Customizable, dynamic and on-demand database-informer for relational databases

• US 20060259503A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 11/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: McIntyre, Lee, Bradateanu, Vladimir, Milan, Toufic, Vahey, Geraldine, Welshofer, John Lorin
• Granted Patent: US 7,672,968 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

Abstract

Techniques for displaying information associated with a database are disclosed. A database-informer displays information (or additional information) about various database objects displayed for a user. The database-informer may be presented to user as a tool-tip. However, the database-informer can be customized and dynamically constructed based on various variables that are dynamically determined at runtime. As such, the information can be dynamically determined based on variables stored in different tables and provided on-demand when the database-informer is invoked by the user. As a result, database users can be provided with customized and up-to-date information without having to view different tables.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information by a database product which is capable of accessing a database, said method comprising:

receiving an expression for a database object which can be displayed by said database product, wherein said expression is based on one or more variables which can be evaluated to determine a displayable-output for said database object;

displaying, by said database product, said database object;

determining, by said database product, whether to display displayable-output for said database object after said displaying displays said database object;

evaluating, by said database product, said expression to determine said displayable-output when said determining determines to display said displayable-output for said database; and

thereafter displaying said displayable-output for said displayed database object.

2. A method as recited in claim 1,

wherein said expression is a calculation expression that is calculated by a calculation engine of said database product, and

wherein said expression can include one or more the following:

a mathematical operation, a logical operation, a textual processing or operation, and a database function.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining of whether to display displayable-output for said database object comprises:

determining whether an event has occurred or a condition has been satisfied.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said determining of whether to display displayable-output for said database object comprises:

determining whether an input device has hovered in a determined proximity of said displayed database object for a determined amount of time.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

determining by said database product whether to end said display of said displayable-output.

6. A method as recited in claim 4,

wherein said determining of whether to display displayable-output for said database object comprises:

determining whether an input device has hovered in a determined proximity of said object for a determined amount of time, and

wherein said determining of whether to end said display determines whether an input device has stopped hovering in a determined proximity of said object for a determined amount of time.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

determining by said database product said one or more variables of said expression; and

displaying by said database product said one or more variables for selection by a user of said database product.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving by said database product a selected variable which has been selected to be a part of said expression; and

determining by said database product, based on said selected variable, one or more other variables which may be used to define said expression; and

thereafter, displaying by said database product said one or more other variables.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

determining, at runtime when said expression is evaluated, a plurality of related records that are associated with said selected variable.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said one or more variables of said expression are a database component.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said database components are one or more of the following:

one or more fields of one or more tables stored in said database; and

one or more state-variables of said database.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving a selection that selects a database object for which said expression is to be defined;

determining, by said database product, one or more tables or fields in said database; and

determining by said database product whether to display at least one of said tables or fields; and

displaying said at least one table or field when said determining determines to display at least one of said one or more tables or fields.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said method further comprises:

displaying a plurality of database objects in a layout or design form;

determining whether an expression has been defined for at least one database object of said displayed plurality of database objects displayed in said layout or design form; and

displaying an indicator for said at least one database object when displayed in said layout or design form, wherein said indicator indicates that an expression has been defined for said at least one database.

14. A database system for accessing and displaying information stored in a database, comprising at least one processor which is capable of operating to:

receive an expression which can be displayed, wherein said expression is based on one or more variables which can be evaluated to determine a displayable-output for a database object stored in a database which includes one or more tables;

display said database object;

determine whether to display displayable-output for said database object when said displaying displays said database object;

evaluating said expression to determine said displayable-output when said determining determines to display said displayable-output for said database object; and

thereafter displaying said displayable-output for said displayed database object.

15. A database system as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a database engine that can access said database and evaluate said expression to determine said displayable-output; and

wherein said expression includes one or more the following;

a mathematical operation, a logical operation, a textual processing or operation, and a database function.

16. A database system as recited in claim 14, wherein said database engine is further capable of:

generating one or more byte-codes which represent said expression;

interpreting said one or more byte-codes to determine said displayable-output.

17. A database system as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

a Graphical User Interface (GUI) which is capable of;

receiving a selected variable which has been selected to be a part of said expression; and

displaying one or more other variables which may be used to define said expression, wherein said one or more other variables have been determined based on said selected variable.

18. A database system as recited in claim 17, wherein said Graphical User Interface (GUI) is further capable of:

displaying a plurality of tables or fields that are associated with said selected variable;

receiving a selection that selects at least one of said plurality of tables or fields;

displaying an updated plurality of tables or fields which have been determined based on said at least one table or field.

19. A database system as recited in claim 17, wherein said Graphical User Interface (GUI) which is further capable of:

displaying a plurality of database objects in a layout or design form;

displaying an indictor for at least one database object when displayed in said layout or design form, wherein said indicator indicates that an expression has been defined for said at least one database object.

20. A database system as recited in claim 18, wherein said at least one processor is further capable of:

receiving a selection that selects a database object for which said expression is to be defined;

determining one or more tables or fields in said database; and

determining whether to display at least one of said one or more tables or fields; and

displaying said at least one table or field when said determining determines to display at least one of said one or more tables or fields.

21. A computer readable medium including computer program code for displaying information stored in a database, said computer readable medium comprising:

computer program code for receiving an expression for a database object which can be displayed, wherein said expression is based on one or more variables which can be evaluated to determine a displayable-output for said database object;

computer program code for displaying said database object;

computer program code for determining whether to display displayable-output for said database object;

computer program code for evaluating said expression to determine said displayable-output; and

computer program code for displaying said displayable-output for said displayed database object.

22. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

computer program code for determining one or more variables of said expression; and

computer program code for displaying said one or more variables for selection by a user.

23. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

computer program code for receiving a selected variable which has been selected to be a part of said expression; and

computer program code for determining based on said selected variable one or more other variables which may be used to define said expression; and

computer program code for displaying said one or more other variables.

24. A computer readable medium as recited in claim 21, wherein said expression includes one or more the following:

a mathematical operation, a logical operation, a textual processing or operation, and a database function.