Database query construction and handling

• US 20060277157A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 12/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callidus Software, Inc. (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Genius.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Flynn, Frank, DeLorenzo, Michael, Seidl, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,058 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 16/24575 using context

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed herein for constructing a complex database query. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a selection of meta data indicative of searchable data values stored in two or more database tables. The method also includes constructing a complex database query to search the two or more database tables based on the received selection of meta data.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a selection of meta data indicative of searchable data values stored in two or more database tables; and

constructing a complex database query to search the two or more database tables based on the received selection of meta data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating the complex database query.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving resultant meta information, in response to evaluating the complex database query, corresponding to the constructed complex database query; and

dynamically generating a graphical user interface based on the received resultant meta information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the complex query is a complex multi-table and multi-database query.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the meta data is a condition defined by a field, an operator, and a value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the query is a compound query comprising a plurality of conditions.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

validating the selection of metadata, prior to constructing the complex database query, when the received selection includes user-inputted data.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

notifying a user when the selection of metadata includes invalid meta data.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining metadata indicative of all searchable data values associated with an identification of a user using a user interface;

dynamically constructing a user interface, prior to the receiving, to present the metadata indicative of all searchable data values.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the constructing is performed by a Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) script.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprises:

concatenating structured query language (SQL) snippets together to form the complex database query.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

joining the two or more database tables into a single searchable database table.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the searchable data is clickflow data indicative of a user'"'"'s interactions with a web page.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adding new searchable data values to the two or more database tables; and

updating metadata definitions for the new searchable data values.

15. A machine-readable medium that provides instructions, which when executed by a receiving a selection of meta data indicative of searchable data values stored in two or more database tables;

and

constructing a complex database query to search the two or more database tables based on the received selection of meta data.machine, causes the machine to perform the operations comprising;

16. The machine readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

evaluating the complex database query.

17. The machine readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving resultant meta information, in response to evaluating the complex database query, corresponding to the constructed complex database query; and

dynamically generating a graphical user interface based on the received resultant meta information.

18. The machine readable medium of claim 15, wherein the complex query is a complex multi-table and multi-database query.

19. The machine readable medium of claim 15, wherein the meta data is a condition defined by a field, an operator, and a value.

20. The machine readable medium of claim 15, wherein the query is a compound query comprising a plurality of conditions.

21. The machine readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

validating the selection of metadata, prior to constructing the complex database query, when the received selection includes user-inputted data.

22. The machine readable medium of claim 21, further comprising:

notifying a user when the selection of metadata includes invalid meta data.

23. The machine readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

obtaining metadata indicative of all searchable data values associated with an identification of a user using a user interface;

dynamically constructing a user interface, prior to the receiving, to present the metadata indicative of all searchable data values.

24. The machine readable medium of claim 15, wherein the constructing is performed by a Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) script.

25. The machine readable medium of claim 15, further comprises:

concatenating structured query language (SQL) snippets together to form the complex database query.

26. The machine readable medium of claim 25, further comprising:

joining the two or more database tables into a single searchable database table.

27. The machine readable medium of claim 15, wherein the searchable data is clickflow data indicative of a user'"'"'s interactions with a web page.

28. The machine readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

adding new searchable data values to the two or more database tables; and

updating metadata definitions for the new searchable data values.

29. A system, comprising:

a database; and

a client, wherein the client is to;

receive a selection of meta data indicative of searchable data values stored in two or more database tables of the database; and

construct a complex database query to search the two or more database tables based on the received selection of meta data.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

the client to request an evaluation of the complex database query.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising:

the client to;

receive resultant meta information, in response to the request, corresponding to the complex database query; and

dynamically generate a graphical user interface based on the received resultant meta information.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the complex query is a complex multi-table and multi-database query.

33. The system of claim 29, wherein the meta data is a condition defined by a field, an operator, and a value.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the query is a compound query comprising a plurality of conditions.

35. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

the client to;

validate the selection of metadata, prior to construction of the complex database query, when the received selection includes user-inputted data.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

the client to;

notify a user when the selection of metadata includes invalid meta data.

37. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

the client to;

obtain metadata indicative of all searchable data values associated with an identification of a user using a user interface;

dynamically construct a user interface to present the metadata indicative of all searchable data values before the selection of meta data is received.

38. The system of claim 29, wherein the construction is performed by a Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) script.

39. The system of claim 29, further comprises:

the client to;

concatenate structured query language (SQL) snippets together to form the complex database query.

40. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

the client to;

join the two or more database tables into a single searchable database table.

41. The system of claim 29, wherein the searchable data is clickflow data indicative of a user'"'"'s interactions with a web page.

42. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

the client to;

adding new searchable data values to the two or more database tables; and

updating metadata definitions for the new searchable data values.