Graphic definition of range in the selection of data from a database field

• US 5,265,246 A
• Filed: 11/24/1992
• Issued: 11/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Li, Shih-Gong, Tate, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US07/983,095
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1 MS File, 364/DIG. 2 MS File, 395/140, 395/158, 395/600
• 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 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/974 Slider control as on-screen object in operator interface

Abstract

A system, program and method for interfacing a human user to an indexed field of data from a database. The invention is particularly directed to the definition of a BETWEEN argument in a database query. A ruler is linearly related to the data in the field. Individually movable tacks are positioned along the ruler to define the boundaries of a range in direct correspondence to a range of data from within the field. Dialog blocks are provided for alphanumeric entry and readout of tack location data. In a preferred form, the ruler also provides control blocks which are individually related to the tacks and are suitable to increment or decrement the tack values as relates to the data in the field.

Claims

1. A system for interfacing a user to data stored in a data processing database, comprising:

means for visually depicting on a graphical display a field of data from the database;

user operable means for specifying a range from within the field of data; and

means for depicting on the graphical display the specified range referenced to the means for depicting the field of data.

2. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising a graphical means for selectively varying the specified range.

3. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the user operable means for specifying includes alphanumeric entry means for specifying the range.

4. The system recited in claim 3, wherein the field is from a relational database.

5. The system recited in claim 4, wherein the means for visually depicting a field of data is a ruler bar, and the means for graphically depicting the specified range includes boundary markers referenced to the ruler bar.

6. The system recited in claim 5, wherein the user operable means for specifying a range selects a closest value when varied in response to a translation of a boundary marker.

7. The system recited in claim 6, wherein the means for selectively varying the specified range comprise means for incrementing and for decrementing.

8. The system recited in claim 2, wherein the field is from a relational database.

9. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the means for visually depicting a field of data is a ruler bar, and the means for graphically depicting the specified range includes boundary marker referenced to the ruler bar.

10. The system recited in claim 9, wherein the user operable means for specifying a range selects a closest value when varied in response to a translation of a boundary marker.

11. The system recited in claim 10, wherein the means for selectively varying the specified range comprises means for incrementing and for decrementing.

12. A method of interfacing a human user to data in a database, comprising the steps of:

graphically depicting on a workstation display a field of data from the database;

user specifying by graphically defined boundary markers a range within the field of data;

relating the graphically defined boundary markers to data within the field of data; and

user modifying the range by repositioning the boundary markers.

13. The method recited in claim 12, wherein the steps of user specifying creates a proportional relationship between the locations of the graphically depicted boundary markers and the field of data.

14. The method recited in claim 13 where the database is relational.