Method and device for marking and filtering data elements in a database

• US 20030065673A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Schoenheit, Frank, Grobler, Dirk, Janssen, Ocke
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24 Querying
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/902 using more than one table in sequence, i.e. systems with three or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

A new interface and methods allow a new versatility both in both managing a database, and in presenting hierarchical database information in a more useful way. User marks are used to determine the visibility of the elements at the various hierarchical levels in a hierarchical directory structure of a database. Hence, the user marks are user hierarchical visibility marks. The user hierarchical visibility marks are automatically propagated to other elements in the structure according to a filter selected by the user, for example.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving user hierarchical visibility marks for elements in a database hierarchical structure; and

propagating automatically hierarchical visibility marks to other elements in said database hierarchical structure using said user hierarchical visibility marks for said elements so that said other elements have propagated hierarchical visibility marks.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

filtering elements in said database hierarchical structure to hide any element not having either a user hierarchical visibility mark or a propagated hierarchical visibility mark.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving and propagating are performed on a server system.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said filtering is performed on a server system.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said filtering is performed on a client system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said propagating automatically hierarchical visibility marks comprises:

propagating automatically hierarchical visibility marks to child elements contained in a container element having a user hierarchical visibility mark.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said child elements are in a lowest hierarchical level of said database hierarchical structure.

8. The method claim 6 wherein said propagating automatically hierarchical visibility marks further comprises:

propagating automatically a hierarchical visibility mark to a parent element of said container element.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said propagating automatically hierarchical visibility marks comprises:

propagating automatically a hierarchical visibility mark to a parent element of an element having a user hierarchical visibility mark.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating a user-marking indicator for a container element having at least one child element having a user hierarchical visibility mark.

11. A method for marking data elements in a database management system, said method comprising:

receiving a request for transmission of database data;

retrieving said requested data;

transferring said requested data for display;

receiving user hierarchical visibility marks for said requested data; and

storing said user hierarchical visibility marks.

12. A method for selecting data in a database, said method comprising:

retrieving database data;

retrieving stored user hierarchical visibility marks for said database data; and

filtering said database data using said user hierarchical visibility marks to select certain data out of said database data.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

transferring said selected data for display.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

displaying said selected data.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving a request for transmission of said database data.

16. A method for selecting data in a database, said method comprising:

receiving a request for transmission of database data;

retrieving said database data;

retrieving stored user hierarchical visibility marks for said database data;

filtering said database data using said user hierarchical visibility marks to select certain data out of said database data; and

transferring said selected data for display.

17. A method for selecting data in a database, said method comprising:

retrieving database data; and

retrieving stored user hierarchical visibility marks for said database data.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

transferring said database data and said user hierarchical visibility marks for display.

19. A method for selecting data in a database, said method comprising:

receiving a request for transmission of database data;

retrieving said database data;

retrieving stored user hierarchical visibility marks for said database data; and

transferring said database data and said user hierarchical visibility marks for display.

20. A database filter comprising:

a propagate markings module; and

a filter visible elements module coupled to said propagate marking module.

21. A computer-based graphic user interface comprising:

a database hierarchical directory structure comprising;

a container having a mechanism for marking said container with a user hierarchical visibility mark; and

at least one child element of said container, said child element having a mechanism for marking said child element with a user hierarchical visibility mark.

22. A computer-program product comprising a medium configured to store or transport computer readable code for a method comprising:

receiving user hierarchical visibility marks for elements in a database hierarchical structure; and

propagating automatically hierarchical visibility marks to other elements in said database hierarchical structure using said user hierarchical visibility marks for said elements so that said other elements have propagated hierarchical visibility marks.

23. A computer system comprising:

means for receiving user hierarchical visibility marks for elements in a database hierarchical structure; and

means for propagating automatically hierarchical visibility marks to other elements in said database hierarchical structure using said user hierarchical visibility marks for said elements so that said other elements have propagated hierarchical visibility marks.

24. The computer system of claim 23 further comprising:

means for filtering elements in said database hierarchical structure to hide any element not having either a user hierarchical visibility mark or a propagated hierarchical visibility mark.

25. A computer system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to said processor having stored therein executable instructions wherein execution of said executable instructions on said processor generates a method comprising;

receiving user hierarchical visibility marks for elements in a database hierarchical structure; and

propagating automatically hierarchical visibility marks to other elements in said database hierarchical structure using said user hierarchical visibility marks for said elements so that said other elements have propagated hierarchical visibility marks.

26. The computer system of claim 25 wherein said method further comprises:

filtering elements in said database hierarchical structure to hide any element not having either a user hierarchical visibility mark or a propagated hierarchical visibility mark.