Dynamic graphical database query and data mining interface

• US 20050278286A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 12/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tran, Hoa Thu, Djugash, Judy Immaculate Tina
• Granted Patent: US 8,055,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A graphical query and data mining interface provides visual feedback to a user during the construction of a query that helps the user determine the quality of the query as the query is being built. The graphical query and data mining interface determines relationships in the database from a database relationship document, such as an XML document. These relationships may be between columns, including columns in different tables. The relationship of columns in the database is then graphically displayed to a user. When the user selects a column in the database, a filtered display mechanism displays only those columns or records that satisfy the portion of the query already constructed. In this manner dynamic information is provided to the user as the user builds the query that indicates to the user the quality of the query.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor;

a database residing in the memory; and

a graphical query interface residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the graphical query interface providing information regarding quality of the query before the query is executed.

2. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor;

a database residing in the memory; and

a graphical query interface residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the graphical query interface displaying at least one relationship in the database to a user when building a query, and in response to a user selection in building the query, the graphical query interface filtering display of information to the user when building the query according to at least one previous user selection.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the display of information to the user comprises at least one item in the database that the user may select.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the graphical query interface determines the at least one relationship in the database by reading a database relationship document corresponding to the database.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the database relationship document comprises an XML document.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the graphical query interface is used to construct the query in a series of steps, wherein the graphical query interface filters information displayed to the user at each step according to all user selections in all previous steps.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the graphical query interface supports data mining by displaying the filtered display of information to the user.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the graphical query interface displays a number of rows in the database that satisfy the query.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor;

a database table residing in the memory;

a database relationship document residing in the memory that specifies at least one relationship in the database; and

a graphical query interface residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the graphical query interface comprising;

a first window that displays at least one relationship in the database specified in the database relationship document when building a query; and

a second window that displays filtered information to the user according to at least one previous user selection in building the query, wherein the display of information to the user comprises at least one item in the database that the user may select.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a third window that displays results of executing the query.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein a number of rows that satisfy the query are displayed in the third window.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the database relationship document comprises an XML document.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the graphical query interface is used to construct the query in a series of steps, wherein the graphical query interface filters information displayed to the user at each step according to all user selections in all previous steps.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the graphical query interface supports data mining by displaying the filtered display of information to the user.

15. A method for a user to build a query to a database, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a graphical user interface for the user to build the query; and

the user building the query using the graphical user interface, during which the graphical user interface provides to the user information regarding quality of the query as before the query is executed.

16. A method for a user to build a query to a database, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying to a user at least one relationship in the database; and

displaying information to the user that is filtered according to at least one previous user selection.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the display of information to the user comprises at least one item in the database that the user may select.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of determining the at least one relationship in the database by reading a database relationship document corresponding to the database.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the database relationship document comprises an XML document.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of constructing the query in a series of steps, wherein the information displayed to the user is filtered at each step according to all user selections in all previous steps.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of displaying a number of rows in the database that satisfy the query.

22. A method for a user to build a query to a database, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying in a first window at least one relationship in the database specified in a database relationship document; and

displaying in a second window information that is filtered according to at least one previous user selection, wherein the information comprises at least one item in the database that the user may select.

23. The method of claim 22 comprising the step of displaying in a third window results of executing the query.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the results of executing the query include a number of rows that satisfy the query.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein the database relationship document comprises an XML document.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of constructing the query in a series of steps, wherein the information displayed to the user is filtered at each step according to all user selections in all previous steps.

27. A program product comprising:

(A) a graphical query interface that provides information regarding quality of a query before the query is executed; and

(B) computer-readable signal bearing media bearing the graphical query interface.

28. The program product of claim 27 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises recordable media.

29. The program product of claim 27 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises transmission media.

30. A program product comprising:

(A) a graphical query interface that displays at least one relationship in a database to a user when building a query, and in response to a user selection in building the query, the graphical query interface filtering display of information to the user when building the query according to at least one previous user selection; and

(B) computer-readable signal bearing media bearing the graphical query interface.

31. The program product of claim 30 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises recordable media.

32. The program product of claim 30 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises transmission media.

33. The program product of claim 30 wherein the display of information to the user comprises at least one item in the database that the user may select.

34. The program product of claim 30 wherein the graphical query interface determines the at least one relationship in the database by reading a database relationship document corresponding to the database.

35. The program product of claim 34 wherein the database relationship document comprises an XML document.

36. The program product of claim 30 wherein the graphical query interface is used to construct the query in a series of steps, wherein the graphical query interface filters information displayed to the user at each step according to all user selections in all previous steps.

37. The program product of claim 30 wherein the graphical query interface supports data mining by displaying the filtered display of information to the user.

38. The program product of claim 30 wherein the graphical query interface displays a number of rows in the database that satisfy the query.

39. A program product comprising:

(A) a graphical query interface comprising;

a first window that displays at least one relationship in the database specified in the database relationship document when building a query; and

a second window that displays filtered information to the user when building the query according to at least one previous user selection, wherein the display of information to the user comprises at least one item in the database that the user may select; and

(B) computer-readable signal bearing media bearing the graphical query interface.

40. The program product of claim 39 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises recordable media.

41. The program product of claim 39 wherein the computer-readable signal bearing media comprises transmission media.

42. The program product of claim 39 further comprising a third window that displays results of executing the query.

43. The program product of claim 42 wherein a number of rows that satisfy the query are displayed in the third window.

44. The program product of claim 39 wherein the database relationship document comprises an XML document.

45. The program product of claim 39 wherein the graphical query interface is used to construct the query in a series of steps, wherein the graphical query interface filters information displayed to the user at each step according to all user selections in all previous steps.

46. The program product of claim 39 wherein the graphical query interface supports data mining by displaying the filtered display of information to the user.