초록 ▼

Techniques are provided for accessing data stored in a database. According to one technique, a request is received from an application for a stored file that is currently stored in a database. The stored file is associated with a first file type. One or more database commands are issued to retrieve

Techniques are provided for accessing data stored in a database. According to one technique, a request is received from an application for a stored file that is currently stored in a database. The stored file is associated with a first file type. One or more database commands are issued to retrieve data associated with the stored file from the database. A renderer is selected from a plurality of renderers based on a first set of selection criteria. The renderer is used to generate an outbound file from the data. The outbound file corresponds to a second file type. The outbound file is provided to the application.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for accessing data stored in a database, the method comprising: receiving a request, from an application to an operating system, for a stored file that is currently stored in a database, said stored file being associated with a first file type, in response to receivi

What is claimed is: 1. A method for accessing data stored in a database, the method comprising: receiving a request, from an application to an operating system, for a stored file that is currently stored in a database, said stored file being associated with a first file type, in response to receiving the request for the stored file that is currently stored in the database, the operating system issuing a command to a translation engine; in response to receiving the command from the operating system, the translation engine issuing one or more database commands to retrieve data associated with said stored file from said database; selecting a renderer from a plurality of renderers based on a first set of selection criteria; using said renderer to generate an outbound file from said data, wherein said outbound file corresponds to a second file type, wherein said first file type is different than said second file type; and providing said outbound file to said application. 2. The method of claim 1 further wherein: the method further includes the step of determining that the application supports a plurality of file types; and said renderer selects said second file type from said plurality of file types based on a second set of selection criteria. 3. The method of claim 2 wherein: the method further includes the step of determining values of one or more attributes of said stored file; and said second set of selection criteria includes a selection criterion that is based on the values of said one or more attributes. 4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of determining that the application supports a plurality of file types includes the steps of: determining an identity of said application; and reading data from said database that indicates capabilities of said application. 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first set of selection criteria includes a selection criterion that is based on the file type of said stored file. 6. The method of claim 1 wherein: the step of generating said outbound file includes combining into a single file values from a plurality of columns of one or more tables in said database. 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising performing the following steps before receiving said request: receiving an original file of said first data type; parsing said original file to generate one or more metadata values for said original file; storing said original file in said database as said stored file; and storing said one or more metadata values in said database in a manner that associates said one or more metadata values with said stored file. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein: the step of receiving said original file is performed by receiving data transmitted according to a first protocol; the step of providing said outbound file to said application is performed by transmitting data according to a second protocol; said first protocol being different from said second protocol. 9. The method of claim 8 wherein: the first protocol is an I/O protocol supported by a first operating system; and the second protocol is an I/O protocol supported by a second operating system. 10. The method of claim 8 wherein at least one of said first protocol and said second protocol belongs to a set of protocols that consists of HTTP, FTP, IMAP4 and POP3. 11. A computer-readable medium bearing instructions for accessing data stored in a database, the computer-readable medium comprising instructions for performing: receiving a request, from an application to an operating system, for a stored file that is currently stored in a database, said stored file being associated with a first file type; in response to receiving the request for the stored file that is currently stored in the database, the operating system issuing a command to a translation engine; in response to receiving the command from the operating system, the translation engine issuing one or more database commands to retrieve data associated with said stored file from said database; selecting a renderer from a plurality of renderers based on a first set of selection criteria; using said renderer to generate an outbound file from said data, wherein said outbound file corresponds to a second file type, wherein said first file type is different than said second file type; and providing said outbound file to said application. 12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 further wherein: the computer-readable medium further includes instructions for performing the step of determining that the application supports a plurality of file types; and said renderer selects said second file type from said plurality of file types based on a second set of selection criteria. 13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein: the computer-readable medium further includes instructions for performing the step of determining values of one or more attributes of said stored file; and said second set of selection criteria includes a selection criterion that is based on the values of said one or more attributes. 14. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the step of determining that the application supports a plurality of file types includes the steps of: determining an identity of said application; and reading data from said database that indicates capabilities of said application. 15. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein the first set of selection criteria includes a selection criterion that is based on the file type of said stored file. 16. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 wherein: the step of generating said outbound file includes combining into a single file values from a plurality of columns of one or more tables in said database. 17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 further comprising instructions for performing the following steps before receiving said request: receiving an original file of said first data type; parsing said original file to generate one or more metadata values for said original file; storing said original file in said database as said stored file; and storing said one or more metadata values in said database in a manner that associates said one or more metadata values with said stored file. 18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein: the step of receiving said original file is performed by receiving data transmitted according to a first protocol; the step of providing said outbound file to said application is performed by transmitting data according to a second protocol; said first protocol being different from said second protocol. 19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein: the first protocol is an I/O protocol supported by a first operating system; and the second protocol is an I/O protocol supported by a second operating system. 20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein at least one of said first protocol and said second protocol belongs to a set of protocols that consists of HTTP, FTP, IMAP4 and POP3.