WO2001086504A2 - Browser oriented method to view contents of a plurality of databases - Google Patents
Browser oriented method to view contents of a plurality of databases Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001086504A2 WO2001086504A2 PCT/US2001/014581 US0114581W WO0186504A2 WO 2001086504 A2 WO2001086504 A2 WO 2001086504A2 US 0114581 W US0114581 W US 0114581W WO 0186504 A2 WO0186504 A2 WO 0186504A2
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- WIPO (PCT)
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- database
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/20—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of structured data, e.g. relational data
- G06F16/22—Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
- G06F16/2282—Tablespace storage structures; Management thereof
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/20—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of structured data, e.g. relational data
- G06F16/24—Querying
- G06F16/242—Query formulation
- G06F16/2433—Query languages
- G06F16/2445—Data retrieval commands; View definitions
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/20—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor of structured data, e.g. relational data
- G06F16/22—Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
- G06F16/221—Column-oriented storage; Management thereof
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F16/00—Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor
- G06F16/90—Details of database functions independent of the retrieved data types
- G06F16/95—Retrieval from the web
- G06F16/957—Browsing optimisation, e.g. caching or content distillation
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to the field of software applications.
- a database frequently takes the form of a collection of files for storing related in-formation.
- a relational database is a database in which a collection of tables contains database records where each record within a single table is comprised of a set of fields common to all records in that table.
- the data can be accessed along complex dimensions using the standard query language (SQL).
- SQL standard query language
- each database has a data structure.
- a data structure is defined as a physical or logical relationship among data elements, designed to support specific data manipulation functions. Some data structures are in a browseable format. Thus, the contents or data contained in the structure is browseable. Browsing the contents or data of most databases on a table by table basis is not an easy task, due to the large number of records contained in the tables.
- a database user may wish to cross- reference one data record in one relational database with another record in another database. To do this the user would have to browse through the records of each database one at a time. Such method is cumbersome and time consuming. Alternatively, the user may develop a special program to input all these records that are stored in various databases and combine them into one database.
- a machine-executed method and apparatus are provided to display relationships between records in a database in a browseable format.
- Each database comprises a plurality of tables.
- Each table contains one or more fields and one or more records.
- the method includes several steps. The first step consists of selecting a record, followed by displaying a field value of the selected record on a display, such as a computer screen.
- Each possible relationship defines a pathway to or from the selected record from or to a list of one or more other records. That is, each pathway associates one record in a table with one or more records in another table through the use of keyed field relationships (i.e., primary keys, foreign keys, composite keys, secondary keys, etc.; the foregoing types of keys are well known in the database arts.)
- keyed field relationships i.e., primary keys, foreign keys, composite keys, secondary keys, etc.; the foregoing types of keys are well known in the database arts.
- the next step is to receive an electronic input signal from the user, designating one of the possible relationships as a selected relationship.
- the input signal may be received by highlighting the selected relationship with a mouse and clicking or double- clicking on it.
- the related-records list At least a portion of a list of records that are related to the selected record through the selected relationship, referred to as the "related-records list,” is added to what is already displayed on the screen.
- a list of possible relationships between the related- records list and other records in the database is also added to the display, where each possible relationship defines a pathway from the related-records list to a list of other records.
- the user If the user wishes to view a list of records that are related to a record in the related-records list and a list of possible relationships between that record and other records in the database, the user will send another input signal designating the record in the related-records list as the new selected record.
- a machine-executed method and apparatus for displaying relationships between records of one or more relational databases in a browseable format.
- Each database may have its own arbitrary structure.
- One database might be a Microsoft Access database.
- Another database might be an Oracle database.
- Each database comprises a plurality of tables. Each table contains one or more fields and each field contains one or more records. Each table and each field has a name.
- the method of the second aspect of the invention includes several steps. The first step is determining the respective structures of the plurality of relational databases, e.g., Oracle, Sybase, Microsoft Access, etc.
- the next step is integrating the respective structures of the plurality of relational databases into a front-end integrated data structure.
- This step is comprised of (a) removing the conflicting names of tables and fields in the front-end integrated data structure, and (b) performing a join operation to establish a "link" between selected fields in at least two respective tables each in a separate respective database.
- a name is selected, followed by displaying a cross-reference list of uses of the selected name in the plurality of relational databases.
- the selected name is then edited with another name more suitable to the user, referred to as an "alias.”
- the "alias" name is displayed in lieu of the selected name. No changes are made to the physical database.
- a "link" is formed between the selected fields when the selected fields are joined in a "virtual" table.
- the database tables contain a common field.
- a selected field in one database table is designated as a "primary key,” while the corresponding selected field in the other joined database table is designated as a "foreign key.”
