institutions, etc.)

In order to use the structured search, the participant of the Internet must log in to the regional, national or international registration database as the recipient of the data, enter the data filter (eg post code, city or keyword, etc.) and

235 Create appropriate admission tables for desired classes in the database. For each created class table, he must set up appropriate import channels. Appropriate software can also be disseminated through the Internet, which have made this process considerably easier for Internet participants

Customer data from the registration database are divided into corresponding class tables

236 of the Internet subscriber automatically and regularly transmitted Instead of carrying out the search by search engines, the user turns offline to his database, selects the appropriate class table and performs the search offline in the corresponding table in his database. He can sort the records and filter them according to any conditions let the results found can be in other

237 databases or calculation programs can be transferred.

The offline search in the recipient's registration tables will have the following advantages over online search with search engines

1) The offline search will usually only provide useful information, which will save a lot of time and money for subsequent research

238 2) The offline search will be much faster and practically without telephone charges

3) The results of the offline search can easily be transferred manually or by program to other databases and spreadsheet programs There is certainly a question of whether the customer of the WWW server will be happy to register or will make corresponding changes in his registration data record. The

239 Answer is clear If you do not register, you cannot be found by the structured search. If you make incorrect entries in the registration data, you will also get the wrong contact person. The customer, who has laboriously put his website on the Internet, can register properly waive ¹ ? Since the offline search has very clear advantages, it can be used by the complex search engines in a short time

240 practically replace their huge databases and agent programs.

By offline search you can organize proper control over the content of the WWW pages on the Internet. The moral police can set up transfer channels to the registration databases, where the data filter for moral or improper terms is entered

241 Transferring information with these terms Really or probably illegal web pages are temporarily hidden in the registration database (flag view = false), so that this web page cannot be found by offline search.

3 6 Search the PC databases on the Internet

Use in the Internet of the PC databases gives the possibility to set up a new search service in the Internet, which can carry out the search in the PC databases accessible to the public. For this purpose, a registration database must be used, where one can find the PC databases of the providers of information The provider of information selects a suitable class table in the registration database, which is arranged in trees according to the purpose. In special form 43, he gives the necessary information (name, address, etc.) as well as keywords that best represent the information offered , on It can be permitted that the provider can be entered in several class tables, but only once in each table. In order to reject the dubious providers, the registration should be subject to a fee and be dependent on the number of entries. 44 Such registration databases should be created for each provider , of which the ge nderten and new entries in a central registry of the country Interested parties can set up their own transfer channels for corresponding class tables in the central registration database in order to receive regular information about providers of

245 Information to get. As a data filter, the term you are looking for is defined in the field for keywords as an SQL expression. The information about registered PC databases is transferred to the relevant table of the prospect he can look at the data structure, online search (by client / server

246 principle) or to create virtual transfer channels to this PC database

3 7 Programming of complex IT systems

If some users have a common goal (eg employees of a company or institution) and therefore have to communicate with each other, then one speaks about EDP system. These users can through local network as well as through Internet

247 communicate In order to be able to process the structured data, every user of the EDP system must have the PC database installed in him. In such an EDP system there are always providers and recipients of information. With the providers of information, shipping and / or Server component and when receiving information recording and / or client component to be installed Everyone

248 participants of the IT system can simultaneously act as provider and recipient of

Information if the corresponding components of the PC database are installed

When configuring the IT system, the following global steps are always provided for each participant in the IT system

1) Based on the user's tasks, hierarchical user trees

249 initially recorded without container tables No fields have yet been defined

2) Container tables are created for all relationships of type m: n. If the same data has to be entered in some box tables, it makes sense to do so Create a container table from where the data is entered or received once and then transferred to corresponding box tables. Between container tables

250 and box tables, internal transfer channels are defined.

3) User fields are created for all box and container tables. It is necessary to consider files that must be stored on the Internet as immovable data. For this purpose, corresponding fields for saving the references to WWW pages must also be created.

251 4) Automatic creation of forms for displaying the table data

5) Field assignments between source and target fields are defined for all inner transfer channels.

6) For each inner transfer channel, if necessary, the transfer filter is created.

252 7) The necessary import channels must be created for each user.

8) Necessary event functions will be programmed.

Claims

Claims of the invention "Data architecture and data transfer of structured information on the Internet"

1. Structured information in the electronic data processing system is stored in table form in the database. The tables consist of columns (fields) and rows (data records), so that each row is a real ex. representing object. Each record in the table is identified with a unique master key.

The data records in different tables are in the relationships 1: 1, 1: n (n> 1), m: n (m> 1 and n> 1), so that complex virtual user systems can be created. The connection between data records is made using so-called connection keys, which are created as foreign keys. Data architecture and data transfer of structured information on the Internet are characterized as follows:

2. Structured information from objects of the same type are combined in tables. Unstructured and extensive information from these objects is separated from structured objects and outsourced to the Internet. References (addresses) to the outsourced information are entered in the corresponding fields of the structured tables.

3. Tables on the workstation are arranged in hierarchical and isolated trees and only stored in a computer database.

4. Data transfer between computers takes place from table to table through external transfer channels. A transfer filter (user filter) is defined for each transfer channel.

5. For unstructured and extensive information about the objects during data transfer, only the references to this information are transferred.

6. Transfer channel according to claim 4 connects source fields transfer fields), including always the main key of the data source as a transfer key and necessary references to unstructured and extensive data, with corresponding fields of

Target table where the transfer key is created as a foreign key.

CORRECTED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EP

7. Before the data transfer between computers, an update package consisting of transfer fields with data records is formed for each source table of the sender, with data records that have been changed with unique transfer keys identifi.zie.rt and since the last update. The data records in the update package are filtered by a transfer filter that is saved at the sender.

^ ^, ^ --- ^' ' ^ '"' * '' ^u *. ^Aa " ™ ^A ' ^{∞ »k} ^ - ⁱⁱ -' ^^ r * mi \ ff ™?"'^a'r . Destination packets addressed on the same transfer server are combined in a transmission package and thus transmitted to the transfer server.

8. Transmission packets on the transfer server are divided again into original target packets that are picked up by recipients. The data packets fetched from the recipient are divided into original update packets, which first update the data sets with the same transfer keys in intermediate tables (data containers). Data records of the update package with new transfer keys are added to the data container.

9. New and changed data from the data container are filtered through internal transfer channels using the user filter and transferred to the box tables of the user database. Box table records are updated with data from the update package using the same transfer keys. Data records from the update package with new transfer keys are initially added to the box table as a passive data attachment.

10. Inclusion of information in the Bojrtabelle and activation of the p-issive data attachment is carried out by a relation filter, which does not allow the number of data records with the same transfer key to exceed the value m and with the same connection key to exceed the value n in the box table.

CORRECTED SHEET (RULE 91) ISA / EP