Database Management System (DBMS): An Overview and Patentability Analysis | Blog Posts

Introduction

A database refers to a large container where data is stored in a structured format. We cannot store semi-structured or unstructured data in the database.

Let us consider a real-world example to understand this in a better way. Suppose we are planning to build an online shopping application that needs to keep track of information like user/customer credentials, user/customer address, customer payment data, product details, stock details, etc. All this information pertains to each customer and product. To store this information, we need some storage, which is the database.

Illustration of a database — An illustration of a database

Database Management System (DBMS) is a software tool for managing these databases. It means how we can manage our database efficiently to get data from the database or store data in the database. In other words, DBMS is a computerized solution that helps store information in a way that is easy to read, edit, delete, and scale. Various actions on such a system can be performed to manipulate and manage the database.

Features of Database — **Features of DBMS**

DBMS offers many features, such as data storage, retrieval, security, integrity, and management.

Why DBMS?

Before the development of databases, data was stored in a file (.csv file) using comma-separated values. This way of storing data is a good idea when the amount of data is small. But for large amounts of data, searching data from files and storing (updating) data in files is a major task. DBMS came into existence to solve this problem with traditional file systems. DBMS is the software responsible for efficiently accessing and storing data from a database. Wherever the user needs to access the data from the database, it needs to request data from the DBMS software, and in response, DBMS software returns the data. DBMS is the manager of the data.

Here, the user can be a human, or it can be software also.

Examples of DBMS- Popularly used DBMS in various applications are Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft Access, SQL Server, File Maker, RDBMS, Clipper, and FoxPro.

Components of DBMS

Five key components of DBMS.

Hardware: Refers to the physical computer system used to access the database.
Software: Here, software refers to DBMS. It helps connect the physical database to the end users. Whenever a user wants to access the database, access has to be granted by the software.
Procedures: These refer to all the instructions to access the DBMS.
Data: The information that DBMS manages.
Database Access Language: It refers to a language that is used to write commands to access, manipulate, manage, update, and delete data on a DBMS.

Type of DBMS

1) Relational

Relational databases are the most popular type of DBMS. They store data in tables with rows and columns, making them easy to query and update. They’re often used for storing financial data, customer information, and other types of business data.

2) Hierarchical

Hierarchical databases are based on a parent-child relationship between data records. They’re typically used when data is structured and doesn’t often change, such as in EHR systems.

3) Object DBMS

Object-oriented databases are like relational ones, but they allow you to store data in objects rather than tables and columns.

4) Network Databases

Network databases are like hierarchical ones but have a more flexible structure allowing multiple paths between records. This makes them well-suited for applications where data is constantly changing, such as inventory management.

**Difference**
**Between File System and DBMS**

Advantages of using a DBMS

Data Integrity: Data integrity is preserved in DBMS. Multiple users can access all information in a database, but only one can edit the same data simultaneously. This feature allows you to avoid database corruption and failure and ensures that the Integrity of data is maintained.
Data Consistency: Each user sees a consistent view of the data. Consistency is preserved in DBMS. The data is the same regardless of who is observing it.
Data Backups: it’s easy to back up data from one place.
Data Security: DBMS support data encryption, access control mechanism, and user authentication and authorization, thus contributing to data security. This helps protect sensitive data and information from being breached, accessed, or modified by unauthorized means.
Data Accessibility: DBMS allows multiple users to access information remotely at any time and from any place.
Less Data Redundancy or Data Duplication: DBMS ensures that data is not duplicated, i.e., data appears only once to avoid data redundancy. This is achieved using a technique called data normalization.
No Dependency on Any Programming Language: One does not have to know any specific programming language to access a Database Management System. Writing SQL or NoSQL queries would be sufficient irrespective of what programming language is used in the application.
Data Durability: The Database Management System permanently stores all data files, so there is no risk of data loss. If the data is lost, the organization’s files can be saved using a backup and recovery procedure. As a result, there is no need to be concerned about data loss in Database Management Systems

Are all features of database management systems patentable?

EPO Guidelines Review:

EPO revised its guidelines on March 01, 2021.
Revised guidelines include a new section on how to patent DBMSs. Specifically, the EPO is striving to help patent applicants and their attorneys how to draft patents on DBMSs that lead to the grant of patents.
As per the EPO guidelines, DBMSs are considered "technical systems implemented on computers to perform the technical tasks of storing and retrieving data using various data structures for the efficient management of data.”
The Guidelines consider that the methods performed in a DBMS use technical means (computers) and are, therefore, potentially patentable under the provisions of Art. 52(2) and Art. 52(3).
However, this clarification does not guarantee that all features of a DBMS are necessarily patentable. Furthermore, the EPO guidelines state that not all features implemented in a DBMS constitute a technical contribution by their implementation alone. For instance, the DBMS features accounting for costs related to the use of the system by different users can't be considered a technical contribution.
The patentability of features is decided based on technical considerations, novelty, and inventive steps over the prior art. These new features should be clearly explained in the patent description and included in the claims.
For instance, features stating the internal operation of DBMS are typically based on technical matters. If these features are clearly explained in the patent description and included in the claims, they are considered for evaluating the inventive step.
Let us consider another example related to optimizing the structure of queries regarding computer resources (such as CPU, main memory, and hard disk). If the optimization improves performance, it will contribute to the technical implementation of the DBMS and thus be patentable, assuming that this optimization method is clearly explained in the patent description and included in the claims.
According to the EPO guidelines, a new data structure used in a DBMS, such as an index, hash table, or query tree, can be considered technical.

The US Patentability Criteria Review:

Generally, the software may be patentable if

The invention does not refer to an abstract idea (viz., algorithms, computation methods, law of nature, or general scientific principle)
If the invention refers to an abstract idea but includes something additional to the abstract idea that constitutes an "inventive concept.” Similarly, a simple database is not patentable because there is nothing new about the database. However, if the software provides a new way of manipulating data that is useful to users, that new idea may be patentable.

Inconsistency in Patentability Criteria

The above test has been criticized for giving inconsistent results. Because of this inconsistency, there are few clear rules about whether the software is patentable. Some general guidelines can help in obtaining an enforceable software patent. The inventions that improve software functionality are most likely to be patented. Avoid claims that implement well-known methodologies using computers. Software to automate tasks would generally be unpatentable due to the need for an inventive concept. The patent should discuss problems with the existing technology and how your software improves on these existing problems. Then, patent claims must claim a specific process or method of improvement. Claims that are usually directed toward correcting existing issues are more likely to be unpatentable. Similarly, claims that claim the result of an improvement (for example, software that improves search functionality) rather than claiming how the software enhances functionality may be considered unpatentable.

Conclusion

Database Management System is an essential part of data storage and management. It has a lot of real-world applications. Every digital gadget storing any information has a database running somewhere behind. In the ongoing evolution of technology, data is everything but is scattered. So, to manage the data, we need a database management system that helps address this problem. And large tech giants like Google, Amazon, etc., are extensively using DBMS to organize their data.

Disclaimer: This report is based on information that is publicly available and is considered to be reliable. However, Lumenci cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or reliability of this data.

Editorial Team at Lumenci

Through Lumenci blogs and reports, we share important highlights from the latest technological advancements and provide an in-depth understanding of their Intellectual Property (IP). Our goal is to showcase the significance of IP in the ever-evolving world of technology.