Dynamic Schema

• US 20130339399A1
• Filed: 06/18/2012
• Published: 12/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Dorris, Dexter A., Griggs, Ryan Christopher, Shelby, Ryan David
• Application Number:
  US13/526,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20130339399A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/213 with details for schema evolution support

Abstract

A database management system can receive, from a user interface, a first data object, a second data object, and a relationship relating the first data object and the second data object. The system can determine, based on a database schema, that a database table does not exist for the first data object, the second data object, and the relationship. The system can create a database table having a first data field for the first data object, a second data field for the second data object, and the relationship. The system can then store the first data object and the second data object in the created table according to the relationship.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a user interface, a first data object, a second data object, and a relationship relating the first data object and the second data object;

analyzing a database schema, including determining whether a database table exists for the first data object, the second data object, and the relationship;

based on a result of the analysis, creating a database table having a first data field for the first data object, a second data field for the second data object, the database table having a structure that reflects the relationship; and

storing the first data object and the second data object in the created table according to the relationship, wherein the method is performed by a computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a data display area configured to receive the first data object and the second data object from a database inbox display area outside of the data display area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the relationship specifies that the first data object and the second data object relate to each other by appearing, when displayed, in a same data record.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the relationship specifies that the first data object and the second data object be displayed in a form view, the form view being provided for display according to formatting information for the first data object and second data object.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the formatting information is stored in a layout for the data record, the method comprising:

creating the layout before creating the database table;

modifying the layout according to a user input received before creating the database table; and

associating the layout and the database table after creating the database table.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein modifying the layout includes designating one of the first data object or second data object as a key to the database table in response to the user input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the first data object is exported from a first application program, and

the second data object is exported from a second application program.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first data object and the second data object is associated with a location of the computing device.

9. A non-transitory storage device storing instructions operable to cause one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a user interface, a first data object, a second data object, and a relationship relating the first data object and the second data object;

analyzing a database schema, including determining whether a database table exists for the first data object, the second data object, and the relationship;

based on a result of the analysis, creating a database table having a first data field for the first data object, a second data field for the second data object, the database table having a structure that reflects the relationship; and

storing the first data object and the second data object in the created table according to the relationship.

10. The storage device of claim 9, wherein the user interface includes a data display area configured to receive the first data object and the second data object from a database inbox display area outside of the data display area.

11. The storage device of claim 9, wherein the relationship specifies that the first data object and the second data object relate to each other by appearing, when displayed, in a same data record.

12. The storage device of claim 11, wherein the relationship specifies that the first data object and the second data object be displayed in a form view, the form view being provided for display according to formatting information for the first data object and second data object.

13. The storage device of claim 12, wherein the formatting information is stored in a layout for the data record, the operations comprising:

creating the layout before creating the database table;

modifying the layout according to a user input received before creating the database table; and

associating the layout and the database table after creating the database table.

14. The storage device of claim 13, wherein modifying the layout includes designating one of the first data object or second data object as a key to the database table in response to the user input.

15. The storage device of claim 9, wherein:

the first data object is exported from a first application program, and

the second data object is exported from a second application program.

16. The storage device of claim 9, wherein each of the first data object and the second data object is associated with a location of the computing device.

17. A system comprising:

one or more processors configured to perform operations comprising;

receiving, from a user interface, a first data object, a second data object, and a relationship relating the first data object and the second data object;

analyzing a database schema, including determining whether a database table exists for the first data object, the second data object, and the relationship;

based on a result of the analysis, creating a database table having a first data field for the first data object, a second data field for the second data object, the database table having a structure that reflects the relationship; and

storing the first data object and the second data object in the created table according to the relationship.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the user interface includes a data display area configured to receive the first data object and the second data object from a database inbox display area outside of the data display area.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the relationship specifies that the first data object and the second data object relate to each other by appearing, when displayed, in a same data record.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the relationship specifies that the first data object and the second data object be displayed in a form view, the form view being provided for display according to formatting information for the first data object and second data object.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the formatting information is stored in a layout for the data record, the operations comprising:

creating the layout before creating the database table;

modifying the layout according to a user input received before creating the database table; and

associating the layout and the database table after creating the database table.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein modifying the layout includes designating one of the first data object or second data object as a key to the database table in response to the user input.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the first data object is exported from a first application program, and

the second data object is exported from a second application program.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein each of the first data object and the second data object is associated with a location of the computing device.