Logical data modeling and integrated application framework

• US 20030154191A1
• Filed: 04/19/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomson Reuters Enterprise Centre GmbH (The Woodbridge Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hubbard & Wells Co.
• Inventors: Gilchrist, Amy M., Wolf, Benjamin R., Hartley, Daniel A., Dorn, Matthew C., Wolf, Michael D., Fish, John D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,185,317 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/34 Graphical or visual programming

Abstract

A logical data model is defined using a data-modeling framework. The data-modeling framework enables a user to define the logical data model using a series of graphical user interfaces (GUI) or an application-programming interface (API). The data-modeling framework dynamically translates the logical data model into a corresponding physical data model. The logical data model can be changed using the GUI or API and the physical data model is automatically adjusted to accommodate the changes to the logical data model. The logical data model extends capabilities of the physical data model and automatically allows these capabilities to be available to software developers using an application framework integrated with the data-modeling framework. The application framework enables the developer to configure various application features and data management operations using GUI or API. The application framework is tightly coupled with the data-modeling framework such that changes in the logical data model is automatically reflected in the applications.

Claims

1. A system for application development, comprising:

a data modeling framework configured to enable a user to define a logical data model, the data modeling framework dynamically translating the logical data model into a corresponding physical data model, wherein changes to the logical data model are automatically adjusted in the physical data model accordingly; and

an application framework coupled to the data modeling framework, the application framework configured to provide tools to enable the user to develop applications based on the logical data model.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data-modeling framework is accessible using a graphical user interface (GUI).

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the data-modeling framework is accessible using an application-programming interface (API).

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the data-modeling framework is accessible using a combination of a graphical user interface (GUI) and an application-programming interface (API).

5. The system of claim 1, wherein when the logical data model is changed, the application development tools in the application framework automatically adjusts to change in the logical data model.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein database rules are enforced by the data-modeling framework when the logical data model is changed.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the logical data model includes enhanced representation of data in the physical data model.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the enhanced representation of the data in the physical data model includes sets, attributes, relationship among the sets, and bi-directional relationship between the sets.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the logical data model includes descriptive labeling for the sets, the attributes, and the relationships among the sets, wherein changes to the descriptive labeling do not affect the physical data model.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the relationships among the sets include one-to-one relationship, one-to-many relationship, many-to-one relationship, many-to-many relationship, inherits relationship, and inherits-many relationship.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the sets include external data sets representing data from external data sources.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein each of the sets represents at least a table in the physical data model.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the enhanced representation of the data is available to the application framework to enable the user to develop applications using the physical data model.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the application framework is accessible using a graphical user interface (GUI).

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the application framework is accessible using an application-programming interface (API).

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the application framework is accessible using a combination of a graphical user interface (GUI) and an application-programming interface (API).

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the tools in the application framework include application development tools and data management tools.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the application development tools include tools to develop a dynamic content management interface.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the dynamic content management interface includes presentation templates to display data in the physical data model.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the application development tools include tools to develop navigation structures.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the data management tools include tools to develop business rules, workflow, and queries.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the queries include update queries and output queries.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the application development tools and the data management tools enable the user to develop applications without coding.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the data modeling framework and the application framework are tightly coupled.

25. A method, comprising:

defining a logical data model using a data modeling framework configured to dynamically translate the logical data model into a corresponding physical data model, wherein changes to the logical data model are automatically reflected in the physical data model; and

managing the physical data model using an application framework coupled to the data modeling framework, the application framework configured to allow presentation and management of the physical data model based at least on the logical data model, wherein the said defining and said managing require no coding by a user.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the logical data model is defined using at least one of a first series of graphical user interface (GUI) and a first application-programming interface (API).

27. The method of claim 26, wherein when the logical data model is changed, the application development tools in the application framework automatically adjusts to reflect change in the logical data model.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein when the logical data model is changed, database rules are enforced by the data modeling framework.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein representation of data in the logical data model includes corresponding representation of data in the physical data model plus enhanced representation of data in the physical data model.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the enhanced representation of the data in the physical data model includes sets, attributes, relationship among the sets, bi-directional relationship between the sets, and descriptive labeling for each enhanced representation.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein changes to the descriptive labeling do not affect the physical data model.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the sets include external data sets representing data from external data sources.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein each of the sets represents at least a table in the physical data model.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the enhanced representation of the data is available to the application framework to manage the physical data model.

35. The method of claim 25, wherein the application framework is accessible using at least one of a second series of graphical user interface (GUI) and a second application programming interface (API).

36. The method of claim 25, wherein the application framework allows presentation and management of the physical data model using application tools and data management tools respectively.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the application tools include content screens.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the application tools further include navigation tools to define navigation items and structures.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the data management tools include tools to define business rules, workflow, and queries.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the queries include update queries and output queries.

41. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a system, and which, when executed by the system, cause the system to perform a method, comprising:

defining a logical data model using a data modeling framework configured to

dynamically translate the logical data model into a corresponding physical data model,

wherein the logical data model includes enhanced representation of data in the physical data model,

wherein changes to the logical data model are automatically reflected in the physical data model, and

wherein said defining is performed using at least one of a first series of graphical user interface (GUI) and a first application-programming interface (API); and

managing the physical data model using an application framework coupled to the

data modeling framework, the application framework configured to allow presentation and management of the physical data model based at least on the logical data model,

wherein said managing is performed using at least one of a second series of graphical user interface (GUI) and a second application-programming interface (API),

wherein said managing is performed using the at least the enhanced representation of the data in the physical data model, and

wherein the said defining and said managing require no coding by a user.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein when the logical data model is changed, the application framework automatically adjusts to reflect change in the logical data model.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein change to the logical data model is automatically enforced by database rules.

44. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein the enhanced representation of the data includes bi-directional relationship between sets in the logical data model, wherein each set corresponds to a table in the physical data model.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 41, wherein the application framework includes content screens, navigation tools, and data management tools.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 45, wherein the data management tools include tools to define business rules, workflow, and queries.