ABSTRACT RECORDS
First Claim
1. A method of presenting a user with a set of query results retrieved from a database, comprising:
- receiving, from a requesting entity, a request to view data in the database related to a model entity predefined as a set of logically related data fields, wherein the model entity identifies an identifier in the underlying database used to identify instances of the model entity;
retrieving an abstract record corresponding to the model entity, wherein the abstract record identifies a hierarchy of logical fields related to the model entity;
identifying each instance of the model entity included in the query results;
for each identified instance, populating a copy of the abstract record with the retrieved query results corresponding to the instance of the model entity; and
returning, to the requesting entity, the identified instances of the model entity and the populated copies of the abstract record.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and articles of manufacture improving the process of query composition, query processing, and presenting query results to users of an abstract database. Embodiments of the present invention organize and view data using abstract records. Specifically, users compose a query according to the logical relationships present in the data. Rather than evaluate conditions against a set of rows from a relational table, conditions included in abstract query are evaluated against instances of an abstract record. Instances that satisfy the conditions specified by an abstract query are returned as query results. In a specific case abstract records are used to evaluate a “never exists conditions, that determine the absence of data in an abstract records that satisfy a particular condition.
119 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A method of presenting a user with a set of query results retrieved from a database, comprising:
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receiving, from a requesting entity, a request to view data in the database related to a model entity predefined as a set of logically related data fields, wherein the model entity identifies an identifier in the underlying database used to identify instances of the model entity; retrieving an abstract record corresponding to the model entity, wherein the abstract record identifies a hierarchy of logical fields related to the model entity; identifying each instance of the model entity included in the query results; for each identified instance, populating a copy of the abstract record with the retrieved query results corresponding to the instance of the model entity; and returning, to the requesting entity, the identified instances of the model entity and the populated copies of the abstract record. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A computer-readable storage medium containing a plurality of instructions which, when executed on a computer system, is configured to perform an operation for presenting a user with a set of query results retrieved from a relational database, the operation comprising:
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receiving, from a requesting entity, a request to view data in the database related to a model entity predefined as a set of logically related data fields, wherein the model entity identifies an identifier in the underlying database used to identify instances of the model entity; retrieving an abstract record corresponding to the model entity, wherein the abstract record identifies a hierarchy of logical fields related to the model entity; identifying each instance of the model entity included in the query results; for each identified instance, populating a copy of the abstract record with the retrieved query results corresponding to the instance of the model entity; and returning, to the requesting entity, the identified instances and the populated copies of the abstract record. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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Specification