US Patent 7577681 Methods and apparatus for managing contents of a database

Techniques herein involve anticipating the application of a command to modify objects having associated object data stored in a relational database. Prior to receipt of an object modification command that causes a modification to a respective object and/or an object hierarchy, a computer process generates a set of operational instructions to carry out the object modification command. Generally, the computer process analyzes a structure for storing object data in a relational database to identify information in the relational database that will be impacted as a result of executing a corresponding object modification command. Based on analysis of the structure, the computer process generates the set of operational instructions. The execution of the set of operational instructions to carry out the command causes the respective object and/or object hierarchy to be modified as well as causes a corresponding modification to contents of a relational database storing respective object data.