Interactive relational database analysis with successive refinement steps in selection of ouput data from underlying database

• US 5,261,093 A
• Filed: 11/05/1990
• Issued: 11/09/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation (SRI International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: David Sarnoff Research Center, Inc.
• Inventors: Asmuth, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kulik, Paul V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ORZECH, JENNIFER
• Application Number:
  US07/608,943
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 395/12, 395/600, 395/148, 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2428 Query predicate definition using graphical user interfaces, including menus and forms G06F16/2423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing

Abstract

A multi-step method enables a user to extract useful information from a complex relational database without needing to construct elaborate Structured Query Language statements or to become familiar with details of the particular data model involved. In particular, the method generates a table of output data from a relational database having one or more database tables made up of columns of attributes, rows instances, and one or more keys composed of one or more attributes each as elements. In the method, the steps include selecting an attribute from one of the database tables upon which to base an intermediate table, displaying a key of the database table containing the selected attribute, selecting an attribute element of that key for constraint, generating and displaying a list of alternative attribute sets the members of any of which when constrained will constrain the selected attribute element, selecting a set from that list of alternative attribute sets, generating and displaying a list of combinations of values for the selected attribute set, selecting one of the combinations of values from the list of value combinations, generating an intermediate table in accordance with the selected combinations of values from the list of value combinations, and generating the table of output data from the intermediate table. The intermediate table has only keys whose values have not been constrained.

Claims

1. In a computer based relational database system comprising at least one database table in computer memory composed of columns of attributes, lines of instances, and a primary key composed of at least one attribute as an element, a method of generating a table of output data in computer memory comprising the steps of:

selecting an attribute from said database table upon which to base an intermediate table in computer memory;

displaying on a monitor the primary key of said database table containing said selected attribute;

selecting a first attribute element of said primary key for constraint;

generating in computer memory and displaying on said monitor a first list of alternative attribute sets the members of nay of which when constrained will constrain said first selected attribute element;

selecting a set from said first list of alternative attribute sets;

generating in computer memory and displaying on said monitor a first list of combinations of attribute values for said selected attribute set;

selecting one of said combinations of attribute values from said first list of combinations of attribute values so as to establish the value of the first attribute element of said primary key;

generating in computer memory a first intermediate table comprising those rows of said database table for which said primary key has a value determined by the selected combination of attribute values from said first list of combinations of attribute values in accordance with said selected combinations of attribute values, said first intermediate table having only keys whose attribute values have not been constrained; and

generating in computer memory said output table of data from said first intermediate table and displaying said output table on said monitor.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

selecting a second attribute element of said primary key for constraint;

generating in computer memory and displaying on said monitor a second list of alternative attribute sets the members of any of which when constrained will constrain said second selected attribute element;

selecting one set from said second list of alternative attribute sets;

generating in computer memory and displaying on said monitor a second list of combinations of attribute values for said attribute set selected from said second list of alternative attribute sets;

selecting one of said combinations of attribute values from said second list of combinations of attribute values so as to establish the value of the second attribute element of said primary key; and

generating in computer memory a second intermediate table comprising those rows of said first intermediate database table for which said primary key has a value determined by the selected combination of attribute values from said second list of combinations of attribute values in accordance with said selected combinations of attribute values from said second list of combinations of attribute values, said second intermediate table having only keys whose attribute values have not been constrained; and

in which said output table of data is generated in computer memory from said second intermediate table and displayed on said monitor.

3. In a computer based relational database system comprising a plurality of database tables in computer memory each composed of columns of attributes, lines of instances, and a primary key composed of at least one attribute as an element, the method of generating a table of output data in computer memory comprising the steps of:

selecting an attribute from one of said database tables upon which to base an intermediate table in computer memory;

displaying on a monitor the primary key of the one of said database tables containing said selected attribute;

selecting a first attribute element of said primary key for constraint;

generating in computer memory and displaying on said monitor a first list of alternative attribute sets the members of any of which when constrained will constrain said first selected attribute element;

selecting a set from said first list of alternative attribute sets;

generating in computer memory and displaying on said monitor a first list of combinations of attribute values for said selected attribute set;

selecting one of said combinations of attribute values from said first list of combinations of attribute values so as to establish the value of the first attribute element of said primary key;

generating in computer memory a first intermediate table comprising those rows of said database table for which said primary key has a value determined by the selected combination of attribute values from said first list of combinations of attribute values in accordance with said selected combinations of attribute values from said first list, said first intermediate table having only keys whose attribute values have not been constrained; and

generating in computer memory said output table of data from said first intermediate table and displaying said output table on said monitor.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of:

selecting a second attribute element of said primary key for constraint;

generating in computer memory and displaying on said monitor a second list of alternative attribute sets the members of any of which when constrained will constrain said second selected attribute element;

selecting one set from said second list of alternative attribute sets;

generating in computer memory and displaying on said monitor a second list of combinations of attribute values for said attribute set selected from said second list of alternative attribute sets;

selecting one of said combinations of attribute values from said second list of combinations of attribute values so as to establish the value of the second attribute element of said primary key; and

generating in computer memory a second intermediate table comprising those rows of said first intermediate database table for which said primary key has a value determined by the selected combination of attribute values from said second list of combinations of attribute values in accordance with said selected combinations of attribute values from said second list of combinations of attribute values, said second intermediate table having only keys whose attribute values have not been constrained; and

in which said output table of data is generated in computer memory from said second intermediate table and displayed on said monitor.