An object-relational database can be a relational database system that is programmed, extended, or customized to store, query, and retrieve data objects. In an object-relational database, objects, classes, and relationships between objects or between classes can be represented in database schemas that define tables and relationships between tables. Compared to a conventional relational database where relationship between data is usually flat, relationship between objects in an object-relational database can be hierarchical. Accordingly, when handling deletion of an object, an object-relational database can encounter situations where the object to be deleted has one or more children objects. Conventionally, an object-relational database system can use explicit recursive delete or reference counting to handle deletions to ensure that when an object is deleted, descendants of the object are also deleted.
USPTO Backgrounds
USPTO Backgrounds