Navigation of tree data structures
First Claim
1. A method for navigating a collection of tree data structures stored in a computer-readable database, the method comprising:
- constraining a first node of a query tree stored in a computer-readable memory to a first value;
making accessible a first set of nodes of the query tree that are connected to the first node constrained to the first value;
constraining a second node in the first set of nodes to a second value;
identifying a tree in the collection of tree data structures that contains (1) a first matching node equal in position to the first node and equal to the first value, and (2) a second matching node equal in position to the second node and equal to the second value; and
accessing data in a select node of the identified tree.
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Abstract
Data items are represented by trees and stored in a database, the collection of data items defining a forest. Queries and masks are also represented by trees. A method for navigating the forest of data items is disclosed in the context of a graphical user interface. A set of operations on trees are defined such that the data items can be queried on the basis of structure as well as node values. That is, the query can include a specification of the relationship between nodes in a tree, as well as the data in the nodes themselves. Exemplary implementations of such operations are disclosed in the context of a database update procedure. Additionally disclosed are methods for efficiently storing and processing the forest of data items.
134 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for navigating a collection of tree data structures stored in a computer-readable database, the method comprising:
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constraining a first node of a query tree stored in a computer-readable memory to a first value;
making accessible a first set of nodes of the query tree that are connected to the first node constrained to the first value;
constraining a second node in the first set of nodes to a second value;
identifying a tree in the collection of tree data structures that contains (1) a first matching node equal in position to the first node and equal to the first value, and (2) a second matching node equal in position to the second node and equal to the second value; and
accessing data in a select node of the identified tree. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and one or more input devices, a method for navigating a collection of tree data structures stored in a computer-readable database, the method comprising:
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receiving a first value from the one or more input devices to which a first node of a query tree stored in a computer-readable memory is constrained;
displaying with the display device a first set of nodes of the query tree that are connected to the first node constrained to the first value;
identifying a tree in the collection of tree data structures that contains a first matching node equal in position to the first node and equal to the first value; and
displaying with the display device data in a select node of the identified tree. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for navigating a collection of tree data structures, the system comprising:
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a database component operative to maintain a database of tree data structures;
a memory component operative to store a query tree;
an input component;
a display component; and
a processing component communicatively connected to the database component, the memory component, the input component, and the display component, the processing component programmed to perform actions comprising;
interpreting a first signal from the input component as an instruction to constrain a first node of the query tree to a first value;
constraining the first node of the query tree to the first value;
transmitting an instruction to the display component to display a first set of nodes of the query tree that are connected to the first node constrained to the first value;
communicating with the database component to identify a tree in the database of tree data structures that contains a first matching node equal in position to the first node and equal to the first value; and
transmitting an instruction to the display component to display data in a select node of the identified tree. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification