Visual database modeling

• US 20060074942A1
• Filed: 10/05/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Shaburov, Victor V.
• Granted Patent: US 8,126,937 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/217 Database tuning G06F16/2282 takes precedence; database performance monitoring G06F11/3409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products, implementing techniques for visual database modeling. The techniques include receiving in a web browser user input defining a structure for a database, the structure including one or more tables and one or more relations between the tables; and displaying in the web browser a visual model of the defined database structure, the visual model including one or more graphical objects representing the tables and relations.

Claims

1. A computer program product, tangibly embodied in an information carrier, the computer program product being operable to cause a data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:

receiving in a web browser user input defining a structure for a database, the structure including one or more tables and one or more relations between the tables; and

displaying in the web browser a visual model of the defined database structure, the visual model including one or more graphical objects representing the tables and relations.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein:

the database is selected from a plurality of databases that include different types of databases developed by different database vendors.

3. The product of claim 1, wherein in response to receiving user input adding a table, automatically generating a name for the table and a name for each column of the table.

4. The product of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the defined database structure in XML (extensible markup language) format.

5. The product of claim 1, further comprising:

exporting the defined database structure to a database.

6. The product of claim 4, wherein exporting the defined database structure to a database includes:

using JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) technology to communicate with the database.

7. The product of claim 1, further comprising:

importing an existing database structure from a database; and

displaying a visual model of the imported database structure.

8. The product of claim 7, wherein importing an existing database structure from a database includes:

using JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) technology to communicate with the database.

9. The product of claim 1, wherein:

the product is integrated with a product for developing pattern-based applications, a pattern-based application being an application that is developed by;

selecting one or more patterns from a set of patterns, each pattern comprising multiple pattern elements including prearranged user interface elements, each pattern specifying predefined actions that can be performed using the user interface elements, and

configuring the selected patterns to perform application-specific functionality.

10. A method comprising:

receiving in a web browser user input defining a structure for a database, the structure including one or more tables and one or more relations between the tables; and

displaying in the web browser a visual model of the defined database structure, the visual model including one or more graphical objects representing the tables and relations.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the database is selected from a plurality of databases that include different types of databases developed by different database vendors.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein in response to receiving user input adding a table, automatically generating a name for the table and a name for each column of the table.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing the defined database structure in XML (extensible markup language) format.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

exporting the defined database structure to a database.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein exporting the defined database structure to a database includes:

using JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) technology to communicate with the database.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

importing an existing database structure from a database; and

displaying a visual model of the imported database structure.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein importing an existing database structure from a database includes:

using JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) technology to communicate with the database.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the method is performed by a computer program that is also used to develop pattern-based applications, a pattern-based application being an application that is developed by;

selecting one or more patterns from a set of patterns, each pattern comprising multiple pattern elements including prearranged user interface elements, each pattern specifying predefined actions that can be performed using the user interface elements, and

configuring the selected patterns to perform application-specific functionality.

19. Apparatus comprising:

means for receiving in a web browser user input defining a structure for a database, the structure including one or more tables in the database and one or more relations between the tables; and

means for displaying in the web browser a visual model of the defined database structure, the visual model including one or more graphical objects representing the tables and relations.