- Each possible relationship defines a pathway from the selected record to a list of other records. That is, each pathway associates one record in a table with one or more records in another table through the use of keyed field relationships (i.e., primary keys, foreign keys, composite keys, secondary keys, etc.; the foregoing types of keys are well known in the database arts.)
- keyed field relationships i.e., primary keys, foreign keys, composite keys, secondary keys, etc.; the foregoing types of keys are well known in the database arts.
- an electronic input signal is received from the user, designating one of the possible relationships as the selected relationship.
- the input signal may be received by highlighting the selected relationship and clicking or double-clicking on it.
- the related-records list At least a portion of a list of records that are related to the selected record through the selected relationship, referred to as the "related-records list,” is added to what is already displayed on the screen.
- the related-records hst a list of possible relationships between the related- records list and other records in the database is also added to the display, where each possible relationship defines a pathway from the related-records list to a list of other records.
- the user will send another input signal designating the record in the related-records list as the new selected record.
- the present invention has many advantages, among them is the ability to view the data structures of one or more relational databases in a browseable format. In addition to browsing the data structure, the present invention provides the ability to view the database contents, i.e., the records. The present invention provides flexibility to the database user to choose any record as the starting point. From that record, the user may view other records related to it.
- This feature of the invention makes it easy to cross-reference one record in one table in a relational database with another record in a second table, possibly in another relational database.
- Another significant advantage of the present invention is the flexibility to rename the fields and tables of the various relational databases with other names more suitable to the user.
- Fig. 1 schematically depicts a hypothetical plurality of relational databases and a structural breakdown of one of the databases.
- Fig. 2 illustrates a display of a root directory and a corresponding list of table names in a browsing window.
- Fig. 3 illustrates a display which outlines a user removing conflicts among names.
- Fig. 4 illustrates a display in which a new subdirectory is created.
- Fig. 5 illustrates a display in which a table is dragged and dropped into a subdirectory.
- Fig. 6 illustrates a display in which a "virtual table" is created by using a link between fields.
- Fig. 7 illustrates a display of hierarchical containment tree of folders of a table.
- Fig. 8 illustrates a display of information contained in an intrinsic field.
- Fig. 9 illustrates a display of information contained in an associative field.
- Fig. 10 illustrates a display of the process of selecting a record as a starting point.
- Fig. 11 illustrates a display of the process of obtaining records associated to the starting point record.
- Figure 1 shows a plurality of relational databases and their typical structural breakdown.
- Each database is broken down to m number of tables, as shown by Table; of DBi up to Table m of DB
- Each table is further broken down to a set of fields.
- Each field can be organized as Fieldi, Field 2 , up to Field t .
- Each field contains one or more records, e.g., Record ⁇ , Record ⁇ , and Record lt , where each record consists of the same set of fields (whether or not any particular field in a given record actually contains non- null data).
- One aspect of the present invention is the collection and display of structure information from several arbitrary relational databases organized according to different file format specifications.
- one database might be a Microsoft Access database 110
- another database might be an Oracle database 120
- still another might be a Sybase database 130.
- the structure information may be displayed in a browseable representation. Once the structure information has been collected and displayed, it can be manipulated in virtually any desired way, as well known to those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
- One approach to implementing this aspect of the invention is to establish a file that contains configuration information describing the databases it represents. Such a file can be named by its user, in the same fashion that word processing documents are saved. The file may also be updated, edited, and re-saved.
- a first step of building this browseable structure for one or more relational databases is to describe each database to be viewed to the program, thereby determining the structure of the databases.
- the program user may enter information describing the database name, such as, its EP address (or server name) and access methodology (e.g., JDBC, SQL, IP Sockets, etc.).
- This information may be entered using a data-entry routine in a suitably designed computer program (e.g., a dialog box with fill-in-tlie-blank fields, drop-down menus, check boxes, radio buttons, and the like), and saved in the file.
- the information may be entered manually by directly editing the appropriate file or files, e.g., with a text editor.
- the information may be entered by designating the particular databases from the list or table, e.g., with point-and-click or drag-and-drop techniques.
- the saved information may be used whenever database access is required.
- the program accesses the data dictionary of each database and extracts table structures, field names, data types, definitions, and all other structural information. (Alternatively, such information can be provided as described in the previous paragraph.)
- This information may be displayed to the user in a browsing window 200, as illustrated in Figure 2.
- the program Prior to any editing by the user, the program displays the extracted database as a list of table names in a root directory.
- Figure 2 illustrates a list of table names 210 in a root directory 220.
- the table names correspond to a special kind of subcategory.
- each field name corresponds to a leaf on an inverted tree. Initially, the tree is likely to be flat and may be rather burdensome to manipulate; however, as further structure is added, navigation through the tree becomes more intuitive and rapid.
