초록 ▼

A system and method are provided for determining a relationship between first and second data elements by using a relationship element. The first and second data elements are each protected elements being bound to first and second indices for providing referential integrity. The relationship is dete

A system and method are provided for determining a relationship between first and second data elements by using a relationship element. The first and second data elements are each protected elements being bound to first and second indices for providing referential integrity. The relationship is determined by reading the relationship element in response to a request and the second element is identified based on information read from the relationship element. The relationship element is in a different data collection than at least one of the first and second elements. This structure provides a robust and flexible means to create and maintain relationships between existing documents stored in various electronic libraries, while minimizing changes to exiting system software and requiring no change to application software. The invention also is directed to relating a data element in a protected resource with meta-data in a relationship resource, where the protected resource and relationship resource are arranged in a distributed manner.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of associating a first element, a second element and meta-data related to the first element, wherein the first element is a protected element and is within a first protected resource, the second element is a protected element and the meta-data is within a relatio

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method of associating a first element, a second element and meta-data related to the first element, wherein the first element is a protected element and is within a first protected resource, the second element is a protected element and the meta-data is within a relationship resource, the first and second elements being bound to first and second index elements, respectively, the method comprising:identifying the relationship resource in response to a request for the meta-data related to the first element;sending a message to the relationship resource for return of the meta-data;locating the meta-data in response to the message; andsending the located meta-data to the first protected resource, wherein the first protected resource and the relationship resource are in a distributed arrangement, and the relationship resource indicates a relationship between the first element, the second element, and the meta-data, wherein a requestor sends to the first protected resource the request for the meta-data related to the first element, and the meta-data is returned to the requestor only if the requestor is authorized to access the first element.