Generating a file with integral dynamic reports from queries to an external database

• US 20100211564A1
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cloud Software Group
• Original Assignee: Information Builders (iWay Software Company)
• Inventors: Lam, Vincent, Cohen, Gerald D., Lenahan, Peter, Kotorov, Radoslav P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,983,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/722
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/951 Indexing; Web crawling techniques

Abstract

Records in databases or unstructured files are enriched with metadata and are indexed for retrieval by a search engine. In response to a search request, a graphical user interface (GUI) control based on the metadata associated with the search hits is constructed and displayed with the search results in a standard view. Selection of a metadata value via the GUI control filters the previously matched records down to those matching the value selected via the GUI control. The metadata in the search results is arranged in a tabular view which is embedded in the display of search results and rendered invisible until selected by the user. Reports can be constructed from an identifier each returned record set for presenting, analyzing and modifying the data, and for generating further reports.

Claims

1-38. -38. (canceled)

39. A method of producing, on a computer, a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report presenting the results of a query transmitted over a network to a structured database, said structured database having a plurality of data each of which has a tag corresponding to a field name and a value for a field identified by said field name, each field value and its corresponding field name constituting a tag-value pair, comprising,

generating said browser readable computer file for receiving said results of said query,

passing to said file an analytic/interactive software engine comprising a computer program executable in a browser on any computer on which the browser is operable,

passing the tag-value pairs constituting the results of the query to said browser readable computer file,

executing said computer program in said analytic/interactive engine for rendering one view of said tag-value pairs in a table with the tags shown as field names in said table and a value for each tag listed in a cell within said table, and displaying at least one control actuable by a user for executing said computer program in said analytic/interactive engine for transforming the display of said data into another view while disconnected from said network.

40. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 39 wherein said transforming sorts the data in said one view for display in said another view.

41. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 39 wherein said transforming performs a calculation on the data in said one view the result of which is displayed in said another view.

42. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 41 wherein said result of said calculation displays in said another view a sum of data displayed in said one view.

43. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 39 wherein said transforming pivots the data in the rows and columns of the table displayed in said one view for display in said another view.

44. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 39 wherein said transforming filters the data displayed in said one view for display in said another view of a subset of the data in said one view.

45. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 39 wherein said transforming rolls up the data displayed in said one view for display in said another view of a subset of the rows of data in said one view.

46. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 39 wherein said transforming nests a subarray of the data displayed in said one view in the display of data in said another view.

47. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 39 further comprising passing to said file, over said network, a style sheet, and said transforming formats the data displayed in said one view for display in said another view in a font, style or color different from the font, style or color in which said data is displayed in said one view.

48. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 39 further comprising providing a control in said one view which when actuated presents the data as scrolling in said another view.

49. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 39 further comprising providing a control in said one view which when actuated emails a copy of said file to another user.

50. The method of producing a browser readable computer file including a dynamic report according to claim 39 further comprising providing a control in said one view which when actuated exports a copy of said file to an external computer program.

51. A method of enabling a user to manage a dynamic report of the contents of an answer set of records received over a network by querying a database for matches between a search criterion and a key word search index of a population of records, after being disconnected from said network, comprising:

modifying each one of said records with metadata comprising the name of a tag and at least one value of said tag, each said name of a tag and each said corresponding value forming a tag-value pair, whereby said name of a tag and said at least one value of said tag are added to and made part of the content of said record,

performing a key word search by comparing the content of the index with said search criterion,

obtaining an answer set of records satisfying said search criterion,

generating a computer readable file including a dynamic report of data which is a function of said answer set of records, and an analytic/interactive engine comprising a computer program executable while disconnected from said network.

52. The method according to claim 51 further comprising,

executing instructions in said analytic/interactive engine on said data for rendering one view of said tag-value pairs in a table with the tags shown as field names in said table and a value for each tag listed in a cell within said table, and displaying at least one control actuable by a user for transforming the display of said data into another view.

53. The method according to claim 51 further comprising generating a URL for each answer set of records,

adding to said URL the identity of an external set of records not included in said answer set of records, and

operating said analytic/interactive engine on said data which is a function of said answer set of records and data which is a function of said external set of records for including in said dynamic report information not contained in said answer set of records.