- Figure 3 one of the problems with integrating a data structure from an arbitrary set of relational databases is that some databases may use the same table names or field names for different record-content definitions and some may use different names in different databases for the same or similar content definitions.
- Figure 3 illustrates a display in which a user may remove conflicts among names.
- the user sends an electronic signal by selecting a name, e.g., selecting table name My_Name_C by clicking or slow-double- clicking on it, and editing or replacing the name with a name more suitable to the user.
- Such edited or replacement names are called "aliases" and do not affect the original database, but can be used by the user to reference the table name or field name for which it is an alias.
- the user may create new subdirectories by selecting the directory in which the new subdirectory is to be established, then selecting "New” from the "File” menu 400.
- the program then presents the user with a choice of several new things that can be created: “Folder” will be one choice.
- the program creates a new subdirectory called "New_Dir_l,” (or “New_Dir_2,” if "New_Dir_l” already exists, and so on), within the selected directory.
- the new subdirectory is initially empty.
- the user may select the new subdirectory, e.g., by performing a slow-double-click on "New_Dir_l,” and enter a more appropriate name.
- the user may then select one or more tables or directories and drag-and-drop them into the newly formed subdirectory.
- table My_Name_C was selected and dragged-and-dropped into the subdirectory My Name XYZ.
- the newly created subdirectory has the same structure as the selected tables.
- a new browseable integrated data structure can be developed to act as a front-end to the table structures contained in the databases.
- This front-end allows the users to manipulate data from a common interface.
- the selected front-end interface can resemble a conventional browser of the kind widely used in browsing file systems (see, e.g., Windows Explorer).
- the data can be provided to a conventional Web server and "served up" to one or more Web browsers as well known to those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure.
- links are created, as shown in Figure 6, by selecting a field name and dragging-and-dropping the selected field name into an empty directory, creating a "virtual" table.
- the field name My_Field_Name_2 is dragged- and-dropped into the empty directory New Dir l.
- any empty directory may be designated as a "virtual” table.
- the field names are assigned to a "virtual" table.
- the database tables When two or more database tables are joined to create a "virtual" table, by definition, the database tables contain a common field.
- the field in one of the database tables is designated as a "primary key,” while the corresponding field in the other joined database table is designated as a “foreign key.”
- primary keys and foreign keys are well known in the database arts.
- field names from different databases may be associated in a "virtual" table so long as there is sufficient structural information to perform the "join.”
- each category displays a particular set of information. Also, each category is displayed as a folder within a hierarchical containment tree of folders. That is, each folder contains the categories below it within the hierarchy. For example, if a directory-name is selected, the contents of the directory, in the form of subdirectory names and table names, will appear together with other selected information. On the other hand, if a table name is selected, the contents of the table, in the form of field names will appear together with other selected information.
- Figure 7 shows that the field names Field_Name_l to Field_Name_4 are displayed on the browsing window 200 when the table name My_Name_C is selected.
- Field descriptor information which consists of a cross reference information and other related documentation, will appear.
- My_Field_Name_2 in Figure 8 is an example of an intrinsic field.
- An intrinsic field contains information that pertains to a descriptor of the record of which it is a part and does not point to any other database record. In one embodiment, a conflict in the field definitions is displayed on the screen.
- Intrinsic Field Detail lists that information.
- the field names will appear in both the database name and their alias name, if an alias has been entered or provided.
- Associative fields contain information that pertains to a relationship between a record in a table and a record or set of records in another table.
- An example of an associative field is a foreign key.
- Figure 9 shows an example of information contained in an associative field, e.g., My_Field_Name_l.
- the database and table names where the field name appears may also be displayed.
- Another important aspect of the present invention is the ability to allow users to browse not just the data structure of the plurality of arbitrary relational databases but also the contents, i.e., the records, of each database. It is believed that browsing the contents of most databases on a table by table basis has been thought to be difficult, if not impossible, primarily due to the large number of records contained in each table.
- the ability to browse through records of various databases is primarily based on the insight that if one begins with an individual record in the database and browses through the related records, the number of records displayed in any single column on the browser will remain within reasonable display limits.
- This browsing capability is based on the foreign key structure of the database.
- the foreign keys describe associations in the database and allow the database users to associate one record in a table with one or more records in another table.
- the browsing starts from a single record in a table and steps through a foreign key association to a set of related records in another table, which could be located in the same database or a different database.
- the user may browse through another set of records by selecting another record from this set of related records and steps through another foreign key association, which will lead him to another set of related records.
- the user can choose any record as his starting point for browsing from the integrated data structure. He may choose his starting point by first selecting a database name if he desires to view records from more than one database.
