Method and System for Visual Query Construction and Representation

• US 20070260582A1
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inetsoft Technology
• Original Assignee: Inetsoft Technology
• Inventors: Liang, Guanghong Larry
• Application Number:
  US11/745,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20070260582A1
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for visually constructing and displaying relational queries on a tabular interface. A query is a relational expression that defines how to extract and process data from a data source. A data source could be a relational database, or other sources where data can be extracted and converted to tables consisting of column. A query may be composed from other queries using relational operators such as join and union, potentially resulting in a complex intertwined tree-like structure. The invention provides methods of representing hierarchical query structure on a tabular interface using nested table structures, and steps for constructing and manipulating the structure using spatial relationships. Unique to this method is the ability to work with highly complex hierarchical tree-link structure using a simple two-dimensional table. Also unique to this method is the ability to change the hierarchical structure using relative spatial placement of the tables.

Claims

1. A method of constructing composite queries using two-dimensional sub-tables displayed in a workspace of a graphical user interface, where each sub-table represents a simple query against a predefined data source, comprising:

defining a plurality of algebraic relationships between data in a first sub-table displayed in said workspace and data in a second sub-table displayed on said workspace based on a spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second sub-table;

identifying the spatial placement of said first sub-table and said second sub-table in said workspace; and

creating a composite table comprising said first sub-table and said second sub-table when the spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second corresponds to one of said defined plurality of algebraic relationships.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said sub-tables are manipulatable within said workspace by a user, so that the user changes the spatial placement of said first and/or second sub-tables to create a desired composite table.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein a composite query comprising simple sub-queries with set operations is displayed as a nested table arranged within the created composite table.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein a composite query comprising simple sub-queries with join operations is displayed as a nested table arranged within the composite table.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a placement of said second sub-table immediately below said first sub-table generates said composite table as a concatenated table with said first and second sub-tables connected by a default set operator.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a placement of a said second sub-table immediately next to said first sub-table generates said composite table as a joined table.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the relationship of said first and second sub-tables within said composite table may be modified by changing properties of table connectors connecting said first and second sub-tables.

8. A system of constructing composite queries using two-dimensional sub-tables displayed in a workspace of a graphical user interface, where each sub-table represents a simple query against a predefined data source, comprising:

means for defining a plurality of algebraic relationships between data in a first sub-table displayed in said workspace and data in a second sub-table displayed on said workspace based on a spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second sub-table;

means for identifying the spatial placement of said first sub-table and said second sub-table in said workspace; and

means for creating a composite table comprising said first sub-table and said second sub-table when the spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second corresponds to one of said defined plurality of algebraic relationships.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said sub-tables are manipulatable within said workspace by a user, so that the user changes the spatial placement of said first and/or second sub-tables to create a desired composite table.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein a composite query comprising simple sub-queries with set operations is displayed as a nested table arranged within the created composite table.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein a composite query comprising simple sub-queries with join operations is displayed as a nested table arranged within the composite table.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein a placement of said second sub-table immediately below said first sub-table generates said composite table as a concatenated table with said first and second sub-tables connected by a default set operator.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein a placement of a said second sub-table immediately next to said first sub-table generates said composite table as a joined table.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the relationship of said first and second sub-tables within said composite table may be modified by changing properties of table connectors connecting said first and second sub-tables.

15. A computer program product for constructing composite queries using two-dimensional sub-tables displayed in a workspace of a graphical user interface, where each sub-table represents a simple query against a predefined data source, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code that defines a plurality of algebraic relationships between data in a first sub-table displayed in said workspace and data in a second sub-table displayed on said workspace based on a spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second sub-table;

computer-readable program code that identifies the spatial placement of said first sub-table and said second sub-table in said workspace; and

computer-readable program code that creates a composite table comprising said first sub-table and said second sub-table when the spatial placement of said first sub-table relative to said second corresponds to one of said defined plurality of algebraic relationships.