Visual query modeling for configurable patterns

• US 20060074967A1
• 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 7,366,723 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 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products, implementing techniques for visual query modeling. In one aspect, the techniques include displaying in a web browser a visual model of a database, the visual model including one or more graphical objects representing one or more tables in the database and relations between the tables, receiving in the web browser user input creating a visual model of a query into the database, and generating code for the query based on the visual model of the query.

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:

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

receiving in the web browser user input creating a visual model of a query into the database; and

generating code for the query based on the visual model of the query.

2. The product of claim 1, wherein the code is SQL (Structured Query Language) code.

3. The product of claim 1, wherein the user input creating a visual model of a query includes input specifying a query structure, query inputs and query outputs.

4. The product of claim 1, further comprising:

incorporating the query into a pattern-based application, the pattern-based application being an application that is developed by selecting a pattern from a set of patterns and configuring the pattern to perform application-specific functionality, the pattern comprising multiple pattern elements including prearranged user interface elements, the pattern specifying predefined actions that can be performed using the user interface elements.

5. The product of claim 3, wherein

incorporating the query into a pattern-based application includes configuring the pattern to use the query.

6. The product of claim 4, wherein:

the query takes as input one or more input fields and produces as a output one or more output fields; and

configuring the pattern to use the query includes selecting which input fields and output fields to be displayed by the pattern.

7. The product of claim 4, wherein configuring the pattern to use the query includes adapting the query to include one or more additional output fields selected based on the relations in the database.

8. The product of claim 4, wherein configuring the pattern to use the query includes configuring the pattern to perform one or more data operations on the output of the query.

9. The product of claim 4, further comprising automatically generating one or more additional queries based on the selected pattern.

10. A method comprising:

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

receiving in the web browser user input creating a visual model of a query into the database; and

generating code for the query based on the visual model of the query.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the code is SQL (Structured Query Language) code.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the user input creating a visual model of a query includes input specifying a query structure, query inputs and query outputs.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

incorporating the query into a pattern-based application, the pattern-based application being an application that is developed by selecting a pattern from a set of patterns and configuring the pattern to perform application-specific functionality, the pattern comprising multiple pattern elements including prearranged user interface elements, the pattern specifying predefined actions that can be performed using the user interface elements.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein

incorporating the query into a pattern-based application includes configuring the pattern to use the query.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the query takes as input one or more input fields and produces as a output one or more output fields; and

configuring the pattern to use the query includes selecting which input fields and output fields to be displayed by the pattern.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring the pattern to use the query includes adapting the query to include one or more additional output fields selected based on the relations in the database.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein configuring the pattern to use the query includes configuring the pattern to perform one or more data operations on the output of the query.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising automatically generating one or more additional queries based on the selected pattern.

19. Apparatus comprising:

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

means for receiving in the web browser user input creating a visual model of a query into the database; and

means for generating code for the query based on the visual model of the query.