Method of providing tree-structured views of data
First Claim
1. A method of providing a tree structured view on data items in a data base, which data items each are related to one or more object types, where each object type has any number (including zero) of attributes, and the method comprises representing at least one relationship between any object type and other object types related thereto in the data base as a link attribute, which link attribute is expandable, i.e. is related to an object type having one or more further attributes;
- presenting an object type and its attribute(s);
providing the user with the possibility to expand any link attribute, so that one or more further attribute(s) of the object type related to the expanded link attribute(s) is (are) presented;
providing the user with the possibility to define a view of data on the basis of the presented attribute(s); and
displaying the data items related to attribute(s) in the user defined view of data.
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Abstract
This invention relates to a method of enabling a user of a database to define a tree view representation of data items in a database. The data items in the database relate to object types and attributes. An attribute can be a basic attribute or a link attribute, where basic attributes contain general information regarding the object type to which it is related and wherein the concept of link attributes is provided by this invention. A link attribute is relating one object type to one or more other object types and provides the possibility of enabling a user to define a required representation of the data items in the database in a tree structure. The invention enables a user to choose the root of the tree structure and to define recursive database views.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of providing a tree structured view on data items in a data base, which data items each are related to one or more object types, where each object type has any number (including zero) of attributes, and the method comprises
representing at least one relationship between any object type and other object types related thereto in the data base as a link attribute, which link attribute is expandable, i.e. is related to an object type having one or more further attributes; -
presenting an object type and its attribute(s);
providing the user with the possibility to expand any link attribute, so that one or more further attribute(s) of the object type related to the expanded link attribute(s) is (are) presented;
providing the user with the possibility to define a view of data on the basis of the presented attribute(s); and
displaying the data items related to attribute(s) in the user defined view of data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. (canceled)
Specification