System for composing a graphical interface to a relational database which displays a network of query and source icons
First Claim
1. A method for graphically composing on a computer system a query of a preexisting independent relational database including a plurality of source tables, comprising steps of:
- constructing a graphically displayed network of interconnected nodes generically representing source tables and relational query operators, respectively, in response to input from a user, each table node including an output icon representing contents of said represented source table, and each operator node including an output icon representing a table containing the result of said represented relational query operator; and
automatically generating a query corresponding to a designated node in the network.
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Abstract
A Graphical Query Front End system for Querying a relational database displays the elements of a Query in graphical form. The graphical query consists of tables, shown as nodes on a display, used as input (i.e. connected) to operator nodes, which produce output tables by modifying the inputs based on information provided by the user. There are several operators, each of which represents a different piece of defining a query, e.g. selecting columns or selecting rows. These operator nodes may then be used as inputs to operator nodes which modify their inputs to produce output tables, and so on until the desired result is achieved.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for graphically composing on a computer system a query of a preexisting independent relational database including a plurality of source tables, comprising steps of:
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constructing a graphically displayed network of interconnected nodes generically representing source tables and relational query operators, respectively, in response to input from a user, each table node including an output icon representing contents of said represented source table, and each operator node including an output icon representing a table containing the result of said represented relational query operator; and automatically generating a query corresponding to a designated node in the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. Apparatus for graphically composing a query of a preexisting independent relational data base system, comprising:
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means for storing data belonging in said data base system; means, coupled to said data storing means and responsive to a query, for retrieving data stored in said data storing means, and generating a result of said query; means for displaying said result of said query; means, responsive to input from a user, for constructing a graphically displayed network of interconnected nodes generically representing source tables and relational query operators, respectively, each table node including an output icon representing contents of said represented source table, and each operator node including an output icon representing a table containing the result of said represented relational query operator; and means, responsive to said network constructing means, for automatically generating said query corresponding to a designated node in the network. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification