Graphical condition builder for facilitating database queries

• US 20050004911A1
• Filed: 09/25/2003
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Goldberg, Joseph H., Gajendar, Uday N.
• Granted Patent: US 7,383,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/968 interface for database querying and retrieval

Abstract

A graphical condition builder is provided that presents a graphical representation of a search query. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder presents a graphical and numerical preview indicating the size of the expected query results set. In an embodiment, a graphical preview is provided that includes graphical preview portions having a shape suggestive of a funnel. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder supports formulating queries for both relational and multidimentional databases. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder displays a textual indication of the type of logical operation being performed. In an embodiment, the graphical condition builder determines the type of logical operator to apply depending on the relative location of icons representing filter objects. In an embodiment, order dependent filters are available to the user. In an embodiment, the search query is represented by query steps, and multiple filter objects may be contained in each query step.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

prior to executing a search query to perform a search, displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the search query, the graphical representation including at least a numerical preview indication of the expected size of a dataset resulting from application of at least a portion of the query.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the user interface includes at least displaying a graphical preview of the expected size of the dataset.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the user interface includes at least displaying icons including at least:

a first icon representing a first filter; and

a second icon representing a second filter; and

wherein

the first filter precedes the second filter in the search query, and

the dataset, of the numerical preview, results from the first filter and any preceding filters.

4. The method of claim 1, the displaying of the user interface includes at least

displaying at least two icons representing filters;

and

displaying dataflow lines connecting the at least two icons.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying of the user interface includes at least

displaying a graphical preview indication that is a visually distinct region located in a proximity to an icon representing a filter, the region having a thickness representative of an expected size of the dataset.

21. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 1.

22. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 2.

23. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 3.

24. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 4.

25. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 5.

6. A method comprising:

prior to executing a search query to perform a search, displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the search query, the graphical representation including at least a graphical preview indication of an expected size of a dataset resulting from application of at least a portion of the query, the graphical preview indication being a visually distinct region having a shape suggestive of a funnel.

26. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 6.

7. A method comprising:

prior to executing a search query to perform a search, displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the search query, the graphical representation including at least

a first graphical preview indication that is a first visually distinct region, having a first starting width and a first ending width, the first visually distinct region being located in a proximity to a first icon representing a first filter, and the first ending width having a width that is representative of an expected size of a first dataset; and

a second graphical preview indication that is a second visually distinct region, having a second starting width and a second ending width, the second visually distinct region being located in a proximity to a second icon representing a second filter, the second ending width having a width that is representative of an expected size of a second dataset, the second visually distinct region being adjacent to the first visually distinct region, the width of the second starting width being equal to the first ending width.

27. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 7.

8. A method comprising:

prior to executing a search query to perform a search, displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the search query, the graphical representation including at least an icon that is a group icon representing a group of filters of the search query.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the group icon can be opened, and therein display:

a group of icons corresponding to the group of filters, and

dataflow lines connecting icons of the group of icons, the dataflow lines and the icons of the group of icons being arranged to indicate an order of application of filters of the group of filters.

28. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 8.

29. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 9.

10. A method comprising:

prior to executing a search query to perform a search, displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the search query, the graphical representation including at least

a first icon representing a first filter associated with the search query, and

a second icon representing a second filter associated with the search query;

receiving input regarding a new location of the first icon; and

determining which logical operator to apply based upon a relative positioning of the first icon with respect to the second icon.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

if the new location of the first icon is substantially vertically aligned with the second icon, a Boolean OR operator is applied; and

if the new location of first icon is substantially horizontally aligned with the second icon, a Boolean AND operator is applied.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

in response to the input, displaying a textual indication of a type of logical operator associated with the new location of the first icon.

30. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 10.

31. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 11.

32. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 12.

13. A method comprising:

displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface displaying a graphical representation of the search query, the graphical representation including at least a representation of a logical NOT operator.

33. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 13.

14. A method comprising:

displaying a user interface on a display, the user interface displaying graphical representations of a search query, wherein at least one or more portions of the search query are divided into one or more query steps, each of the one or more query steps corresponding to a portion of the search query, each of the one or more query steps including one or more attributes;

receiving user input that specifies a value for one attribute of the one or more attributes of one query step of the one or more query steps; and

in response to the user input, performing an action on a portion of the search query corresponding to the one query step, the action being based on the value of the one attribute.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the performing of the action includes independently disabling the one query step without removing the components of the one query step from the query representation, thereby disabling any portion of the search query corresponding to the one query step.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the one or more query steps are arranged in an order according to a query flow; and

each query step is combined with other portions of the search query using Boolean logic.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the query steps are numbered according to an order in which the query steps are applied.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more query steps are a plurality of query steps that are arranged in an order, and the order is alterable by dragging to a new location and dropping a query step selected from the plurality of query steps.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising creating within a query step a group icon representing a container for, and having contained within, a group of icons representing a group of filters associated with a portion of the search query.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising displaying a graphical representation of a search query for a multidimensional database.

34. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 14.

35. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 15.

36. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 16.

37. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 17.

38. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 18.

39. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 19.

40. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 20.