- Figure 10 illustrates a display which shows the starting point record 1010, i.e., CDRP-3X1DCS, the table name 1020, i.e., Element_Name, in the column header, and the primary key value 1030, i.e., CDRP-3X1DCS, in a column under the Entities section 1040 of the browser.
- the Associations section 1050 which is directly above the Entities section 1040, contains some or all relationships or associations 1060 (e.g., Locations, DS1 Physical Ports, DS3 Physical Ports, and Components) between the starting point record 1010 and other records in the databases.
- the program when the user selects one of the displayed associations 1060 to specify the browsing direction for navigation, the program displays the list of related records 1110 that are associated with the starting point record 1010 by means of the specific browsing direction. For example, when the user, as illustrated in Figure 11, selected DS3 Physical Ports as the browsing direction, the list of related records CDRP-3X1DCS-472 to CDRP-3X1DCS- 481 is displayed. If the user desires to view other records that are associated to a record from this list of related records 1110, he simply repeats the previous steps by first selecting that record as the new starting point record.
- the user may also specify the column in which the related records are to be displayed. Yet, in another embodiment, the user may refer back to any previously displayed information by using the slider 1120 at the bottom of the screen. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure that any of the foregoing variations may be implemented by programming one or more suitable general-purpose computers having appropriate hardware. The programming may be accomplished through the use of a program storage device readable by the computer and encoding a program of instructions executable by the computer for performing the operations described above.
- the program storage device may take the form of, e.g., one or more floppy disks; a CD ROM or other optical disk; a magnetic tape; a read-only memory chip (ROM); and other forms of the kind well-known in the art or subsequently developed.
- the program of instructions may be "object code,” i.e., in binary form that is executable more-or-less directly by the computer; in "source code” that requires compilation or interpretation before execution; or in some intermediate form such as partially compiled code.
- object code i.e., in binary form that is executable more-or-less directly by the computer
- source code that requires compilation or interpretation before execution
- some intermediate form such as partially compiled code.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP01935091A EP1407382A2 (en) | 2000-05-05 | 2001-05-04 | Browser oriented method to view contents of a plurality of databases |
AU2001261215A AU2001261215A1 (en) | 2000-05-05 | 2001-05-04 | Browser oriented method to view contents of a plurality of databases |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US56585700A | 2000-05-05 | 2000-05-05 | |
US09/565,857 | 2000-05-05 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2001086504A2 true WO2001086504A2 (en) | 2001-11-15 |
WO2001086504A3 WO2001086504A3 (en) | 2004-01-08 |
Family
ID=24260397
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2001/014581 WO2001086504A2 (en) | 2000-05-05 | 2001-05-04 | Browser oriented method to view contents of a plurality of databases |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1407382A2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2001318816A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2001261215A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001086504A2 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN105893488A (en) * | 2016-03-29 | 2016-08-24 | 国云科技股份有限公司 | Method for quickly, conveniently and flexibly making data statistics report forms |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5737591A (en) * | 1996-05-23 | 1998-04-07 | Microsoft Corporation | Database view generation system |
US5895465A (en) * | 1997-09-09 | 1999-04-20 | Netscape Communications Corp. | Heuristic co-identification of objects across heterogeneous information sources |
US6023694A (en) * | 1996-01-02 | 2000-02-08 | Timeline, Inc. | Data retrieval method and apparatus with multiple source capability |
US6038566A (en) * | 1996-12-04 | 2000-03-14 | Tsai; Daniel E. | Method and apparatus for navigation of relational databases on distributed networks |
-
2000
- 2000-10-13 JP JP2000314380A patent/JP2001318816A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2001
- 2001-05-04 EP EP01935091A patent/EP1407382A2/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-05-04 AU AU2001261215A patent/AU2001261215A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-05-04 WO PCT/US2001/014581 patent/WO2001086504A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6023694A (en) * | 1996-01-02 | 2000-02-08 | Timeline, Inc. | Data retrieval method and apparatus with multiple source capability |
US5737591A (en) * | 1996-05-23 | 1998-04-07 | Microsoft Corporation | Database view generation system |
US6038566A (en) * | 1996-12-04 | 2000-03-14 | Tsai; Daniel E. | Method and apparatus for navigation of relational databases on distributed networks |
US5895465A (en) * | 1997-09-09 | 1999-04-20 | Netscape Communications Corp. | Heuristic co-identification of objects across heterogeneous information sources |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN105893488A (en) * | 2016-03-29 | 2016-08-24 | 国云科技股份有限公司 | Method for quickly, conveniently and flexibly making data statistics report forms |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1407382A2 (en) | 2004-04-14 |
WO2001086504A3 (en) | 2004-01-08 |
JP2001318816A (en) | 2001-11-16 |
AU2001261215A1 (en) | 2001-11-20 |
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